I've never bought Tide detergent because my mother always did.

My mom died at 39. I'm 39 now. I don't want to do that.

Both of my parents smoke incessantly. I have never, ever even been curious about cigarettes. Nasty.

There is a long list of things that I am trying very hard not to do that my parents did. Things like disrespecting others and being a blowhard know-it-all. I find it rather depressing, as I often fail to prevent outbreaks. It's like I'm doomed to be this way, with only minor respites of clarity. I've been thinking a lot about that lately.

It's funny reading a lot of these as there are many (Tide and other products, smoking, beating my wife) that my parents used/did that I do as well.

But one thing that I vowed that I would never do that my parents did was to get a divorce.

I try not to be late. I'm generally overly early. My mother, for whatever reason, hates getting anywhere even on time. She HAS to be late.

I don't gamble

I don't go to the races

I try to smile at all times

I try to live happily with out yelling constantly

I try.....!!!

Thanks Dad for making me a better person than you were!

In a more serious vein than my initial answer, I don't think my parents have been that big an influence on me. But one thing did occur to me.

I never argue or complain about price. My stepfather was embarrassing in this regard. He'd complain to a cashier about the price of a pair of pants while he was buying them. I was always mortified and felt it emphasized our poverty (we were).

So now, I will go to great lengths to act as if price doesn't matter. For the most part this is true since I don't really have any qualms about spending money but as an example, I will for the most part never ask "how much is this" before I buy something because then if I don't buy it, it will look like it was because of the price.

I don't drink
Or swear
I don't rat my hair
I get ill from one cigarette

I eat at restaurants other than delis.

I saved money continue to do so.

I don't talk politics in social situations with people who don't agree with me unless I absolutely have to, and then I keep things down to a low roar. I also don't insult people in those situations.

Partially in relation to the flip-side thread, I wonder if I've ever NOT done something because my mom or dad did, and what is the moment that happens? I generally don't choose against something because someone does it, whether I like that person or not - the same applies to my parents. Then, I have been rather removed from them as parents so maybe it's like me doing not doing something because some guy down the street does it.

If anything, I've made a point to be able to recognize and leave a relationship that's bad or not working. If I leave, I mean it. I don't turn around the next afternoon and cry to come back. It's hard, but you have to value yourself before anyone else will value you. I do that, because my mom didn't.