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.

Some comments are just pathetics.

Parent are happy to share what delight it is to have little boys, and how wonderful they are. Some of us have both, and would comment on a similar thread about the best things when you have girls. Why is there always a bitter one trying to spoil the fun? Boys and girls are not the same, big deal. That's what make them so brilliant.

Coddiwomple of course they're different, just as women are not all the same as other women and the same goes with men.

For example, from reading your posts I believe you and I are probably very different. But from what you've said, we should behave the same way as we are both women. Do you see how it doesn't follow that little boys are more affectionate and little girls like to play quietly?

It's just so illogical to say that your child's characteristics are based on their sex when it is probably down to a million different variables. Your sample size of one or two does not make a pattern in any way, shape or form. It's not harmless fun as you imply.

but in real life it does! My boys are more affectionate, and my girls are more interested in painting, drawing quietly, stickers, making jewelry. The quietest activity done by my youngest is playing with his playmobils, and even then they are fighting each other. No one told him to, and both he and his sister watch the same TV program, and have exactly the same toys - they are only a year apart.

I witness that all the time, I didn't realise how different they are until I had my own kids. It doesn't mean my daughter doesn't climb trees or run just as well. No one is saying that ALL boys are the same.

Moving back to the original spirit of the thread.. How lovely to read all the heartwarming stories about your little boys :) I'm expecting one in 3 months and really enjoyed all the experiences mothers of boys kindly shared here. He will be my first and while having a baby already feels like embarking on a huge adventure, having a boy made me wonder what it's going to be like to be a mum of one of the opposite sex... now I'm looking forward to it even more!

You witness it all the time because our culture is very effective at enforcing stereotypes behaviour on boys and girls. Babies are treated differently from birth based on their sex, by very many people they meet. They get messages about boys and girls behaviour/attributes from everything around them - tv, books, magazines, clothes, toys, advertising etc etc. It's impossible to avoid.

Coddiwomple you have a survey sample of 2 children. So the only accurate conclusion you can make is that your children have differences, as do all children infact.
When I only had 2 dc I was also prone to making crazy, sweeping generalisations about boys and girls. After all I had kids, I was the expert, I must know. The more kids I had the more I realised that to do so was pure folly.

I think the only preferable thing about having a boy is that they'll get to benefit from male privilege. I'm glad my son won't have to directly experience some of the really sexist stuff I have.

Having said that, it was quite amusing when my DS managed to wee in the air and hit himself in the face during a nappy change and then started giggling. I don't think baby girls can do that?

Fruu - not yet, but I wouldn't put anything past my DD in that department!

I have 4 kids actually, 2 of each but I am talking about the behaviour of children I see, friends at home, at playgroups etc. I never really saw the interaction before I had my own kids. I never said I was an expert either, but when you start looking at them, it's amazing how a group of boys is different from a group of girls.

Anyway, to summarise the difference, when my little boy comes home, he calls mummy. My little girl calls the dog.

One of my boys is easy going, one ist. One is more affectionate, one is more boisterous. What they have in common is they both weed in my face during nappy changes and they find anything disgusting hilarious

Coddiwomple have you ever heard of self-fulfilling prophecy, or confirmation bias?

I think the only preferable thing about having a boy is that they'll get to benefit from male privilege. I'm glad my son won't have to directly experience some of the really sexist stuff I have.

That's very true. The elder of my two brothers (both younger than me) is shocked at what I'd already experienced by the time I was his age, street harassment, comments from boys his age or how they referred to girls etc. Happily he's really taken what I've discussed with him on board and tells me now about challenging any sexist comments his friends make.

Regarding groups, children who've already taken in all the sex stereotyping which is inherent in society often police the rest of the group as the recent programme on Channel 4 (Secret life of 5 year olds I think) showed. When they separated girls and boys, at first a number of each wanted to play with toys associated with the other sex - a few boys went straight for the make up and were finding it a lot of fun - then other children stated very clearly "this is for girls/boys" and the peer pressure told.

Despite this, so many children of both sexes still show their personalities and liking for things wrongly associated with the other, as the huge variation in personalities of children often reported on this site alone shows.

MrsJamin that's the problem, you can twist everything either way. The difference is that I don't have an agenda. I just noticed things and changed a lot of my presumptions when I had children.

It's a shame we can't just be happy about the positive aspects of each gender.

There are no aspects of each gender fgs.

Hugs! Smelly farts! Beautiful smiles! Muddy shoes/ pants/hands! Love the bones of my two rascals !
Enjoy him

Remind me again what the positive aspects of each sex are? I'm curious as to what to expect from my two boys, if their sex is the important factor for what positive aspects they may develop.

I love my son so much. He's so cute and amazing company. I wouldn't be any good with a girl.

Why not, tomorrow?

You might as well make assumptions of "positive aspects" of race, Coddiwomple. Any observations on that?

That's a good idea Coddiwomple, if I were to employ an au pair which nationality do you recommend I choose? can you tell us about the positive aspects of being a black au pair? Chinese, bet they'd be nice and quiet? How about Polish? I heard the italians are good, great at cooking, but a bit ditzy and prone to emotional outbursts though.

I have observed a few of these nationalities in cafes and shopping centres and have friends of these nationalities so I feel I could made a fair personality decision based on this? What do you think?

@bigbuttons why
.
Because you're a miserable nitpicking twat?

why what?

Mine told me I was 'impressive' in Aldi today, as I was speed packing the shopping! Made me v happy.

The thought of hair bobbles, ribbons and clips brings me out in hives. Also DS is just getting into chapter books and I can't imagine doing rainbow magic.