The difference between raising a girl or boy?

[allbraided]

Was having a discussion with my colleagues and they were all telling me how different it is raising a girl compared to a boy. Some had young children and some had much older children (older than me). I'm 27 weeks and whilst I've thought about it, I'm not really too fussed about the sex. DP has a girl already do is secretly desperate for a boy (I can tell, he tries to hide it but the way he looks at boy-specific baby clothes is very sweet!). Most important thing to both of us however is that baby is healthy...

So just out of interest... how different it is raising a boy compared to a girl? Did you find one easier than the other? I understand that all children are different regardless of sex, but there must be some inherent differences.. I come from a very female dominated family and worry I wouldn't relate as well to a boy, but also worry that a girl would go through the same worries and turmoil regarding body image and popularity that I did as an anxious child...

Thoughts?

@BertrandRussell Influences imposes by certain people and parenting styles, not everybody.

I intend to raise my boy to be kind and respectful to everybody, as I have raised my girls. I think the difference in how they need to be raised according to gender, in order to prevent the issues you are speaking of (misogyny etc) only begin once at school, IF you have raised them in the same way as you would raise a girl.

In the case of my friend's boy, well that's a different situation as he has a very 'male stereotype' influence right from birth.

Boys have the stand up or sit down wee debate plus the whole pointing South in nappies palaver my boys tend to prefer nudity more than my daughter did

I have a boy (13) and 2 girls (10 & 5). They all have their own individual needs, personality's etc. But honestly there's not much difference in raising them.

I know people who swear girls are easier and then theres people who swear boys are easier. Personally i think its down to the childs personality.

I have female friends who were absolutely wild during their teens and put their parents through hell while i have male friends who were angles as teens. And vise versa.

I think the main differences start when they're adults. There is some truth in the phrase "a daughter is a daughter for life while a son is only a son until he finds a wife".

Just purely on what ive seen with my own family and with everyone I know, when children grow up the daughters tend to be closer/ spend more time with their mam & dad while the son's wouldn't spend as much time with their parents. They still visit of course just not as much. Especially when children are born. Daughters tend to lean on their mothers more for help/support while the sons don't.

My experience is that -

Boys are more cuddly
Girls are better sleepers and easier to potty train
Girls are more likely to have friendship worries
Boys are more likely to require a trip to A&E
Even if they are bright, girls are more likely to feel uncertain about their ability (until the right teacher comes along)
If you give them an iPad (or equivalent), girls are more likely to watch YouTube while boys are more likely to play games
Boys are more likely to get upset about being told off

I think this might just be my DC though

I must butt in and refute the idea given above that adult boys are less attentive to their parents. Mine are all in their 20s and my son is definitely better at phoning or visiting than his sister's, even though they are all equally busy. He is also the best for clothes shopping (because he has no personal preference) and loves cake.

When they were younger, we were pleased to think we had escaped the almost compulsory football.....until younger daughter came along.

So it depends entirely on their personalities.

I think it's just your DC

I have two boys.

Both easy to feed, and both good sleepers - sleeping through the night, reliably and consistently from c. 4-5 months old.

One a dream to potty train, one a nightmare, still wetting through the night aged 5

One very confident and sure of himself, one very uncertain and emotionally more needy

One happy to play on his own (quite self-contained) and one who required stimulation from other people/external factors

One who threw tantrums, one who was much more 'together'

One with a great friendship group, one who was bullied by his peers in Year 8

Both required trips to A&E, albeit for different reasons

One gay and one heterosexual