Mom or Dad?

Happy Tuesday #Jontourage,

Welcome back to the “Classy Gent Chronicles”, where staying classy is the only way to be. For this week’s edition, we are going to play a fun game. But first, a little backstory for you. So I was raised by my mom and dad. My parents have done a great job of loving me and supporting me in all that I do. I would like to think that I am very close with both of them but there are some distinctive differences.

I get my planning skills from my mom. She is the most organized person I know. She has a folder for everything and a file cabinet for every folder. We probably have the current world record for most file cabinets in one household. My mom used to work in the music industry so she is the one who introduced me to my favorite singer, Mya. We are both entrepreneurs (my mom makes her own jewelry and I write books). My mom and I are both left-handed. Lastly, we both love hugs.

However, my dad and I connect differently. My dad is the one who started my love for going to the movies. We both enjoy crime shows. We both are competitive. I definitely get my work ethic from my dad. We don’t mind working long hours. We both hate staying out late. We both love volunteering in the community mentoring youth (my dad has even helped me secure some speaking engagements when I started my author career).  
Below are 23 questions that my mom, my dad, and I all answered. To make sure this was completely fair, we all completed the quiz at different locations without discussing the answers with each other. Before we get into the results, my prediction is that my dad and I will have more in common. Without any further delay, let’s see which parent I am more like...

1. If someone is treating you to a meal at a restaurant, what are you ordering?
Jonathan: Chicken Alfredo
Dad:  Chicken
Mom: Chicken & shrimp pasta Alfredo.
Result: Point 1 for mom

2. Describe your ideal vacation.
Jonathan: Something near water and a place that I can explore with some nice restaurants 
Dad:  Cruiseship
Mom: On a small tropical island like Aruba - palm trees, white sands, turquoise water.
Result: Point 1 for mom

3. What is your favorite type of show to watch on television?
Jonathan: Crime Shows specifically Law and Order SVU
Dad:  Action shows
Mom: Reality TV / Discovery Channel & Animal Planet
Result: No points for mom or dad :(

4. You’re building your ideal salad, what three toppings are going into the salad?
Jonathan: French Dressing, Cheese, Chicken
Dad: Cucumbers, tomatoes and french dressing 
Mom: 3-Bean salad, red onions & banana peppers
Result: 1 point for dad...since we both said french dressing

5. You just found out you’re getting $10,000 back from taxes... how are you spending the money?
Jonathan: Paying down bills, investing in my business, mini-vacation
Dad: Going on vacation, fixing the roof.
Mom: Buy children and grandchildren what they need most, pay bills, new clothes for my weight loss, new roof, real estate business marketing.
Result: 1 point for mom since we both said paying bills and 1 point for dad since we both said vacation

6. You’re trying to go to sleep and someone is being really loud outside of your home. What is your next step?
Jonathan: Go outside and ask them to quiet down
Dad: Go out to ask them to be quiet 
Mom: Make anonymous call to police
Result: 1 point for dad

7. You have to read a book but you get to choose the genre. What type of book are you reading?
 Jonathan: Self-help book
Dad: Action book
Mom: Inspirational/Self-help.
Result: 1 point for mom

8. You have a long car ride and you can only listen to one genre of music the entire time. Which genre of music are you jamming to?
 Jonathan: R&B
Dad:  Oldies but goodies
Mom: Reggae
Result: This is a tricky one but is oldies really a genre? It’s kinda not so no points for mom or dad :(

9. You have a job offer that pays $500,000 for the year but in that year you can’t see your family at all. Would you take the job?
Jonathan: Yes
Dad: Yes
Mom: Yes I would make this huge sacrifice because the $500,000 would allow me to really help the family when I return after one year.  We can take a wonderful long vacation to Aruba once I return. Could I sneak a Facetime at 3am every week?
Result: 1 point for mom and 1 point for dad

10. If you could guest star on any tv show past or present, which show would you star in?
Jonathan: WWE Monday Night Raw
Dad:  Blacklist
Mom: I Dream of Jeannie
Result: No points for mom or dad 

11. What condiments belong on a hot dog?
Jonathan: Preferably nothing because I love my hot dogs plain but if I HAD to choose, then I pick ketchup
Dad: Ketchup and relish
Mom: Mustard and onions are my favorites.
Result: 1 point for dad since we both said ketchup

12. What are your top three foods to eat for breakfast?
Jonathan: French Toast, Eggs, Oatmeal
Dad: Bacon, eggs, potatoes
Mom: Pancakes, ham and fried potatoes.
Result: 1 point for dad since we both said eggs

13. If your house catches on fire, what are the top three things you’re grabbing before you exit?
Jonathan: Wallet, Phone, Computer
Dad: Pants, shoes, money
Mom: Family members, my purse and cell phone.
Result: 1 point for mom and 1 point for dad
 
14. If you had to come up with $100,000 in one week, how would you do it?
Jonathan: Make an online fundraiser campaign
Dad: Take out a loan
Mom: Sell the house to an all-cash buyer.
Result: No points for mom or dad

15. If you could make any annoying thing that humans do into a crime, what would you make illegal?
 Jonathan: People who stop walking in the middle of a public place
Dad: Talking in the movies
Mom: Loud chewing
Result: No points for mom or dad :(

16. If someone owes you $200 and you ran into them, would you bring it up to them or wait for them to bring up the money?
 Jonathan: I would bring it up
Dad:  Bring it up to them
Mom: Wait for them to bring it up.
Result: 1 point for dad

17. What is the most necessary food for a cookout?
Jonathan: The burgers
Dad:  Hot dogs
Mom:  Hamburgers
Result: 1 point for mom

18. Would you rather have all traffic lights you approach be green or never have to stand in line again?
Jonathan: Green lights
Dad:  Traffic lights green
Mom: Never have to stand in line again.
Result: 1 point for dad

19. Would you rather your shirts be always two sizes too big or one size too small?
Jonathan: Two sizes two big
Dad:  2 sizes too big
Mom: One size too small.  Baggy clothes do not look good.
Result: 1 point for dad
​
20. Someone is willing to pay you $500 a month if they and their 2-month-old baby can move in. The baby cries a lot and usually cries late at night. Would you let them move in?
Jonathan: Yes I would let them move in.
Dad: No
Mom: I would, but would prefer to find them another place to live.
Result: 1 point for mom
​
21. The restaurant you’re at runs out of what you’re planning to order. Do you order something else or leave the restaurant?
Jonathan: Order something else
Dad:  Order something else
Mom: Order something else
Result: 1 point for mom and dad

22. If you’re playing “Rock, Paper, Scissors”, which is the best choice?
Jonathan: Rock
Dad:  I don’t play that
Mom: I don’t know how to play.
Result: No points for mom and dad :(

23. You only have time to iron either your pants or your shirt, which one are you ironing?
Jonathan: Shirt
Dad:  Pants
Mom: Shirt - because that is closest to my face that people will see first.
Result: 1 point for mom 

Final Results: 10 points for mom and 11 points for dad.  Congratulations DAD!!! So my prediction was correct but my mom and I were also pretty close in answers too. ​​

Moral of the story: I am grateful for both parents.  Both of them have helped shape me into the person I am today.  ​It is their differences that helped give me two different perspectives to life.  Remember, in order to live out your dreams, you have to think it, feel it, live it! Until next time, stay classy...
​
For more Classy Gent Chronicles blog post, be sure to visit https://www.authorjon.com/blog