To ask what are the best things about having a little boy?

[KeplerYellow]

I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant and really excited to be having a boy. I am however getting a bit scared about the whole giving birth part, so trying to focus on the bigger picture. I would love to hear how great it is to have a son to help me concentrate on the positives.

It's "misandry" to point out sexism (in this case towards young girls)? Right.

I have two children who are boys, no one has ever looked at me with pity or made any comments about how they expect them to behave based on their sex. As far as I can see so far they behave like children, and unsurprisingly they each have aspects that are similar to me and my DP.

The misogyny we face from such a young age is bad enough but to see here how many women share these opinions has been quite eye opening. Girls are mocked, belittled, demeaned, sexualised, harassed on the street, all from a young age then many women think we're also hard work, manipulative, cause dramas, vain, don't get on with one another and so on.

You don't celebrate boys by demeaning and criticising girls.

Will admit I haven't read the whole thread do I'm going to subtly bypass any boy v girl stereotypes that have probably been seen.

I have one of each. My boy is amazing - I love him because he's incredibly funny/witty, creative, sensitive, bold, excitable and inventive.

As a baby/toddler he was really difficult - had about 1000 more mega tantrums than my girl but now he's older he's so easy going.

Not sure how much this has to do with him being a boy though 😀

The hugs and the laughs, they are ridiculously funny
Is it possible on mn to keep anything light hearted?

Just love their cuddles with mummy so much. I get asked for at least 10 "cuggles" a day. He's 2.5 years old

There's nothing specific to any of this about boys. However when people post about girls being manipulative etc I don't think it's wrong to challenge such misogyny.

I can't really compare boys and girls as I don't have both - from looking at kids I know, little boys certainly seem more energetic and a "handful". I wouldn't be too surprised if this is indeed biological rather than solely cultural as my experience of baby animals (and we are animals after all) is that male young are larger and often more active. My experience is also that boys are v affectionate. I don't know if they (as a group, obviously individuals can always be outliers) are more affectionate than girls but we can surely say "oh boys are so affectionate" in a thread about positives of boys without having to qualify it with "not all boys" . This thread shouldn't be about girls!

Squoosh, Buckingham

Sure. But it's never made me, the adult, even jokily equate our relationship with a romantic one. Because I find blurring lines like that to be a bit intense, and yes, creepy.

I don't think anyone is saying that they as an adult feel sexually about their small boy. I don't feel sexually towards my son. But he definitely does feel romantically (I say that rather than sexually , on the grounds that he is pre-sexual) towards me, at times and in phases at least. He will flirt with me, be possessive of me, jealous of DH, and try to involve me in quite long kisses and cuddles that are beyond "affectionate", sufficient to make me feel a bit uncomfortable and wonder how to react. I don't want to push him away, or be rejecting, at the same time I don't want to have long lingering lip kisses with my 5 year old!

I don't think my daughter is any less affectionate, she is always giving me kisses and cuddles. But my son's affections have, at times, quite a different feel to hers.

I don't think this is controversial. It's been an understood part of child development for years.

The reality (if we are not to immediately bat it away as "too creepy") is that to receive these adorations and attentions brings up very complex feelings. Partly discomfort, partly anxiety, partly joy to be so adored. How could it be otherwise.

I don't fancy my son. I don't wish to engage with him in a sexual way. The thought is revolting. But it is charming to be the focus of his attentions, I don't deny it. Is that "romantic?" I don't know.

Soon enough I expect he will grow out of this phase and I will be lucky to get a kiss and cuddle once a year ....

Stereotypes are harmful for both sexes. But surprise, surprise on MN it's all whinging about how unfair it is on girls and mother's of boys get castigated for actually suggesting they might love their children and because they aren't bringing them up telling them what a bastard they are every day just because they have a penis.

And if you dare to actually think positively about your son you're oppressing every single little girl in the world.

Yaaaaaawn.

Ok, nolove, we get your point. Now in the original spirit of the thread, maybe you could post something positive about your boy(s)?

This thread was made about girls by people comparing boys favourably to girls (not manipulative, less drama etc). None of this is specific to boys anyway though purely positive stories and anecdotes about boys/posters' sons would be lovely...as would they about daughters.

I presume you'd already gathered and were asking to prove your point which is why I didn't answer previously but I don't have children, I'm 17.

BillSykesDog what a risible post completely ignoring the stereotyping on this thread and misogyny directed at girls. Such over the top nonsense intended to derail and claiming things absolutely no-one has said.

One positive is that you get really fast at changing nappies. Once you have the willie wee stream waft past your face a few times you soon realise this shit needs real skill and fast

Oh and they, regardless of age tend to find farting hilarious and love to show off a big massive pooh in the toilet, like it's some kind of exhibit.

I don't think I've ever had the wee in my face, just all over their (usually freshly laundered) clothes - obviously my boys don't have very strong sphincters

Ridiculous stereotypes on this thread. Girls are manipulative, boys are reduced to liking farts.

And as for the poster who's child "flirts" with her...words fail me.

My boy likes farts, so there
Moan moan moan
Flipping mood hoovers!
You could come on mn in a great jolly mood and read some of these convos and end up all angry with the world.
Ssssssshhhhh
Let it go, relax, occasionally?
We are people, we are allowed to be wrong, nobs, idiots say stupid things etc from time to time.

NoLoveofMine I would like to say how much I have enjoyed reading your very eloquent and considered contributions to this thread.
You are wise beyond your years and I think it's fantastic that you are challenging some of the ridiculous and sadly still entrenched beliefs and it is astonishing that you don't have children as your posts show more common sense and objectivity than many encountered on here.
Keep on going.

And as for the poster who's child "flirts" with her...words fail me.

Really? Words really fail you? I'm surprised at the strength of the views on this thread about the notion that children may feel romantic or flirtatious towards parents.

It is a bog standard part of child development, for goodness sake. We are not paedophiles and our kids are not deviants!

Really big buttons? I thought it very clear she was contributing to a thread that she had no direct experience of (i.e. Having boys). I certainly don't think her wise beyond her years, indeed she probably reminds me of me at 17, and I was far from wise beyond my years

'I'm surprised at the strength of the views on this thread about the notion that children may feel romantic or flirtatious towards parents.'

It's not the kids' behaviour I find strange, as you say it's bog standard stuff.

Squoosh, in that case I don't think there is actually any disagreement between us.

Well actually there are many people on here who have made huge, sweeping, stereotypical comments about what boys are like with data so limited it is useless.
People have made comparisons with girls even though they don't have any.
NoLoveofMine is not blinded by maternal subjectivity and has therefore come forward with coherent arguments rather than wanting to go on about how cuddly and affectionate her little boy is and therefore drawing all sorts of useless conclusions.