It's a boy !

[cobden28]

My pregnant daughter has had her gender reveal scan today and with her permission, I've posted on Facebook that it's a boy. As this will be the first grandchild on both sides everyone is naturally very excited.

My problem is that with it being a boy, what are you supposed to do with a boy as opposed to a girl? I'm an only child of an only child - both my Mum and I don't have any siblings - and I went to all girls schools, so I'm not really au fait with what you're supposed to do with a baby boy as opposed to a baby girl? Apart from colour of baby knitting wool, of course!

What sorts of things do you buy for a boy as he grows up and how do you play with a grandson as opposed to a grnddaughter? I;m a very proud grandma-to-be, of course, but I've not been brought up with small boys around me and I'm not sure what will be expected of me as a grandma.

What little I do know about baby and child-rearing dates back to 1960's and 70's vintage, my daughter was born in 1991 and over the years child rearing practices hae changed a lot. How can I be a good grandma, without being interfereing or nosey of course?

Did you not go to school with boys? Never interacted with boys at all till the make child arrived?

Times have changed op. Boys can do anything
Girls can do anything.
There is no needlework for boys and design tech for girls. All are invited to both.
Dress in pink purple yellow whatever and give them dolls and diggers for role play.

Watch this

Not very much. I attended an all girls high school …most of my childhood friends were girls. Not having had any brothers, it felt alien to me to be in a house with boys. Don’t get me wrong, we were all delighted to meet Dneph and he fitted into our very female centric family like he’d always been there but even now as a family, there aren’t many males. I have two DDs. My parents have five DG’s…only one DGson. It’s just the way it is …

As a young child I liked toy cars but was never bought any because my Mum thought these were boys' toys and girls should have dolls instead. I stopped playing with dolls when I was 7 or 8 but still had them bought for me almost up until my teens.

You hug him.

You love him.

You make sure he is warm, safe, fed.

When he's older you play Lego. You kick a ball about. You paint. You read with him and to him.

You laugh with him.

Take him to the park.

You hug him.

You love him.

It's not hard.

@cobden28

I have a little boy. He loves to play with cars and trucks. He knew most car makes and models before he could speak in full sentences. His idea of a good time is to hang around outside the fire station in the hopes of seeing a fire engine.

When not playing with cars, fire engine spotting or riding his bike, his absolute favourite thing is to snuggle close to me and read as many books as possible.

We live in a non Anglophone country and English is very much his second language. His first sentences in English were, "I love you so much" and "I'm so proud of you".

He's the sweetest, most affectionate little thing in the world and I couldn't be more proud of him.

Hope this helps.

Came across this thread whilst searching for something else...

Just wondering if baby has been born yet?

Also...I totally understand the original question. I was worried I wouldn't have known how to be with a girl. Turned out to be a boy (who's now almost 1) & I enjoy his company so much (he's such a cutie). I'm sure your worries will turn out to be unnecessary & you will love being a grandparent. Enjoy!