This article was so interesting! It talks about a study that reveals what combination of kids (number and gender) tends to relate to the most harmonious family lives (obviously somewhat subjective).
The short article is worth a read with stories and anecdotes to illustrate the findings, but here is the list from "best to worst" combination of siblings:
1. Two girls
2. One boy and one girl
3. Two boys
4. Three girls
5. Three boys
6. Four boys
7. Two girls and one boy
8. Two boys and one girl
9. Three boys and one girl
10. Three girls and one boy
11. Two boys and two girls
12. Four girls
This was interesting to read. I love stuff like this! Mark is the oldest of 6 boys (no girls). 5 are married and have children. All the families have at least one girl. But only one so far is about to have 2 girls (listed highest on the happy combo list). We have the combo that's listed #2 on the list and I would agree that things are pretty harmonious (most of the time). :P
How does your family rank and what do you think?
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14 comments:
We have 4 boys, 2 girls....Hmmm...we didn't even make it on the list. I felt like we were happy and somewhat harmonious growing up (more so now! Ha). We find out, hopefully, on the 29th what we will be having!!
My family's at #8 but the family I grew up in isn't there at all--but four girls and 2 boys made for some craziness, that's for sure!
I just read the article and now I have another comment, sorry! :)
My sister-in-law Holly is second oldest of 6 girls. They all get along like you wouldn't believe. They are loud and crazy and love each other to bits. But, the kicker, her dad is a plastic surgeon and they had a huge house and separate bathrooms. I honestly think happiness with girls close in age is related to the number of bathrooms available. I think our husbands parents are so lucky they only had boys, because trying to fit a girl into their house would have been a complete nightmare! :)
I find it interesting that if Emily and I ever have another, our only option is to go down in harmony. In my very subjective view, 1 of any kind is the most harmonious, and there is no where to go but down.
I wonder where "6 boys" fall. The Brits probably thought that was too insane to consider. I'll agree with Stacy--our one boy and one girl have worked out quite nicely.
I am laughing because 4 girls is on the very bottom, and disharmonious totally describes my child! (I have 3 sisters, 4 girls in all)
Very interesting stuff!
This is so interesting! I have to say that, even with one boy and one girl, over the years we've had plenty of disharmonious days! I am really happy with the way they get along in general, though. I grew up in a household with 3 girls (myself included) and even though that ranks pretty far up there, happy combo-wise, things were plenty disharmonious once everyone hit puberty.
Linds, I want a text or call when you find out! I wonder if you'll have another girl like Greg and Jess or if you'll have a boy next like us. Everyone else had two boys first.
Emily, I think you have a point about the bathrooms! 6 girls! Were there any boys in Holly's family growing up? And I agree about the in-laws - so weird to even think about.
Dave - interesting observation. I hadn't thought of it, but you're right. We're quitting while we're ahead. :P Heheheh. Seriously, we're very happy with our two.
Mark, I think it would've been interesting if they'd had a longer list of options.
Jill, no boys at all, right?
Cristin, I think puberty stands out so much in people's minds when we think back on our childhood memories -- looking at the list through those eyes really shows it in an interesting light.
Haha! So interesting! I'm loving the comments so far. I totally agree that a household a girls needs more bathrooms! My family growing up is #11 with 2 and 2. But we were pretty spread out in age and I think that played a big factor in how well we did or didn't get along. I'm glad that 2 girls is #1 because I've been gearing up for tons of drama. Maybe it'll all be kicks and giggles then?
We have a combo of many rankings: 2 girls, 2 boys, twin girls, then a lone boy... I think he needs a little brother. I think getting along has more to do with parenting/ teaching them to love & serve/ setting an example of what to do when things get rough/ showing them how to laugh/ teaching them they are not better than those around them because of their circumstances/ playing & working together/ realizing that sometimes they are just going to say things like, "he's breathing my air!" =)
They don't get big enough for mormon families :)
Four girls, one boy. I'd say we were about a 15 on the scale and that's about right.
I have 2 boys, 2 girls. # eleven on the harmonious scale. That explains some things...
Totally fascinating. So much for the millionaire family of two boys and two girls. It is sad that my situation ranks second to last. Chaos exists continually in my home. It is nice to have something that confirms the insanity of it all.
Loving the comments. This family numbers/birth order/psychology stuff is so interesting to me.
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