Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Negativity around boys from mums of girls

264 replies

mills8 · 22/09/2024 07:55

Yesterday we found out we are expecting our second baby boy which we are both really excited about. My first little boy, almost 3 is nothing but an absolute joy. He's so chatty, sweet, hilarious, kind and loving and everything with him has always been so easy, he's been a dream to raise and I feel so lucky to be having another. If I could copy and paste him I'd have 10 of him. He's the blonde haired blue eyed boy I always saw in my mind when I pictured him.

Yesterday I seen a post on social media from a mother having her second boy and how disappointed she was, the comments were absolutely filled with people saying the same and how disappointed they were and so many mothers of girls saying they were terrified their precious baby girls were going to be boys and they would never want one so could understand the disappointment. It's not just on that post though, I have seen it countless times on here too and other posts on SM and it's really sad, why is there such negativity around boys? Especially second ones, people seem to really pity parents having a second boy. Is it people just being narrow minded? Why do people have kids if they're set on only one sex? I feel quite sad about the negativity and hoping to hear from some wise mumsnetters. Am I really going to be missing out when they are older?

OP posts:
MaggieBsBoat · 22/09/2024 08:10

You get it both ways. My friend booked an abortion at 17 weeks when she found out she was having a girl! She ended up having the baby but still at 12 years old her mum still complains about her sex.
I have three sons and also 2 daughters. They are all a pain in the arse wonderful equally

mills8 · 22/09/2024 08:10

'Sounds like you are exactly the kind of person the OP is talking about'.

Absolutely! It wasn't going to be long before they came on with their ignorant comments 😅

OP posts:
Greytulips · 22/09/2024 08:10

I have 2 girls and a boy and he was so much easier to a point! He’s still a joy now as an adult.

I think the trend for a ‘mini me’ is awful - why does an adult want to dress like a little girl? Matching bows anyone?

The trend to raise girls like their mothers instead of embracing their personalities is just awful.

mills8 · 22/09/2024 08:09

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

I don't think anyone who has such strong preferences should be having kids at all. It's always the mother of 2 girls with the 'I'm soo lucky I only have girls' what is it that is so awful to you about boys?

OP posts:
Businessflake · 22/09/2024 08:09

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Sounds like you are exactly the kind of person the OP is talking about.

Suzuki70 · 22/09/2024 08:07

You get it on here every day. Women posting that they're "devastated" to be having a boy. It's incredibly tone-deaf.

Feverblack · 22/09/2024 08:06

Congratulations! Boys are great! I come from a ‘girl’ family and was nervous when I had a boy but it’s been amazing and my sibling has also had boys and they are a truly fantastic little gang.

what I’ve realised since having my own children, and surely most people do ?, is that they come out fully formed with their own personalities!

Cappuccinowithonesugarplease · 22/09/2024 08:06

Yes there definitely seems to be more 'pity' about having boys. It's strange. I have 3 sons and when my last was born one person even said 'don't worry I'm sure next time it will be a girl'
not even a congratulations!

OneHappyGreenSloth · 22/09/2024 08:05

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

mumonthehill · 22/09/2024 08:04

A women once patted me on the arm and said she was so sorry that I had been so unlucky to have 2 boys. I was shocked stunned I said nothing but I wish I had. I love having boys, they have bern both a joy and stressful but no more on less than any other dc.

Zanatdy · 22/09/2024 08:02

Yes there is a lot of this about. People saying oh that’s a shame if someone announces a 3rd boy for example. I had 2 boys and a girl and I admit I was desperate for a DD. I have to say though my boys were definitely easier to raise, and I’m very close to both of them, both adults now. There’s a lot of stupid sayings too that refer to mums of boys losing them when they marry etc and you are automatically going to be closer to an adult DD, which is certainly not always the case. Just ignore. Same sex siblings is great, and especially for the kids if they’ve got things in common.

Pippa12 · 22/09/2024 08:01

I agree with you on this, it makes my heart sink to my feet when people ‘favour’ a sex and express ‘disappointment’ when they find out at a ‘private 16 week gender scan’.

I think they would be better to not find out before birth to grow a bond in later pregnancy- perhaps the feelings of disappointment wouldn’t be so intense.

My DS recently desperately wanted a boy.

People who express gender disappointment for others pregnancy 😵

AutumnLeaves91 · 22/09/2024 08:00

I’ll be honest, I’m currently pregnant (and being induced) with my first who is a boy and at first I did have gender disappointment. But it cleared up pretty quickly and now I can’t imagine our boy being anything/anyone else!

It’s a shame that some people aren’t able to escape that mentality though, of being disappointed. It’s certainly weird when it’s people expressing disappointment for others.

theresabluebirdinmyheart · 22/09/2024 07:59

Congratulations on your pregnancy 😃
I think this situation goes both ways, I’ve seen plenty of women saying they don’t want girls, they get on better with boys in general and girls are hard work and boys are easier. Just gender stereotypes, every child has their own personality.
I have one of each and they are both very different people in their own right.