How Birth Order Affects Your Marriage - A Must Read!

Many married couples see things so differently and part of the reason this happens is because of the couples' birth order and there place in their family of origin. 

If the husband is the youngest child in his family, and the wife the oldest in hers .. they are bound to see things differently because of there birth order. Couple who have different experiences growing up, and those experiences shape their behavior, personalities and even their relationship with each other. Understanding this has everything to do with the couples marriage thriving. With just a little knowledge about birth order, you, too, can build the kind of marriage that makes others say, "Wow, I want one of those!"

Why you are the way you are

Nothing in life is cookie-cutter, and birth order isn't, either. But understanding the basics provides clues about why you think, feel and respond the way you do. You learned to be the person you are based on the way your parents and siblings interacted with you. The little girl or boy you once were, you still are.

Here are a few insights about firstborns, middleborns and lastborns:

Firstborns rule.

If you are a firstborn, you were the family guinea pig for parenting techniques. You were the first child to eat dead ladybugs, walk, plunge into puberty and drive. With the spotlight of parental expectations on you, is it any wonder you're a perfectionist?
How Birth Order Affects Your Marriage - A Must Read!
Firstborns are well-organized list makers and leaders with lots of practice. (They were held responsible for their siblings.) They take life seriously, feeling the pressure to be better and do better. They crave details and are often critical of themselves and others. Take firstborn qualities and supercharge them, and you've got the only child.

Middleborns mediate.

If you are a middleborn, you took one look at the star above you and decided, No way can I compete with that. So you went in the opposite direction. Stuck in the middle, you learned how to negotiate peace between warring siblings. Since you were least likely to be noticed missing, is it any surprise you focused on friends and are very loyal?

Middleborns are great diplomats. They avoid conflict. They're independent and secretive. They don't often share feelings and are surprised when others pay attention to them.
Lastborns charm.

If you are a lastborn, you grew up as the apple of your parents' eye. You manipulated siblings into doing your work, but they also used you to get what they wanted from your parents. Who could say no to you? You are the entertainer. Your life catchphrase is, "Don't worry. Be happy."

Lastborns are people-oriented and can sell anything. They're affectionate, engaging and act impulsively. They love to be the center of attention, and "Surprise" is their middle name.

Birth-order matchups

So, how does birth order play out in your marriage, and how can you use it to strengthen your relationship? To answer that question, let's take a look at the unique dynamics of each birth-order matchup:

Firstborn + Firstborn

It's inevitable that two firstborns — perfectionists with a need for control — will bump heads. To reduce tension and increase harmony, define your roles. Who will take out the garbage? Schedule car repair? Balance the checking account? Having a clear division of labor will help. Marriage is a partnership, not a "Doing it my way" song. Prune "you should" out of your vocabulary. Say a simple thank you instead of "improving" on what your mate says and does. When a criticism pops into your mind, consider the consequences before you speak. Celebrate little and big successes … together.

Firstborn + Middleborn

Middleborns tend to avoid conflict, yet they're good compromisers. Since firstborns are strong in opinion, discussing events and feelings is critical in your marriage. Typical middle children will say, "Everything is fine," but need to be encouraged to share their real feelings. Firstborns can say, "Tell me how you really feel. I want to hear more," and ask, "What do you think?" The perceptive middleborn has so much to offer, including wonderful problem-solving skills.

Firstborn + Lastborn

Firstborns provide structure, goals and organization that is often lacking in lastborns, and lastborns heighten the much-needed fun quotient for overly serious firstborns. If you're the firstborn, let flaws go or gently suggest how to correct them. Don't set expectations too high. Would the world really end if a speck of lint resided on your mate's clothing?

If you're the lastborn, give your mate attention and strokes, even if he or she appears confident and in control. Make sure you run everything by your "detailed" husband or wife before scheduling it. Focus on serving each other, and always laugh together.

Middleborn + Middleborn

Neither of you is big on confrontation, and you've been reared to discount your opinions. That means you must work hard to make your spouse feel special, build up self-worth and show mutual respect. Brainstorm fun ways to keep your hearts close. Jot notes about important happenings when you're away from each other and use them as discussion starters for your meals together. Provide plenty of space for outside friendships, but don't forget the most important relationship — the two of you.

Middleborn + Lastborn

Middleborns like relationships to be smooth; lastborns like fun. Both birth orders specialize in friendships. To build a thriving marriage, middleborns need to blend their social interests with activities the lastborn thinks are fun. Lastborns must back off from always being in the spotlight and allow the middleborn to shine. Because middleborns take the path of least resistance, lastborns need to say, "I'd love your opinion on this." Above all, work on making sure the other person feels pampered and special.

Lastborn + Lastborn

Like otters in a stream, youngest children like to play, but life requires some structure, detail and attention to the mundane, such as paying bills. Decide who specifically will do what, and then find ways to build in mutual accountability — lists, alarms set on cellphones, whatever. Leave it to babies to come up with fun ideas for approaching the requirements of life.
And two become one

A thriving marriage isn't instant. It requires two people working together in an environment of love, support and mutual respect. Loving your mate means understanding how he or she views life, keeping in mind that birth order will influence that viewpoint. Regardless of how birth order plays out in your marriage, both of you can choose to change how you respond to and interact with each other.

Back to my wife and the TV crew. What would I, the freewheeling lastborn, have done differently in relating to my cautious, firstborn wife? I'd tell her just two or three days beforehand — not a full week before the appointment. It would save me a lot of housekeeping grief but still give her time to happily plan the menu and feel comfortable with the details. However, if capturing my bride's heart comes with a boatload of housecleaning, I wouldn't change a thing in how I handled the situation. This lastborn would do whatever was necessary to connect with that firstborn — in a heartbeat!


Dr. Kevin Leman is The New York Times best-selling author of The Birth Order Book and Have a Happy Family by Friday.


Welcome To Oudney Patsika's Blog: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World: In today’s media-driven, distracted culture, your message must be amplified to reach a larger audience.

Contact Us through the Chat with WhatsApp widget below.
Previous Post Next Post
avatar
Oudney Patsika Online
One of the primary goals of Oudney Patsika is to use media to change the cultural narrative. He aims to impact today’s culture with more accurate, responsible, and positive media stories about Christianity and the Church. Get In Touch Today!
WhatsApp Chat