You can tell your husband that his fears are largely unfounded. The good news is that middle children often grow up to be unusually well-adjusted, easy-going adults. Dr. Kevin Leman, who has done a great deal of research in the field of birth order studies, says that, on the whole, middle kids tend to do quite well. Their “in-between” position teaches them to be flexible, balanced, and good at coping with a wide variety of situations. They also tend to be good negotiators.
Of course, there is a downside – as with anything else. The middle child’s unique experience of life sometimes inclines him to avoid conflict at all costs. Because of this, he often learns to keep his real thoughts and feelings deep inside. Under certain circumstances, these characteristics can lead to problems later in life, particularly in marriage. That’s because in order to have a healthy, thriving marriage, couples need to be able to communicate their deepest feelings to each other. But this is not an issue that is likely to impact you, your husband, or the rest of your family during your kids’ early years.
To counteract some of these tendencies, Dr. Leman suggests that parents make an intentional effort to spend plenty of one-on-one time with their middle child – enough time to listen carefully to his heart and make him feel special. It’s especially important that mom and dad avoid comparing the middle child with an older brother or sister.
On the whole, then, there’s very little reason for you and your husband to be overly concerned about the impact that a third child might have upon your second one. If you’d like to discuss your concerns with a member of our staff, feel free to contact our Counseling department.
Resources
If a title is currently unavailable through Focus on the Family, we encourage you to use another retailer.
The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are
Understanding How Birth Order Impacts Your Marriage (broadcast)
How Birth Order Affects Your Parenting (broadcast)
Referrals
John Rosemond: Parenting with Love and Leadership
Articles
