Tuesday, August 27, 2013

I Hope They Have Grandpa Eyes

When I was first diagnosed with PCOS, one of my first thoughts was, "if I have a daughter, will I pass this onto her?" Funny enough, I still don't have the answer to that question, but I've been thinking lately about what I do want to pass onto our future kids. Some of these things are traits that will come from how we raise our children, but some of them are purely physical.

First of all, I hope to pass on Keegan's scientific curiousness. He constantly amazes me with his natural ability to just know how something works. He's one that doesn't use directions because he can just look at a pile of pieces and know how to put it together. He's constantly researching things that interest him and is always learning. I hope our children will have that curiousness and will push their learning beyond their school years. I also hope they get some of his scientific mind so they don't struggle with science class like I did.

I hope that I pass on my artistic eye. Being an artist and loving color, shape, patterns and textures makes the world more interesting. When I'm shopping, I shop not only with my eyes, but with my hands while I'm constantly touching fabrics. I can stare at a floor that seems randomly patterned to most people, but I can start to make out shapes and faces. Makes bathroom trips much more fun.

I hope dearly that at least one of our children has Keegan's eyes. They're color changing and they'll change from green to gray to blue depending on his mood. When he's feeling mischievous, his eyes will be a sparkling green. When he's sad or tired, they'll turn gray. His grandpa (hence the name "grandpa eyes",) cousin, and cousin's (different cousin,) daughter all share these eyes and I hope it's something our children will have as well.

As much as I loathe my hair sometimes, I hope I pass on my wild and curly locks. I had ridiculously curly hair when I was younger (think Shirley Temple,) and I hated having to brush it. It was always frizzy, I could never cut it short because it would afro out, and it was always so hot, but as I've grown older and it's calmed down a bit, I've learned to love my hair. I get compliments on it which are a reminder that it's something different from everyone else, something that makes me, me.

I hope they get Keegan's sense of drive. He completed two internships and a co-op while in college, giving him almost 3 years of industry experience before he actually graduated. He gave up summer holidays, seeing friends and family, and the first 8 months of our relationship working 12+ hour days to put his name out there in hopes of it paying off with a job out of school. It did, and he got the second highest paying job out of his graduating class. At his job, he has received the respect of his co-workers, most of them older with more experience .He's constantly searching for new ways to make work easier for others and has come up with many new systems that makes his job run better overall. To say I'm proud is an understatement.

I hope they get my sense of trust. I'm one who trusts (almost) everyone until they do something to break my trust. While this trait has hurt me in the past, it also brought Keegan into my life. I hope that our kids love and trust based on the person's heart, not the color of their skin, where they come from, or who they hang out with.

I realize that things like a person's drive or views on the world will be shaped not only from their parents, but also from their experiences. If nothing else, I hope that our children are happy, good people who contribute something to the world. Having color changing eyes and pretty hair are just bonuses.

12 comments:

  1. crue needs to hang out with you so you can pass some greatness on to him :)) xxo

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    1. <3 I think his mama is pretty great herself!

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  2. I love this post. You have wonderful hopes and dreams for your children, and it will be even more wonderful to see them come true.

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  3. Aww this post is so awesome. I love it!

    I also worry I'll pass my PCSO/IF down to my future daughter(s). But then I think, I LOVE my life, I LOVE living. Having this issue doesn't make life not worth living. And so it makes it okay if I did hand it down. Of course, I'd rather not!

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    1. Passing down my PCOS is one of my biggest fears about having kids, but you're so right, having this issue doesn't make life worth living. Thank you so much for the new perspective!

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  4. I've always been very worried about passing PCOS to my daughter or future daughters. It sucks, it's rough, and there are no easy solutions to it. However, I know that the medical field is always advancing and who knows what treatment options will be available in the years to come. While not easy, or pleasant at least it's something that has roundabout solutions.

    I love this post and everything you wish upon your children. It's beautiful and heartfelt.

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  5. Such a lovely post!

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  6. What a wonderful combination they will make!

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  7. I love this post. I know a lot of people worry about what negative traits they'll pass on to their kids. i guess I've always just assumed they'd get the best mix from my side and my husband's side of the contribution. Maybe wishful thinking? ;)

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  8. I love this :) I'm the one with the green eyes and my husband is the one with the curly hair, but both are traits I want our babes to have, too. It's bittersweet to think of what they could look like, what they could BE like..

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