Saturday, May 17, 2025

What we inherit from our dad and mom

We’re not doomed to repeat their errors, or destined to imitate their greatest habits.

A parent and child holding hands
Karl tapales / getty

That is an version of The Surprise Reader, a e-newsletter by which our editors suggest a set of tales to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Join right here to get it each Saturday morning.

Many people spend our teenage years working tirelessly to keep away from turning into our dad and mom. However ultimately, we uncover that we didn’t stray fairly so far as we thought. A couple of years in the past, my colleague Religion Hill spoke with 17 dad and mom who had the identical disconcerting expertise: All of them observed themselves doing one thing, massive or small, that mimicked what their very own dad and mom used to do. “Some have been genuinely comfortable to take after them,” Religion writes. “However most felt at the least a bit of uneasy on the realization: Even individuals who had comparatively comfortable childhoods, in spite of everything, can recall some parental shortcomings. In fact they don’t wish to replicate them.”

The legacy of 1’s dad and mom can really feel like a prophecy, Religion notes. However we’re not all doomed to repeat our dad and mom’ errors, or destined to inherit their successes. Right now’s studying record is a information to taking helpful classes with out dropping your individual means.


On Changing into Your Dad and mom

How you can Take Cost of Your Household Inheritance

By Arthur C. Brooks

It’s possible you’ll be tremendous with turning into extra like your dad and mom or hate the concept. Both means, it’s one thing you possibly can management.

Learn the article.

The Parenting Prophecy

By Religion Hill

The best way somebody was raised usually exhibits up in the best way they elevate their very own youngsters—for higher or worse.

Learn the article.

Quaker Dad and mom Have been Forward of Their Time

By Gail Cornwall

The almost 375-year-old faith’s ideas line up surprisingly properly with trendy parenting analysis.

Learn the article.


Nonetheless Curious?


Different Diversions


P.S.

An image of an ocean and the clouds
Courtesy of Elizabeth

I not too long ago requested readers to share a photograph of one thing that sparks their sense of awe on this planet. Elizabeth, from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, shared this photograph of “the darkening day, the calm, the colour, the dimensions of the ocean in comparison with the dimensions of me—of all of us.”

I’ll proceed to function your responses within the coming weeks. For those who’d prefer to share, reply to this electronic mail with a photograph and a brief description so we will share your marvel with fellow readers in a future version of this text or on our web site. Ship us the unique, unedited images out of your cellphone or digital camera as JPGs—no cropping or shrinking is required.

Please embrace your identify (initials are okay), age, and site. By doing so, you agree that The Atlantic has permission to publish your photograph and publicly attribute the response to you, together with your first identify and final preliminary, age, and/or location that you simply share together with your submission.

— Isabel

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