new girl worries

Qualeinator

Hey eveyone. I am 18 weeks pregnant with my second child right now. My first is a boy and is 20 months old. He's so much fun and I absolutely love him to pieces. I just found out that my second is a girl. While I'm excited to have a baby girl, part of me is also completely freaking out because I am not and never have been a girly - girl, and am therefore terrified that I won't be a very good role model. I realize that this is illogical and that the baby is going to grow into whatever type of girl she turns out to be, because I know way more about hockey than I do about flowers or fashion or how to accessorize, I'm scared to death. Any advice on how to calm this hormonal pregnant lady down would be greatly appreciated

theseaword

I would honestly raise her the same way you are raising your boy. What makes a good girl mom makes a good boy mom. I do have two boys, but if my second had been a girl, nothing would have been different other than potty training. Read books, explore, engage their interests...kids are kids. The less you impart gender expectations on them, the better.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

JNerd

DS watches MYbLittle Pony sometimes. I dgaf because why should I?
Kids are kids and kids are awesome.





Also, congrats.

LucilleAustero

I am a tomboy. My 3 year old DD is the ultimate girly girl. Meh, it is easier than you would think. I just roll with it.

Beevol

My girl loves Star Wars, Spiderman, cats, and horses - kids like what they like, your job as a parent is to nurture them, not box them into gender roles. Besides, who says she'll always be a girl or that your boy will always be a boy?

NotSharknado

tricia560 said:

tl; dr version: an ode to my mom, a tomboy who raised a very happy girly girl

My mom was an air force captain, she jogged with a Marine platoon daily, she out swore the sailors.  She knows more and cares more about football than my dad ever will.  She nearly killed herself several times over before reaching adulthood due to sports related dare devil acts.  I've seen her wear makeup about twice in my whole life.

I started out a tomboy, probably due to her influence, but I got girlier and girlier as the elementary school years went on, and she just rolled with it.  She learned to braid my hair and put bows in it and I thought she was awesome--didn't realize until years later how crooked the braids were.  She bought me poofy princessy dresses and let me wear them to school.  She found dainty little tea sets for me, and consoled me when my brother broke the saucers.  She let me pick out a pale yellow 4 poster bed with dainty blue flowers painted on it, and pair it with bright pink checked coverlets.  I got a sewing machine from "Santa" when i asked for it, and she taught me to use it (and managed not to swear--her usual MO when sewing her one annual sewing project).

In short, she figured it out and found that she had some inner girly girl tendencies that she could channel through me.

This is cute!

BlueRidge8

I was a scraggle-muffin tomboy growing up.

Have a master's degree in Sports Management.

Met my husband on the sidelines of a football game.

Successfully rearing girl child who apparently loves bows and princesses and dirt

armandos_girl

I'll give you the same advice I gave a good friend who had similar fears when she found out her first was a girl (and FWIW, I had the similar fears when I found out my oldest was a boy).  You just... love them.  If it turns out she is a girly-girly and loves ballet, you are going to know more about ballet than you ever thought you could and you're going to love every minute of it, because she does.  6 years ago I couldn't have named a single Avenger if I tried, now I can name them all (ok, maybe not, but a good 2/3rds!).  All because my boys dig superheroes, and I dig my boys. 

The unknown is scary.  But you'll figure it out and a year from now, you'll look back and know you were always meant to be her mother.

Qualeinator

Thank you all so much! A part of me definitely knew what you were all saying, but needed to hear it from other people. I loved all of your stories. Thanks!!!