Successful Partnerships: Growing Up is the Key

Our first lessons in relationships come from our parents. As children grow up and approach the stage of romantic relationships, a boy needs to move away from his mother’s influence and look to his father, learning from him what it means to become a true man. Similarly, a girl needs to shift from her father's influence to her mother’s, learning from her what it means to be a true woman. A successful partnership is most likely to form between a "father’s son"—a true man—and a "mother’s daughter"—a true woman. Additionally, if a man is a "father’s son," he is more likely to have a positive relationship with his father-in-law after marriage. Likewise, a "mother’s daughter" tends to get along well with her mother-in-law. On the other hand, a "mother’s cherished son" might win the favor of his mother-in-law, but he may struggle to build a strong relationship with his father-in-law. A "father’s cherished daughter" might have a good relationship with her father-in-law, but she could face challenges connecting with her mother-in-law.

Extracted from “Rising in Love” by Bert Hellinger