If you are having a boy, or if you already have one...

hologram87

Do people say things about how you need to batten down the hatches, and "ooh, watch out, he's going to climb the walls"... etc.     Both my mom and my sister are acting like this saying that I got really lucky with DD because she is so good, will sit and read a book, color, etc, but now that I'm having a boy, they are talking about how much trouble he is going to give me and how I better watch it all the time because he is going to be crazy.    First off, while I might have been "lucky" with getting DD, I also am a good mom.   Not trying to toot my own horn, but I take offense that I only got lucky and didn't have a hand in raising her to be a good child.   And what's to say that I won't get "lucky" with our son.   Sure, I'm aware that there are boys that are super crazy and active.  I'm prepared for that, but there are also girls that are crazy and active too.   And then there are boys that will sit and look at books and play.   I guess I'm just annoyed that people think that I can't handle having a boy.    Plus today my mom told me that she's surprised that I have handled motherhood so well.   Um, thanks?     Just one of those days I guess.   Thanks for reading my vent.

Onajohn

I have to say there are major differences between boys and girls. My oldest is a girl, she is 4 and very mellow and sweet. She will sit and color/read all day if she could. My second is a boy (2) and he would rather play cars, run outside etc. But by no means is one crazier or harder to handle than the other. They just have different interests that require different types of supervision.
I will say that boys are gross lol. My son will put things in his mouth without a second thought that my daughter would never even touch.
This one is another boy so we will see if the dynamic changes at all.

Princess_Lily

I have a spirited preschooler boy.

He does keep me busy, but we also don't allow him to run circles around us either... he is sweet and very sensitive but very physical. He is more work than the average because he is willing to challenge people too - he is a born leader, in a 4yo body

You will be able to handle your boy, irregardless of how easy or not...because he will be yours. You will know him best, your gut & parenting skills will give you the confidence that others are dropping that you may not have...you do.

brandeeteer

I have one of each - a boy almost 12 and a girl - 9. I found that in the first few years maybe up to age 4. My daughter was much easier. Now I find that my son is easier. In the beginning he was as my mom put it "full of piss and vinegar". But once he got to school age, he really mellowed and my daughter is now a major diva who constantly comes home with drama queen issues. A lot of it depends on personality and how they've been raised but I definitely don't think one is better or worse than the other.

fiddlefern

rczamora said:

Not related, but when I saw the title to this post, I was sure it was going to be a circumcision post.

Ditto.

DS will be 2 next month and while he is well behaved he is always climbing things and into everything.  I can get him to sit still for a few minutes, but unless it is bedtime he isn't interested in sitting on my lap to read a book. 

Kim22

I have a 6 year old boy, 3 year old girl, and I'm having another boy. The first two are definitely different. Don't know if it's boy/girl, first born vs. second or totally random. DS had stitches by age 2, a broken arm by 3, and what seemed like a permanent egg on his head from 18 months until about 4. I feel like I kept a closer eye on DS as he was my only child at the time yet still more injuries for sure. I think DD once got a small cut on her knee. This is probably what your mom and sister mean but you never know.

barista411

I normally get a totally different reaction. I always hear DS is going to be so much easier than DD because boys are less emotional and drama filled. Boys get mad hit and it's over girls pout and cry and hold grudges forever. Personally I think they both have their challenges but they are just challenging in different ways.

RavenandJosh

My little boy is not "harder" to handle than what a girl would be, just different than most of my friends kids who are all girls.  Out of my group of friends, I am the only one with a boy, and they are all within a year of each other so they get to play together alot.  I do see differences, but not bad ones.  Such as, their girls are perfectly fine sitting around coloring for a long time and playing dolls, while my DS will color for a short while, but he would rather go outside and run.  I do also notice that he doesn't make as big of a deal out of getting hurt as their girls do.  He can have a pretty bad fall and get right up without even noticing, while his friends who are girls will make a "playdate ending" deal out of getting hurt.  He plays with his cars and trucks all day and yes unfortunately getting him to sit still sometimes to read him a book is quite a challenge.  You will learn your individual child and what works best with him.  I know the right times now to approach story time and "relax" time.  My DS does NOT climb the walls or furniture.  I am pretty strict about stuff like that and as long as you lay down ground rules and stick to them, your boy will not be a crazy wild monkey.  But believe me...they WILL try!  Boys are SOOOOO much fun and will keep you busy.  I have to admit that once his bedtime hits, I feel like mine is right behind!! 

