Do you agree with this viewpoint from a teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ran into my one of my middle schooler’s teachers and had a pleasant interaction about this past school year and the overall experience of teaching.

He remarked that once he gets to know his students at the beginning of a new school year, he can almost 100% correctly identify each student’s parents at back to school night later in the fall. He said it’s amazing how similar in mannerisms and overall vibe kids this age are to their parents.

I find this incredible/hard to believe. What’s your take?

What a load of crap. I find this hard to believe. My kids teacher thought I was another kid's parent because we are both Indian.

[Anonymous]

My son looks exactly like me and my daughter acts like me but looks like her dad. 3/4 of us are high strung fast talkers. I bet they could identify us.

[Anonymous]

I'll sometimes meet a kid's parents at BTS night and I'll think in my head "ok, NOW that kid's attitude makes complete sense to me."

Aside from kids who may look just like a parent, there are other tells.

For example, one student was a very avid ballerina. She only attended core classes for the first half of the day and then did ballet for the rest of the day. As soon as I saw this mom walk into BTS night, I knew she was that student's mom by her look and the way she carried herself (very classic ex-ballerina look). Sometimes it can be as simple as nerdy, geeky parents creating nerdy, geeky kids. If your kid wears a different Star Wars t-shirt each day of the week and a dad walks in for BTS night in a Star Wars tee, chances are pretty great that he's Star Wars Kid's dad, ya know?

I love the parents that surprise me because they don't fit their kids at all. The school's best athlete has parents that he towers over and their personalities are SO different. His parents are so quiet and reserved and he's very outgoing and talkative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a lot easier if there is some racial and socioeconomic diversity at school.

I was about to say this. Nebraska? Nope. DMV - yes. Though I would give him props for being able to notice facial features and mannerisms in different races.

[Anonymous]

I am a retired teacher - 35 years. Most times I could definitely match the kid to the parent. It's not about looks - it's about mannerisms - just the vibe the OP mentioned.

That old saying: the apple doesn't fall far from the tree - tends to be correct. And it's true if the kid is your child by birth, adoption, step parenting. Living together creates this similarity. It is often hard for a parent to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ran into my one of my middle schooler’s teachers and had a pleasant interaction about this past school year and the overall experience of teaching.

He remarked that once he gets to know his students at the beginning of a new school year, he can almost 100% correctly identify each student’s parents at back to school night later in the fall. He said it’s amazing how similar in mannerisms and overall vibe kids this age are to their parents.

I find this incredible/hard to believe. What’s your take?

You never heard of "the apple doesn't fall far from tree" or "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch" or "people raise their own kind" because those are pretty universal worldwide sayings these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mostly agree. In many ways, our kids are very similar to us. But some of those things aren’t immediately obvious. But, I can believe there are a lot of tiny “tells” that we aren’t aware of that would identify us.

When I was in 2nd grade, a kid at open house told me that he saw my dad and little sister. They had been strolling the school without me while I stayed in my classroom. I asked him how he recognized them and he said "they have the same lips as you". Which is true.

[Anonymous]

Maybe not 100% but definitely the majority

[Anonymous]

I have 175 kids on my roster. I see them every other day. I barely know their names by the 2nd or 3rd week of school when we have back to school night. No way could I match them to parents.

The teacher next door to me though knows all the names by the end of the first week (I don’t know how, she’s a facial recognition genius!) and probably could match parents too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a retired teacher - 35 years. Most times I could definitely match the kid to the parent. It's not about looks - it's about mannerisms - just the vibe the OP mentioned.

That old saying: the apple doesn't fall far from the tree - tends to be correct. And it's true if the kid is your child by birth, adoption, step parenting. Living together creates this similarity. It is often hard for a parent to see.

What kind of mannerisms? I guess I’m just wondering how that’s possible when there are 30 kids in a math class and they’re just doing division all day. Also, from what I’ve observed, my older kid acts totally different at school than at home. But mine are younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ran into my one of my middle schooler’s teachers and had a pleasant interaction about this past school year and the overall experience of teaching.

He remarked that once he gets to know his students at the beginning of a new school year, he can almost 100% correctly identify each student’s parents at back to school night later in the fall. He said it’s amazing how similar in mannerisms and overall vibe kids this age are to their parents.

I find this incredible/hard to believe. What’s your take?

What a load of crap. I find this hard to believe. My kids teacher thought I was another kid's parent because we are both Indian.

Yikes! How absolutely awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I agree.

My kids get on my nerves because they have their dad's mannerisms.

Everything they do remind me of his annoying a$$.

We are not together ...haven't been in 9 years the whole point of being away is to not have to still have his mannerisms in my home. Ugh

My parents divorced when I was young. My mom tells a story of my dad bringing my brother and I home after a weekend with him and telling my mom “she’s your daughter” and he didn’t sound pleased.

[Anonymous]

My observation at the bus stop is that most kids are minis of their parents in some way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 175 kids on my roster. I see them every other day. I barely know their names by the 2nd or 3rd week of school when we have back to school night. No way could I match them to parents.

The teacher next door to me though knows all the names by the end of the first week (I don’t know how, she’s a facial recognition genius!) and probably could match parents too.

I have no clue which parents belong to which students. After they introduce themselves, I'm usually thinking, "Really?" or "Oh, yeah. I can see that."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I agree.

My kids get on my nerves because they have their dad's mannerisms.

Everything they do remind me of his annoying a$$.

We are not together ...haven't been in 9 years the whole point of being away is to not have to still have his mannerisms in my home. Ugh

I’m certain the feelings are mutual.