Article: Boys vs. Girls

stever · January 2012

https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/31/opinion/granderson-boys-girls/index.html?hpt=hp_bn9

Thoughts?

newbee36 · January 2012

I never thought of this before I had a kid. Then when DS was born I was wondering why everybody says it is easier to raise a boy. Yes, we always think of the sexuality. Somebody said that it was chipper to raise a boy. Why? Well, because girls' closets are much busier then boys' closets. There is a contradiction in this. Parents are worried for their daughter to be a good girl, not to get pregnant, but then on the other hand they let her buy stuff and look more provocative to men. Also, totally agreed with the article that it is hard to properly raise a boy today. For exactly those reasons listed there. One day if anything "bad" like that happen, I hope DS takes full responsibility for that.

About the fact that there are more male delinquents today, one may argue that the root of that issue lies in the way the boys are raised.

NewMrs07 · January 2012

I don't think it's easy to raise a child, period. Boy or girl, it doesn't matter. Yes, you worry about your teen girl getting pregnant but boys can get hurt or get someone pregnant. The article is a little simplistic but it gets you thinking.

Personally, DH and I will do everything we can to raise a smart, kind, self-confident and respectful child. I hope it goes well b/c sometimes you try your hardest and kids still don't turn out right. It's hard to fight peer pressure, we are keeping our fingers crossed that Adrian will be smart enough to make the right decisions or at least learn from his mistakes and not do it again.

I don't even want to think about it, lol, it's hard enough right now to get him to nap, eat his veggies and use the potty!

stever · January 2012

newbee36:
I never thought of this before I had a kid. Then when DS was born I was wondering why everybody says it is easier to raise a boy. Yes, we always think of the sexuality. Somebody said that it was chipper to raise a boy. Why? Well, because girls' closets are much busier then boys' closets. There is a contradiction in this. Parents are worried for their daughter to be a good girl, not to get pregnant, but then on the other hand they let her buy stuff and look more provocative to men. Also, totally agreed with the article that it is hard to properly raise a boy today. For exactly those reasons listed there. One day if anything "bad" like that happen, I hope DS takes full responsibility for that.
About the fact that there are more male delinquents today, one may argue that the root of that issue lies in the way the boys are raised.

A while back we were discussing something along these lines and some Bumpies brought up 2 great quotes.

1:"With girl you have to worry about lots of penises and with boys you only have to worry about 1."

2."Boys will wreck your stuff and girls will wreck your head."

stever · January 2012

NewMrs07:
I don't think it's easy to raise a child, period. Boy or girl, it doesn't matter. Yes, you worry about your teen girl getting pregnant but boys can get hurt or get someone pregnant. The article is a little simplistic but it gets you thinking.
Personally, DH and I will do everything we can to raise a smart, kind, self-confident and respectful child. I hope it goes well b/c sometimes you try your hardest and kids still don't turn out right. It's hard to fight peer pressure, we are keeping our fingers crossed that Adrian will be smart enough to make the right decisions or at least learn from his mistakes and not do it again.
I don't even want to think about it, lol, it's hard enough right now to get him to nap, eat his veggies and use the potty!

It was a totally simplistic article. And yeah, all we can do is our best and hope that's enough.

Strunella · January 2012

I'll admit that I often think it's easier to raise boys than girls, but I'm basing this on my own perceptions closer to home. I think of how my mom and I were at odds when I was growing up...the attitude, conflict, etc. ...and I think that in general, boys don't exhibit the moodiness that girls do. When I think of young girls and teenage girls, I think DRAMA. I see it with my friends' girls, starting in elementary school. Then there's the battle over clothes, shoes, and makeup.

The article looks at more of the big picture. I have to be honest, while I'm sure there will be plenty of worries for me having a son, him dropping out of high school, going to jail or becoming a deadbeat dad don't even cross my radar. Both boys and girls are going to face peer pressure and societal pressure. I can only hope that as a parent I give DS the tools he needs to handle himself in those situations.

Maggee206 · January 2012

Wow! I had never considered it from this perspective; but it makes so much sense when she puts it this way. I really believe it more now that I am trying to help my older son (5) be a good person. It is amazing how many subtle things we do that are so typecast: "Man-up" and "That's for girls" are two examples I hear a lot.

On a lighter note, I had read this article a few years ago

https://wondertime.go.com/parent-to-parent/article/where-the-boys-are.html

newbee36 · January 2012

stever:
newbee36:
I never thought of this before I had a kid. Then when DS was born I was wondering why everybody says it is easier to raise a boy. Yes, we always think of the sexuality. Somebody said that it was chipper to raise a boy. Why? Well, because girls' closets are much busier then boys' closets. There is a contradiction in this. Parents are worried for their daughter to be a good girl, not to get pregnant, but then on the other hand they let her buy stuff and look more provocative to men. Also, totally agreed with the article that it is hard to properly raise a boy today. For exactly those reasons listed there. One day if anything "bad" like that happen, I hope DS takes full responsibility for that.
About the fact that there are more male delinquents today, one may argue that the root of that issue lies in the way the boys are raised.
A while back we were discussing something along these lines and some Bumpies brought up 2 great quotes.
1:"With girl you have to worry about lots of penises and with boys you only have to worry about 1."
2."Boys will wreck your stuff and girls will wreck your head."

That is what my supervisor told me when I told him I will have a boy (the first quote) The second one is also true!

So Stever, are you ready for a girl?:)

Pesky · February 2012

I agree that the issues around boys is often ignored in the light placed on the issues with girls (which are at long last getting some attention). It's not easy raising either and I don't think the author is implying that. I think what he is saying is that raising boys is difficult too and he is right. I'm reading Boys Adrift which covers this phenomenon and just as I worry about teaching DD to be kind, altruistic, intelligent and confident, I worry about the same things with DS. Teaching DD to be a good woman is just as hard as it is trying to teach DS to be a good man.

stever · February 2012

newbee36:
stever:
newbee36:
I never thought of this before I had a kid. Then when DS was born I was wondering why everybody says it is easier to raise a boy. Yes, we always think of the sexuality. Somebody said that it was chipper to raise a boy. Why? Well, because girls' closets are much busier then boys' closets. There is a contradiction in this. Parents are worried for their daughter to be a good girl, not to get pregnant, but then on the other hand they let her buy stuff and look more provocative to men. Also, totally agreed with the article that it is hard to properly raise a boy today. For exactly those reasons listed there. One day if anything "bad" like that happen, I hope DS takes full responsibility for that.
About the fact that there are more male delinquents today, one may argue that the root of that issue lies in the way the boys are raised.
A while back we were discussing something along these lines and some Bumpies brought up 2 great quotes.
1:"With girl you have to worry about lots of penises and with boys you only have to worry about 1."
2."Boys will wreck your stuff and girls will wreck your head."
That is what my supervisor told me when I told him I will have a boy (the first quote) The second one is also true!
So Stever, are you ready for a girl?:)

I know, right?

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