Jacob 2:18 "But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God"
I love how this scripture ties both topics from the week together. In-laws relationships and family finances. We know that families can be forever. I like the reminder that that also includes our in-law relationships. I feel so blessed, because I have amazing in-laws that I love dearly. I feel that they were very supportive of my husband and I creating our own family, yet were always there for love and support. I didn't even know that my husband and I would need to create boundaries with our families when we were first married. Having in-laws that understood that was instrumental in us becoming our own family. I am so thankful for that.
In the Harper and Oleson reading, "Creating Healthy Ties with In-Laws and Extended Family" we learn about ways in which a woman can improve her bonds with her mother-in-law. Spending quality time together was one of those tips. I have found that I love spending time with my mother-in-law so much that I find excuses to get to do it. We only see them about 3 times a year. When we do see them, I am eager at the chance to cook with her, shop with her, or go to lunch with her. It truly has been in those moments that we have created our own relationship and bonded.
This lesson was also about money habits. I love the study of behavior, so I was truly fascinated by the birth-order theory regarding money in the book, "Till Debt do us Part". I am a last born, and my husband is a first born. Poduska suggests that first borns are very conservative with their money. They like to be in control of the finances. They are the ones who make the budget and makes sure everyone sticks to it. Well, this is not the case with my husband. He couldn't care less about a budget and cringes if I bring it up. He is not a conservative saver, but is a spender. Poduska says that last born children are impulsive with money and don't like to be controlled by a budget. This is somewhat true for me as a last born, although I LOVE budgets. I would like to understand more about if Poduska thinks family rules trump birth order. My guess is yes. My guess is that my husband and I learned more from the "money rules" of our family than were engrained in us from birth order.
Does Poduska's birth order theory match for you and your spouse? Or do you find that you get your financial habits from your family rules?
