Who in your family has had the greatest postive or negative influence on you?

Well, I would have to say the greatest influence is my father. Even though he worked a lot I guess I saw that growing up and I basically modeled myself after him. I then became the worker that he was. My mother was always there and like all italian mothers, over protective. My most negative influence was Catholic school. I felt punished there. Me as well as other kids were demeaned and humiliated. I was told by a few Nuns that I was stupid and dumb and would never amount to nothing. What I learned from the 8 years that I was there is very simple, never trust anyone. I lost all respect for those religious people and look at them as the evil ones. I Also learned to build a wall around me and never let anyone in. It worked for me for a long time. Then I got married, what a mistake. I married the wrong girl. That lasted for 17 years. I figured I would get married once and that was it. I also trusted my ex like you're supposed to. That was a fatal mistake. I should have kept that wall up at all times. She left after 17 years and took the kids. That devastated me, not because of her, but because of the kids. I still have not recovered from that. Although I am now in a great relationship with the girl I should have married way back when. I guess we live and learn. But now, that wall is bigger then ever and will never come down. I will take all the resentment, hatred and regrets with me to the grave. I own that and no one can take that away from me. I just wish someone would have stopped me back then. Well, there it is in a nutshell.

The family member who has had the most positive influence on me is my Grandmother. She was always there for us growing up. I learned to be kind to everyone from seeing her be kind to everyone she met. Now I get to watch my children learn from her also. The person who has the most negitive influence on me is my mother-in-law. It doesn't matter what I do, she is always judging me. She makes rude comments to me and even has been known to be mean to the kids. My husband finally had to step in and tell her that she cannot treat us that way. Even after all the heartache she has caused us, I will still talk to her because she is family and we love her. I have included her into our lives, taking her on family trips, out to eat, and to our home for Holidays. This is something I have always done and have been nothing but sweet to her because I seen how hard it was for my mom to have my brother move out and start a family of his own. I learned how to not treat my daughter-in-law or son-in-law from her. I accept her for who she is but my husband said that we can no longer allow her negitivity on us and our kids. It's just a sad situation. It is getting a little better though.

What confidence? I never had confidence in anything I did save music. But then again I assumed I was suppose to fail everything save math and music. And then late history. Good influences? My parents? They loved me and each other but that didn't help me see that I could do anything right . Bad influences , i didn't have any. I just Knew I would never be good enough.So I saw love but never let it influence me. I didn't see any bad things at home but just thought it was because I was the evil one. Did I answer your question?

My parents, without question. There is noone in my family who has affected me in a negative way, and I have the greatest respect for them all. There is an uncle who's career has always impressed me.

My grand mother on my mother's side has given much of an important point of view how to face life with humour and to live in the presence. My grandmother on my father's side was much for looking good and be respectfully dressed for every occasion. My grandfather on my mother's side did learn me to work first then get paid for your work.