Do introverted parents tend to have introverted kids?

[phoria]

What's your experience? Currently pregnant and wondering what baby's personality would be like. I'm a real introvert and feel like I would understand an introverted child more although I know there are no guarantees!

I am a bookish, academic, introvert. DS is the same. DD is extroverted, creative, bouncing and fizzing with energy. I love them both so much. They have both taught me so much.

One thing that really helps DD is sending her to theatre school where she can be around lots of other creative and outgoing people. And DS and I get a few hours of peace to read .

I also think going to nursery /preschool helped DD as she thrived off all their creative and lively activities - I don't have a creative bone in my body!

@Hardbackwriter. That's a very good point. My DH doesn't particularly value friendships whereas I do - although introverted, I have a few very good friends that I am in very regular correct with while DH can go months without contacting his supposed friends . I realised the other day that I've unconsciously stressed the value of friendships to DS since he was very little - "We're going to see your friend Elsie this morning, won't that be fun!", "Wasn't it nice to play with Jacob today, hopefully we'll see him soon" etc. Even if the children spent the whole time snatching toys and having tantrums ! So maybe that has something to do with DS viewing interactions with other children positively.

I have a very out going mum and numerous siblings. I'm the oldest and I think I'm an introvert due to the chaos at home while younger and wanting to get away from that.

I'm introverted massively and all 3 of my children are extroverts. I'm so proud of them and really wish I was a little bit more like them

H, DC1 and I are all strongly introverted
DC2 extrovert
TBH we can find her tiring, but equally she finds us frustrating. there's lots of turn taking!
Agree with the tip to take them where other children are - beach, park etc. I can say to DC2 "go make a friend" and she does. The other three of us are quite in awe of this.

My partner and I are both fairly introverted but our 4 year old DD is an extrovert. If someone says something to her, she will have a good, long chat with them so much that they can't get away. It's really cute so it's so awkward for me

dh is an introvert but in work scenarios quieter than many but not invisible due to his senior role.

i am very awkward at work and keep my head down outside of work.

both DC seem fairly quiet at school, not right in the middle of things.

so in our little house, yes, we are quiet. i do worry that it as they grow older their social circle wont be as wide as it could and they might not be as involved as they could with groups and teams.

my parents were both very introverted.

dh's parents were one introverted and one very sociable.

I'm a moderate introvert. Two extrovert children. Dh is an extrovert but not massively so.

Our whole family are sociable introverts we love seeing others and socialising but recharge alone or as a family. Kids horrified at suggestion of bringing friends on holiday neither can properly relax with others there funny as dh and I are the same. We love going to a party or night out but struggle to spends hours and days with others our 2 kids both the same.

My Mum was very sociable, chatty and could make conversation with anyone. My Dad slowly became that way too but was quiet when he was young. I am an extreme introvert whereas my Sister was a social butterfly. But I think school had major impacts on us as children; Sister was very academically gifted, popular and got along well in general. I always lacked confidence and that was just confirmed by bullying. I think one of the worst comments I got from a classmate was being asked 'why is your Sister so pretty and you're so ugly?'. As a kid that pretty must slays your confidence, being asked that more than once pretty much puts the nail in the coffin, lol.

Build them up in confidence & self worth.

We have one of each. It's fascinating.

@phoria

Hardbackwriter, that's interesting. I've never really thought about it before but I do wonder how much of introversion/extroversion is nature v nurture. I was a shy, quiet kid but I always got told off any time I was loud and boisterous at home so this made it worse. Saying that I don't think being an introvert is a bad thing at all!

To be clear I don't think being an introvert is at all a bad thing either! And I think DH is probably more on the introvert end of the spectrum, just not as extreme as his parents and I think it never really occurred to them that he might not be like them in that regard. They're both really nice people but struggle a bit to remember that not everyone is exactly like them and that their way isn't the only or even necessarily the best way - something that I think is equally likely to be found in extroverts, and I have also seen the same thing in extrovert parents trying to force introvert children to 'be more social' or to enjoy the exact same hobby as they do - a lot of people seem embarrassed by it if their children are shy, which can be horrible to watch. So I definitely wasn't trying to say that introverts generally force their children to be introverts but that I think it's a bad thing to assume your children will be just like you (which is also why gender disappointment threads where the poster wants a daughter to go shopping and drink coffee with also make me shudder...)

Two massive introverts here.
DS was a huge extrovert as a small child but grew up to be introverted.

I’m very introverted. One of my kids is the same, the other fairly extroverted.

I'm an extrovert, my ex was as well, DS1 is an extrovert.

DH huge introvert. DS2 fathered by DH is an obvious introvert too. It's very cute!

I don't think it's nurture over nature, because it's not really about what you seek out as such but about what energises vs exhausts you.

I read somewhere majority of people are extroverts. Unless you are on mn where majority seem to be introverts

You don’t inherit introversion or extroversion, but you certainly grow up internalising certain modes of behaviour as ‘normal’.

A friend of mine is an extreme introvert solitary who wants nothing more than to never leave the house unless he has to for work, maintains no friendships, and is thrown into distress for a week either side of the most innocuous appointment, like a parent-teacher meeting. He is also very sedentary. He finds my life (and I’m far from wildly extrovert or very sociable) an unbearable whirl of activity.

His ex-wife is not dissimilar, and spends all her free time on a solitary indoor hobby. Neither have extended family nearby, and as neither parent ever sees friends, they are their children’s only real role models.

It is hardly surprising, then, that their children never leave the house apart from for school, do no sports, classes or hobbies, and spend all their time gaming. I think it’s more learned behaviour than anything else. In the case of the children, I think it’s been very life-limiting.

My extrovert child is shy and anxious (until he knows somebody) and my introvert child (and husband) are thrill seekers! The loud/boisterous quiet/shy stereotypes are really nothing to do with this.

blue I think introverts are probably more likely to be users of any internet forum!

It is only about 30/60 either way in RL so no huge difference anyway.

Often.

I am an ambivert, mainly extrovert, but a tiny bit introvert: I am a party animal and crave close friendships and time with people. But I love being at home, time on my own and I need space.

Both ds's are similar.

I would say, generally yes. But of course that depends whether you will also be a sahm or whether they will go to nursery from a young age which can also make a difference.

We are both introverts:

DS1 also introvert, though loves to talk about his interests (ASD)
DS2 extrovert, loves company at all times!

I am an introvert but I put on a good show as I was not allowed too be one as a child. Some of the training stuck. Dh maintains he is, but he is more socially lazy than a real introvert. Ds is a real introvert - so happy with his own company. Dd appears to be an introvert, as in she can be shy and picky with company, but she has a wide circle of friends.
Despite their profiles, I still felt bruised at the end of the day when they were young. Probably the worst thing about parenting. Much better now.

Me and DP are both highly intorverted. Our first dd is also quiet, shy, sweet, sensitive and introspective. The second dd though, my word! Definitely not an introvert. Wild, loud and crazy-sociable. She came as a bit of a shock.

DH is a introvert, i am the complete opposite, although i do enjoy time away from others.
We have six children, four are introverts and two are real extroverts.