Don't stress too much!  You will be just fine!  Do not let people scare you

BlessedinMN

I hear you. My DH was a very rambunctious child from what I hear so everyone always makes comments about how our DS will be wild and energetic and so on. And they always say it with this look of dread on their face. It really irks me. Just keep being a good mama and they can shut it when your little boy is well behaved. You can be an energetic child and still be a well behaved child and that's where your good parenting comes in!

gwenneh

Ugh. Everyone has a "Watch out, it's going to be like x." story for pretty much everything.

I think it was around the time of my shower when I snapped at a person who suggested I would have a problem with something with that "just you wait." attitude. I HATE people like that.

My DS is far more relaxed and easygoing than his "cousins" of the same age, male or female. While I will absolutely agree that boys & girls play differently, it really isn't something I'd try to freak out an expectant mother about!

Unless they're planning to secretly give your son sugar all of the time, I have the feeling you'll be just fine.

Edvoncupacake

DS is/was as rambunctious as any other kid. Some kids are wilder than others, regardless of whether they're boys or girls. I wouldn't put too much faith into what they're saying.

My ex mil and sil used to say that DS was gonna be crazy and such and such all the time. They really only said it because they were annoying and didn't know any better. It was almost as if they wanted to be special or have something they said validated. If anything happened it was a "Oh I told you! Just like his dad!" or "That's a ______ boy!". I made sure to bring up that I and millions of other kids did the same things, regardless of our names or sex.

Karadee1

I'm having a boy and have heard something like this a lot from my ILs. This is my first though. I think from them it's another version of "just you wait" - they are always telling me the crazy stuff my husband and his brother did as a child (light things on fire, throw things from the roof, etc.) In this case, I always ask my husband where his parents were, and he said they were just always out...no wonder they were able to get in to crazy stuff. (Not that supervised kids don't find a way to be crazy, but I'm sure if a parent had been there more their access to things like matches would have been more limited.)

Regardless, I think sometimes people like to say the "just you wait" stuff because they don't have anything else to say, but want to talk about having kids. I've learned to ignore them, but sometimes they make it very difficult.

hologram87

Thanks for all your responses!   I know that he will be different than DD, but the way that it's insinuated, I won't be able to control him or won't have the skills to take care of him and that's what bothers me.   I'm anxious and nervous for the challenge of a boy.  My sister's middle child is a boy and I remember him being way more active than her other 2, but in no means out of control, so it's weird that she would be one piping in with a "batten down the hatches" kind of warning.

Thanks again ladies.  It's nice to hear all the responses that you give

beccaxbooxbear

I have a 14 month old boy. He is very active and loves to play outside, go on the 4wheeler with us, play with the dog, in the dirt, He's a true boy and is always moving but we do train him to behave. He sits in a booster seat at church for atleast a half hour. Yesterday he sat for about an hour to an hour and a half. Very good about it. I can read a book to him and he loves looking at his duck book in the car. But he ultimately wants to play which is fine as long as he sits while meal times and church. It takes practice and repetition. Being active isn't bad at all. As long as it doesn't become destructive

karenh773

Having 3 of each I think lots of boys tend to process and explore differently than girls.  It's a more "hands on" type of approach. 

It sounds like you've done a great job parenting your daughter and you'll do a great job parenting your son!

hegriff

I'm a firm believer that there is no difference in acting between boys and girls that is definite. Boys and girls are different in personality the exact same way that boys and other boys are.

I also believe that boys and girls may act different due to how parents treat their kids from the start. If you expect your boy to be wild you'll probably treat them in a way that makes them act that way.

So, ultimately just keep parenting how you do, and how you see fit; and you will get the child you raise.