Those who have sons and daughters

[Trivialpursuitgamer]

What are your experiences of the following:

A woman gets pregnant and is secretly hoping for a girl. She however finds out she's going to have a boy and is slightly disappointed (or shocked or fearful) of how to raise a boy b/c she feels like she doesn't know how to be with boys. Then the boy is born and she falls in love: what an adorable cuddly little boy!
She however still hopes to have a daughter too. She eventually has a daughter and feels complete.
What she finds out as years go by is that her son is actually way easier to get along with and she finds her daughter way more challenging, clingy, stubborn etc. She thinks it is a "personality thing" but in fact seems to happen in most families.

Are there any exceptions out here? I've seen this happen in most families in my neighbourhood and my circle of friends. Would be nice to hear if there is anyone who does NOT feel this way. It seems to be so common.

Funnily enough I clash more with my son as I think we are too alike, we are usually both very mellow but know exactly what buttons to press with each other..
Even though my daughter is more challenging I seem to have more patience for her.. I dunno why.. because she's the youngest? Because she's a girl?
My son's out bursts are few and far between but seem to trigger me .. maybe because I know exactly how he feels and I can't deal with that ...
I can't relate to my daughters behaviour and seem to be able to handle her more calmly and rationally.

I have one of each, DS is far more cuddly and affectionate but absolutely feral. DD is fiercely independent, funny, sarcastic and as far from clingy as you could get. They fight, sometimes to the point it's like a WWE Smack down but good luck to anyone who chooses to fuck with either of them.
My relationship with both is different but similar in many ways and I have the same expectations of both-I don't do male/female bullshit. You should respect, love, be able no matter your gender.

Not my experience with 2 boys and 2 girls. My oldest girl is more challenging but she’s severely autistic. But my other girl and boys no difference really in behaviour

I have both, DS is only 5 months so can’t really comment on his personality although he is definitely the easier baby.

DD on the other hand IS stubborn and sometimes challenging, but I don’t recognise that as necessarily a bad thing? What’s wrong with being stubborn, isn’t that how you get anywhere in life? She drives me mad sometimes but I wouldn’t change her for anything, and if I’m going to send a girl out into this world, I’m pleased I’m sending one who can argue her case (loudly. And passionately 😂)

I have one of each and no idea what you're talking about.

I strongly wanted my 1st to be a boy because I had bad relationship with my mom so didn't want echos of the unhealthy dynamics, I wanted a fresh start.

I have one of each, as does my sister, my sister in law and numerous colleagues at work. I do recognise this experience. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a given, of course, but yes, it has been my experience. We commonly speak about how our sons are less complex emotionally than our daughters, and therefore a little less draining when it comes to emotional challenges, tantrums etc.

This reminds me of that awful, awful Daily Mail journalist who made a career out of airing her family's dirty linen in public.

She once said something along the lines of "when I look at my daughter I see all the personality traits of myself I hate, when I look at my son I see his fathers traits that made me fall in love with him.

She unashamedly said her son was her favourite - vile woman.

I've got two of the same sex but my two closest friends totally fit with the op.

I wanted a boy first because I thought they were easier. Since had a girl who is a million times easier so far than her older brother! So I'm the reverse of what you say

I would die before I betrayed my beloved daughters like that. SHAME on that twisted prick.

I have two of each, all adults now aged 21-30. For me the boys were harder as toddlers and young children (ages 3-8ish) but my girls were harder work as tweens and teens. All turned out pretty great in the end although I'm pretty biased 😂

Saying this I don't really relate to the idea of gender preferences. I truly never cared either way so I never had any disappointment regarding any of them.

I have one of each, DD has always been a laid back “chilled” child. She was a really happy baby, slept through from 5 months, had a clingy stage at 18 months for a few weeks, but on the whole is easygoing and very polite. To the point where I thought I had this parenting milark sussed. DS is the complete opposite, clingy from the get go, only started sleeping at 3.5 and is akin to the Tasmania Devil 😭😭

I do kit feel this way. My daughter is the nicest child, so helpful, intelligent and kind. I enjoy my time with her the most by far. BUT my boy has significant SEND. His behavioural needs mean I don't really get quality time I nearly kill myself just trying to keep him safe.

I worked as a nanny/childminder. Girls tended to need more emotional input and boys needed more physical activity. Boys were easier in that because I fucking hate playing role play and much rather run around at the park. But I could think of many exceptions to the rule.

With my two (one of each, but girl then boy), DS is definitely more cuddly. He's also more likely to wrestle or climb a person. He just seems to need more physical input than DD. They're equally both delightful and impossible, though, so I wouldn't say one was easier!

Definitely not in my experience - most of the wild/bad/difficult children I know are boys 🤷‍♀️ obviously I know some sweet lovely boys too, but across the board with my family and friends, it seems the "problem" children are male.

I have one of each.

IME my boy shows way more affection than my girl. He’s just so lovely sweet and kind and he melts my heart every day. I reckon if you have me a good 5 minutes I could persuade him to do anything because he thinks mummy is brilliant and likes to impress!

DD isn’t as affectionate even as a toddler. She’s nearly 11 and also very independent. I reckon she’d move out now and be fine 🤣 she gives back chat like no other and always has to have the last day, and is good at defending herself. She doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do and she’s very blunt. Which is a massive PITA for me having to deal with her attitude. But if she keeps that fire she will be a cracking woman who takes no shit and will go far.
Either that or prison. No inbetween

I have a son, a daughter and another son (in that order) my sons are less sassy than my daughter. My daughter is lovely but she is 10 so very sassy so that's a difference I notice. She also is more like a mini adult so I have to tread carefully around her I.e she is very strongly against buying stuff from China so I have to hide my temu purchases from her!

Each one of my children and step-children are unique individuals with their own personalities. Girls are not "harder" than boys or vice versa.

I have two of each and found the girls much harder than the boys (only in the teenage years though).