AIBU to find this article incredibly depressing

[SerenityNowakaBleh]

Here, about the women with GD
I'm sorry, but the woman in the article (IMO) comes across as very materialistic and self-absorbed. she wants a girl because she wants to dress her in pink and do girly stuff. And the analogy that she uses to explain all of this to her sons, that it's like if you kept on getting the same Action Man. But children aren't action men, they're individuals and should be treated and loved as such. They're not your possession.

I despair

Reminds me of a birth announcement I saw a few years back : 'At last, a son, XXXX, a darling brother for [insert 6 girls names here]'

Those poor bloody girls.

Her analogy of having all boys being like 'getting the same action man' is just so crass. And I think shows on what a superficial level she interacts with her children. No one who was truly bonded to and interacting on a profound level with their five kids could draw that analogy, imho. As kitkats points out "I have three completely different and individual children". All children are so unique that it is impossible to characterise them as 'like getting the same toy' over and over

Whilst I do not understand or agree with this woman's point of view, let's not forget this is media (C4 and Times newspaper) who can never be wholly trusted to deliver truth.

Sensationalism sells.

She maybe sitting at home, mortified at how she has been represented.

I live in hope.

I was thinking about this some more today, thinking that maybe it's more of a modern phenomenon, as we expect to get what we want (and can do so) much more than previous generations, until I overheard a woman in the hairdressers saying that her DF was one of 5 sons, because her grandmother wanted a girl. Plus ca change

Also, I do agree that there is a lot of societal pressure to have a "one of each" which can screw with a mother's mind. When my DM was pregnant with DC2, people kept on saying "Oh I hope it's a girl" (as she already had a DS) and she said when my brother was born, she felt upset. But then thought - hang on, she has this wonderful, healthy baby, why get upset because he's a boy? He has no control over it.

I have a brother, and i think that there is a temptation to have expectations of each according to their gender, when you have one of each (that was certainly what happened in my family)

I was quite relieved when I found out I was expecting a second boy, because I was a bit scared of doing that myself.

Having 2 boys who are very different makes you see that a lot of it is to do with personality, and birth order, not gender

serenity What you said reminds me of what my mother always told me about: she had my brother, then me (girl). When she was then pregnant with my younger brother she was asked by loads of people why she was having another baby as she already had one of each.

She simply wanted 3 children, as did I.

I think a preference is fine, I certainly have a preference for boys and was relieved when my 20w scan showed a DS2 on the way. However, you can have a preference for one without feeling disappointed if you get the other.

I like loud/mucky children and any girl I had would have been encouraged along those lines anyway.

Having just started watching the programme (Sky+) can i just add for her sake that she did get pg with a girl (years ago, poss before any of the boys were born - unclear) but was induced early as they were told the baby wouldn't survive and she was stillborn.

So yes there appear to be deeper issues but sad for her anyway.

This is a discussion i have all the time, as bizarrely in my group of mums locally we've all had the same sex (either 2 so far or 3 DC). I have 2 DSs and the only part of me that was 'disappointed' in having a second DS is that people will go on at me about wanting a girl if/when i get pg again.

I want another baby (or 2) and each pg i ttc for is with that in mind, not the gender. But i can foresee the convos i will have to endure if i have 4 boys....