Things Our Parents Teach Us...

I’ll admit I never gave much thought to what I was learning from my parents on a day to day basis, but now that I’m a mom, habits, sayings and behaviors my children are learning from CIS (hubby) and me are jumping out all the time.

For example, CIS, on a constant quest for what he sees as perfection, will correct the accuracy of a general statement. If I say something weighed a ton, making the point that it was immeasurably heavy in my mind, he will say something along the lines of it more than likely weighing closer to 100 pounds. It’s a frustrating habit that now has both children correcting any general statement they hear and have a differing opinion on. More frustrating, I don’t know how to stop them, but it’s drivin’ me nutty!

This nuttiness has me wondering what traits our favorite book characters learn from their parents. Granted, a lot of times their relationship hang ups are because of parents, and that’s true of my SCENT OF PERSUASION heroine Kami and even a little true about my hero Breck, but what else do they learn?

Kami’s father taught her some hard life lessons early, and while they toughened her enough to make her strong, they also left her jaded to men she saw as fitting in the “white collar” world. On the flipped side of the coin, as hard as she tried to leave behind the lifestyle that had been bred into her, it flowed in her blood and she called on it to get through rough situations. Things her mother had taught her, like lessons on how to mingle at a ritzy fundraiser, or size up a person to determine their “worth”, or how to appear interested in everyone and their interests failed to leave her. Not only did they stick with her, but they became a deeply ingrained. The lessons fueled her intuition, enabling her to choose trustworthy friends and advocates. They helped her pinpoint her pool of suspects to prove her step brother did not kill himself. And much to her surprise, those lessons turned her into the steel-spined woman Breck fell in love with – even if he did represent everything she avoided.

Breck on the other hand, didn’t have his own parents around to teach him many lessons. Well, aside from a love for music and dancing he’d set aside until Kami waltzed into his life. He did however have his best-friend’s parents (Jane Ann and Leon Masters) to raise him and teach him. Though their teachings didn’t turn out as they’d hoped. In Breck’s work first enjoy life second lifestyle, he’s shunned all relationships with women that show signs of strings. At times, like the first night of his ritzy fundraiser, he’s resorted to employing escorts to provide no strings companionship for a night. Interestingly, it’s not that he’s anti-relationships. He’s anti-anything not like the Masters’ relationship. Considering his expectations for “relationship perfection” he’s settled into his life. He hasn’t learned these lessons from Jane Ann and Leon. If anything, he’s taken their teachings and twisted them.

Sure, he embraces all the advice they gave him that it’s up to stronger, able people to help those less fortunate. He’s proven his respect of that by becoming the team leader of the FBI Specialized Crimes Unit. That’s professional. That’s easy. The lessons on relationships are the ones he’s twisted. He’s convinced himself that only one kind of relationship will be enough for him. Until he finds it, nothing else is worth exploring. And until Kieralyn joined his team, that rule even applied to having women as friends.

So let’s play. Tell me what traits, habits or lessons you’ve seen passed on. Maybe you learned them. Maybe you passed them on. Maybe their things you’ve seen someone else do or things you’ve noticed about your favorite fictional characters.

Chat it up to be entered into a drawing I will be having for a copy of SCENT OF PERSUASION. Kami will announce the winner Monday, May 3 (at 7:00 Central Time) on my website during a live Chat. If you can’t make that, be sure to include your email and preferred eBook format so I can contact you if you win.

Read more about Kami and Breck, and their story SCENT OF PERSUASION, here!

Visit Nikki at her online homes:
http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.NikkiDuncan.com”
http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.NikkiDuncan.com/blog”
http://www.blogger.com/”http://