Nature vs Nurture

I always wonder how on earth 3 kids born to the same parents, brought up in exactly the same environment, nurtured with the same values, loved by the same people, eat the same food...yet, they grew up to be completely unique individuals. Allah maha besar. My 3 kids (excluding Sophie, she's too young to tell yet), Daniel, Kyle Harris and Ariana have developed their own unique personality. I guess in this aspect, nature triumph over nurture.

My first born, Muhammad Daniel was born in the States. So I wanted to give him a name that sounds a bit orang putih but must have a good meaning. Daniel is a name of a Prophet and it means 'brave' in hebrew. Born on 31/12/95 at Home Hospital, Lafayette, Indiana. He'll turn 14 this year and I'm very proud to say that my hubby and I are the youngest parents in his class. Always been a chubby baby, he is now taller and much heavier than me.

A high achiever I'd say. Always in top 5 in his class. Scored 5A in his UPSR exams but mommy dearie didn't want to send him away to a boarding school, so we didn't apply for one. He actually got admitted to one of the best schools in KL - St. John's. But it's too far away to commute from Shah Alam and he refused to stay in the hostel, so we enrolled him in a school very near our house instead. A decision that we hope we won't regret later in life.

Daniel has grown to be an extrovert. He could make friends with anyone, I mean anyone from small kids to bus driver, at an instant. He can talk his way out of a lot of things, and very persistent too. Very soft hearted and sensitive, but could be a bit insecure sometimes. He is now into magic tricks. In fact, he is invited to perform at his friend's brother's birthday party this weekend to perform his famed magic show, and make some pocket money out of it too.

Muhammad Kyle Harris on the other hand, is the total opposite of Daniel. When I was pregnant with him, I read the Quran quite a lot and came across the phrase kayla in surah Yussof many times. It inspired me to name him Kyle. Harris means 'pelindung'. Born at Damansara Specialist Hospital on 12/12/00, he is now in standard 3. Quite a good looking boy I'd say. This one is going to be a heart breaker.

Unlike Daniel, he is very introvert, not the type that like to be around people. He prefers to spend time alone playing games, reading (Mr Midnight series being his favourite read) or watching his favourite TV shows (Discovery and Discovery Science being his most favourite channels) rather than go out and play with friends. This boy is a one very hot tempered kid. He has broken so many furniture and even a 29" TV when he threw one of his infamous tantrums - a sign of middle child syndrome, I think. Despite his temper he is actually a very manja boy. He loves animal much like his daddy. Doing surprisingly well in school but struggling in bahasa malaysia subject. Of all kids, I feel that I could relate to him the most.

Ariana Suraya, her name literally means 'stars full of life'. Born on 22/9/04 at Damansara Specialist Hospital. My first daughter and daddy's favourite girl (but that status quo might change with Sophie in the picture now). What can I say about this little girl....she looks and behaves exactly like me when I was her age (according to my mom and the entire clan). Very talkative, she can talk and talk and talk for the whole day. She is so much like me that it scares me sometime. Started to turn to a stubborn little girl these days. I keep saying to myself, it's just a phase...

Her ambition is to become a princess one day. She only wants to wear everything that has a picture of a princess and only in pink (or purple sometimes). She even wear a crown to school almost everyday!! Like to sing and dance. At 3yrs old she already has a pair of high heels shoes. I was looking high and low for it when she demanded for it 2 years ago. She could get away with anything with her daddy and spoilt to the max (by her daddy of course). She gets everything she wants too, I mean EVERYTHING. Ohh, she picks what she wants to wear. If she didn't like the clothes I bought for her, she won't wear them, period. Did I mention that she wants to go to a princess school to learn how to be a princess...???

Well, here they are, an extrovert, an introvert and a princess. I wonder what will Sophie be...Allah Maha Kaya.