Nature, Nature, Nature

I am a firm believer in 95% nature and 5% nurture.  I saw it demonstrated the other night.

I watched as my daughter attempted to change her 11 month old daughter's diaper.  As so many little ones do, Emma waited until she was in the perfect stage of nakedness and she started to scooch away from her mother, quickly.  With her, she took her sleeper.  She moved about 5 feet from her mom, turned her back and started to work. 

I watched as my 11 month old granddaughter worked for 10-15 minutes on dressing herself in the sleeper.  She wrapped it around her neck and over her head.  She would lay it on her arms, on her legs, and drape it over her chest. She repeated the process many times, determined that she would somehow, at 11 months, get that sleeper on her little body.  The intensity she showed, her ability to focus, and her persistence in accomplishing her goal were all mesmerizing.  It was a sight to behold.  And then it hit me - hard.

I wasn't just watching Emma; I was watching a little Andrea from 25 years ago.  They have the same intensity, the same focus, and the same stick-to-it-ness.  I sat obsessed with watching that little one try to accomplish the impossible just as I had watched her mother as a baby and throughout her life.  They work as if there is no one else in the room.  They calculate every move.  They analyze.  They are able to focus better than most anyone else I know.  It's almost as if, 25 years later, God said "Let's do this one again."  Well he did.

Now I have the joy and great anticipation of watching Andrea marvel in Emma's approach to life, just as I did with Andrea so many years ago.  The best part is - I get to watch again too.

Nature.