I spoke with my mother about my socialization. I learned a ton from this interview.
My parents didn't really have any expectations for me before I was born, but rather they hoped that I would be born healthy and that they would be able to give me the best start possible.
The lesson my father has tried hardest to impart on me is never to hesitate to take out your wallet. He says you should never hassle people about paying for things, because it's good karma and makes you seem like a generous person. In addition, my mother made sure that I was strong in my convictions and wasn't easily taken advantage of. They have always taught me to do what makes me happy, and the rest will fall into place. They truly believe if you have your happiness and your health, you have everything.
The most important tradition to them that I carry on is our religion. We are Jewish, and though we aren't very religious in terms of practice, my parents always made sure I had an education that included the foundations of my heritage, and hope that one day if and when I have children I will do the same for them. They think that although religion does not have to be the most important thing in your life, it is a good moral compass to possess.
My personality is very much like my dad's, in the respect that I am very stubborn and a very good arguer. This leads to conflict between us sometimes, but we always make up because we have a very high level of respect for one another and we love each other. My mom says that I get my passion from her. If I love something, I put my whole heart into it and pursue it with zeal.
I wasn't extremely shocked by any of the answers I received from this interview. These are notions I have been socialized to understand and expect. Most of the values I possess are results of my grandparents' and their grandparents' socialization. Similar to genetic traits, like the curly brown hair and blue eyes from my dad and my right-brained tendencies from my mom, family traditions and socialization are passed down from generation to generation. This is because we are socialized by the generation before us, and generally use this as a standard by which we measure our own notions of right and wrong. My values are a way that I will be inherently connected to the numerous generations of Krays before me.
