I began grooming my children for the corporate grind from a very young age.

My sister growing up was very outgoing and athletic. She's practically a hermit now working as an editor but is happy and successful. I grew up very shy and had few friends but always knew what I wanted to "be" and made it happen for myself despite not being very academic growing up. I married an extrovert and became way more social than I would have ever imagined in my youth. I doubt my parents could have guessed what would have come of us when we were young.

Well, what I've noticed the most is that my oldest son takes after me and my youngest son after my husband both in character and physically. (The good traits and the bad ones too)

Anonymous wrote:“Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.”

So much of personality is shaped in years 1-5 which we really know so little about.

My siblings and I were all very consistent from childhood into adulthood. Our kids are still younger so haven’t seen it from that perspective.

My son’s personality has changed dramatically since his early years. Can’t agree with this.

Anonymous wrote:Do what you can, don't worry about what you can't. Do love, protect and nurture your children. Don't put any labels and don't compare. You are not the only person shaping them, lots of other people and circumstances would contribute, negatively and positively. Give them confidence to talk to adults and stand up for themselves.

My kids are teens. They are confident, are doing well in school, have friends and interests...But they are not especially nice to us, very selfish and self-centered, materialistic too. I do worry they will be that way forever.

My child is 17 and I still don't know what kind of adult she'll be. She's autistic/ADHD, which means her executive function skills are very delayed. Plus, in high school she's expected to do what adults tell her, while in adulthood, she'll have more freedom to focus on her interests. I can't wait to see how she does in conditions that let her shine -- while still knowing that anxiety and depression could derail her at any time.

Do what you can, don't worry about what you can't. Do love, protect and nurture your children. Don't put any labels and don't compare. You are not the only person shaping them, lots of other people and circumstances would contribute, negatively and positively. Give them confidence to talk to adults and stand up for themselves.

Yes. Based on my friends and siblings - looking back from age 60 - I don’t think you can always tell as a teen or even young adult. Sure there are personality traits that stay consistent from childhood on- but i never would’ve predicted some of the choices some people I know have made. Including myself. So not sure about my kids either. Reminds me of the series 7-up on BBC. If you haven’t seen it - check it out. Very interesting how these kids all turned out.

I’ve had a bit of a wild ride, I don’t know if anyone could have predicted where I would be now based on where I was as a 5 yr old, 10 yr old, 15 yr old, etc.

Not sure what your motivation is in asking, but I would guess that it is very dependent on the person - some follow a predictable trajectory & some don’t, with lots of variation in between. What are you concerned about?

Anonymous wrote:“Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.”

So much of personality is shaped in years 1-5 which we really know so little about.

My siblings and I were all very consistent from childhood into adulthood. Our kids are still younger so haven’t seen it from that perspective.

I disagree. I have known so many people who shifted drastically after puberty. I also have changed a lot as an adult.