WOW thats a really interesting thought!

I'd like to get really deep but Jazz is having her 6.30 whinge and tanty so I'll just write my first thoughts and then come back later to compile the rest into something readable!

My first thought is that I think that parenting is CRUCIAL. I also think that parenting extends beyond how we treat our kids, and into how we treat others, because thats how our kids learn.
You could be 'the best' parent (by who's standard I don't know but anyway just roll with me here) to your kids, and then turn around and treat you partner or your friend or your neighbour or even the shop assistant at Woolies like crap, and I believe you've pretty much undone all of your 'best parenting'.
I also think that parenting, even though technically it wouldn't be CALLED parenting, extends to anyone who has regular contact with your child. See my next thought...

My second thought is... why do kids from the same family turn out so different? Well, everyone has their own experience. Their parents could be 'the best' but when that child steps into school they are watching their teacher 6 hours a day and they are learning a new set of values and ideals from this teacher. Two siblings, with two different carers (teachers) at school (or daycare etc), are going to put a new set of behaviours and ideas into their toolbox.

My third thought is... that even when considering my first and second thought, every person has a choice as to which tools they use from their lifes toolbox. We all have a whole bunch of great tools, and a whole bunch of not so great tools (I'll be the first to admit it, I find myself needing to put away some tools and take out others OFTEN...). Even with the 'best' parenting, the 'best' role models, limited negative experiences and a whole toolbox of positive tools to face life, a person can still choose to use the one negative tool in their toolbox. Or the opposite, a person could have a really negative set of tools, and choose to use the one positive tool they have picked up throughout their upbringing.

And the next question on your lips... why do some people choose positive tools and others choose negative? Hmmm, well i think the answer is within ourselves. We do we choose to use our positive tools (like patience in a slow moving shopping line!) sometimes, ad negative tools at others (huffing, puffing, sighing, and being cranky about the line moving so slow)? Good day? Bad day? Something else to do? Nothing else to do? A decison someone makes at one particular moment of time is influenced by a whole different set of circumstances than if they were faced with this same situation the day before or the day after... Sometimes it can be a life-changing (positive or negative) experience, sometimes their are regrets... but everyone makes the choice they feel is the right choice for them at that particular moment in time...

Well, anyway, thats my thoughts...
Ok that was longer than I thought it would be...