A RealFamilies RealFun Blog

Apr 8 2009

The photographer's subject

Category: Kids & Growing Up

I attended a business class the other day through my local chamber of commerce. The speaker discussed how studies show that most people's personalities are set by the time they're 10, though some researchers say as young as eight.

I really don't believe that. My kids' personalities were set in stone since they were born. Nathan has always been on the go and somewhat on the impatient side (which explains why he was born seven weeks early).

Lucie is the artistic one and likes to dance, draw and paint. While Nathan tends to pick outfits that don't match (thank goodness for school uniforms), Lucie's terrific with color. I was blown away when she picked an outfit -- panties, shirt, pants, socks and shoes -- that not only matched, but was a pretty sophisticated combination of light pink, hot pink, white and black.

So, I'm not surprised that Lucie's interested in photography. It goes with her personality and interests. But what amazes me is that she's good at it at such a young age. She's taken some really good shots -- subjects are in focus, centered and usually don't have their heads chopped off. There's a bit of an issue with her finger getting in the way, but that's just a matter of training her to hold the camera properly.

Now, if I could only get her brother to stop pulling down his pants every time she takes a photo of him. Needless to say, that behavior fits with the wild, naughty monkey side of Nathan's personality.