Monday, March 24, 2014

The Gender Issue

I saw this article pop up in my Facebook feed and took a look. Y'all know I can't resist an article by a new or newish mom. I find them so funny. Just like experienced moms found me a long time ago. Anyway, this one lists 10 things people should never say to mother's of girls.

Seriously, no one EVER said any of these things to me and I have FOUR daughters.

Maybe it's because I'm not very approachable or maybe people around here aren't that stupid. Who knows? Seriously, the dumbest thing anyone ever said to me was when my MIL said that the screaming we were hearing HAD to be coming from one of the girls because boys don't do that. It was her grandson.

Mostly, people said supportive, kind things IF they had comments at all.

Here are the ten things the articles lists:

  • Aren't you going to try for a boy?
  • Girls are so much easier than boys.
  • Teenage girls are the worst.
  • She probably has lots of boyfriends.
  • She needs to learn how to cook.
  • Three women in the house! Your husband must be miserable.
  • They sure eat a lot for girls.
  • You're lucky- Girls are so helpful around the house.
  • God forbid if you're all on your periods at the same time. 
  • Girls are so emotional. 
And, of course, here are my responses:

  • Why in the world would I want do that? I grew up with three brothers and my husband is a MESS. I know what boys are REALLY like. So, I repeat: Why in the world would I want to do that?
  • There is no way this is an intelligent, educated statement. It seems to me that raising kids, regardless of gender, is NOT easy. Rewarding? Yes. Best thing EVER? Yes. Easy? NO. 
  • Ha! To be perfectly honest, I've never met a teenager who was pleasant to be around 24/7. They've all got attitude running amok regardless of their gender.
  • No she doesn't. Because she's way too smart to fall for the lines (that NEVER change no matter which century we live in) that boys keep feeding her. 
  • NEEDS to learn how to cook? No she doesn't. She should learn to cook if that's something she wants to learn how to do. In order to feed herself when she grows up. NOT so that she can feed some coddled boy when he grows up.
  • Nope. You've never met a luckier man in all your life who loved having daughters.
  • Have you honestly met a GROWING kid of either gender NOT eat a lot? During a growth spurt, every kid I've ever known eats a lot. 
  • Not my girls. House keeping was NEVER high on the list of things the lovelies did while growing up. Not a single one of them enjoy it to this day AND, only one really puts forth the effort. 
  • Way to spread an old wives tale.
  • Guess who the most emotional person is in our family? That's right. The man. He cries all the time. Always has. It is SO freaking annoying. To all of us. He gets emotional over EVERYTHING. Even stuff that the rest of us find totally and completely NOT worthy of an emotional episode. 
Yes, there are differences between the genders. That's the way we were created. It's just a fact. I know some of us partake in the humorous side of pointing out differences once we've become adults.  But I have to wonder why that's something that needs to be used as a form of attack against one or the other. Especially when children are involved. 

What's your take on this one? 

9 comments:

  1. I just had to pop over when I saw the title of your post little Pam! Your answers were really tremendous. Good for you. As a mum of two daughters, I totally agree with you. Long live the Revolution!!!! ☺️

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  2. Loved the answers to your questions and I can tell you, as a mother of one boy and one girl, girls are NOT easier! And mine sure didn't help around the house. Her room was a sea of clothes covering unknown objects that were sure to cause a twisted ankle. Son would clean our house from top to bottom after school on Friday. I came home every Friday to find I had nothing to do all weekend except laundry. He's still a huge help around the house. I'm just hoping his girl appreciates him as much as I did.

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  3. And I completely agree with your reason for learning to cook - to know how to feed yourself, not to serve a coddled boy. I can't stand seeing young boys who don't know how to do anything and want to be waited on. Mothers are doing their sons an injustice when they do everything for them. Please read that last sentence again, Moms.

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  4. I have two step-sons, so no girls. I won't comment on what I think are stupid statements (girls or no girls) because I don't have the experience of raising a daughter.

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  5. Well having raised 4 boys and two daughters. I would say just like us, they have good days and bad. I think it is a trade off, when the boys were young they were a handful and the girls seemed easier, but then it changed and the girls were harder and the boys were easy. I don't think there was a hard and fast rule. I also grew up with four brothers and a sister, and I loved everything about my brothers, and we has so much fun growing up.
    I think that insisting on any kind of gender because it is easier is a mistake. Just be happy with the gift given.
    Personally, I love when a man is man enough to cry. My Dad was the biggest and bravest man I ever saw, and I loved that he cried when he felt things.
    I think you answered all of those questions pretty good.

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  6. Diane- Amen, Sistah! :)

    Roan- Yeah, I think someone got their information wrong. LOL

    Judy- Agreed! Same with mothers who raise princesses, eh? LOL

    Terri- I think that you might feel the same as most of us- stop stereotyping kids. LOL Everyone is different and, I think, it's all based on the individual.

    Kim- I remember it being like that when we were growing up. Sometimes I was easier sometimes the boys were. One of my brothers was a neat freak the other two were ridiculously messy. I was somewhere inbetween. We all had fun too. I don't think I would have enjoyed myself near as much had I remained an only child. I don't mind a man crying. But this one cries over everything all the time. It's enough to drive us all nuts. I don't know anyone who tears up as much as he does over the least emotional things. Sheesh.

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  7. Agree totally with your answers even though I'm a Mom of four boys! I def found them equally difficult and equally enjoyable. But I will say this in praise of girls..they don't pee on the floor near as much as boys! That about sums it up for me!

    Great post and have a wonderful weekend with your lovies!

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  8. Oddly enough, whenever Kendall comes home, she enjoys cleaning like crazy, even though she never did anything like that before. I am not going to complain, of course!

    This was funny :)

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  9. You are a riot. Love your responses. You tell it like it is. You go girl!!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes me feel connected to everyone even though we may live far apart! Have a wonderful day!

 
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