Please welcome Erin from Mama Said No, a blog I am just getting to know. I’m thrilled to have her here today, waxing poetic on the joys of boys.
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When I was pregnant, I knew I was having a girl. I just knew it. You could have never in a million years convinced me otherwise. Nevermind the fact that there had been no girls born on his father’s side since…the beginning of time, mine would be the first. I mean, I was going to be a single mother for goodness sakes! Surely the powers that be out there would recognize that I know nothing about little boys. I was so sure, that I even dug out my old favorite childhood doll and stored her away in my closet to give to the baby girl that I so desperately wanted. Imagine my surprise when, on the day of my big sonogram, they found something that suggested the baby was most definitely NOT a girl. My son has been an exhibitionist from the get go.
My reaction was less than favorable. In fact, it was downright selfish. I cried all the way home. I wanted a girl! How could life be so unfair and cruel to me? Looking back on it now makes my cheeks burn red. How could I have been so incredibly selfish. There thousands upon thousands of women that would give their right arm for the baby boy that I was complaining about. I did eventually get over myself, but there were always questions lingering in the back of my head. How could I raise a little boy by myself? I know nothing about little boys! Little boys are dirty and they pee standing up and they play football! I can’t even throw a football! I had no idea what I was doing. I was petrified.
What I didn’t realize while I was having my little breakdown is that no first time mom knows what she’s doing. Heck, even some of my friends that have 2 children complain that they STILL don’t know what they’re doing! It has nothing to do with boys or girls, babies are a difficult business. Period. It’s like that game you used to play at a birthday party. You’re blindfolded, spun around until you feel sick and then let loose to try and find a piñata that is constantly being moved by someone who can actually see. Except there’s more crying…and no candy comes out of that piñata. Only bodily fluids.
I’ve eventually gotten used to my little boy. I even *gulp* kind of LIKE him. He is dirty, and he pees standing up, and he (quite thankfully) likes baseball. I can throw a baseball. I regularly step on wayward hot wheels and Thomas the Train, and I constantly find rocks in the lint filter of my dryer, but he’s also sweet, caring, and absolutely hysterically funny. And while I would never say that the road has been easy, I will say that it hasn’t been nearly as miserable as I thought it would be. In fact, as it turns out, the little boy that I was so distressed over turned out to be the love of my life and now, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I had a similar reaction when I found out Giggles was a girl. But now with 2 girls I don’t know what I would do with a boy. I am heading over to get to know you as well.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am
My boy was my second, and I still panicked a little because I didn’t know how to take care of the boy parts.
He’s constantly challenging me (and my patience) but life would be so boring without him.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:20 am
My boy never stops!! That is the difference between a boy and a girl. But they make life worth living, huh?
August 19th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
My son is my first-born and the only boy in a family of girls (he has a little sister and 6 girl cousins). I adore him; he’s smart, inquisitive, kind,hilarious, imaginative, and still a world-class cuddler at the ripe old age of 7 and a half.
I can’t imagine my life without him.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Rocks in the lint filter…so true so very true!
August 19th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
It’s funny. I have a girl age 4, and I am constantly stepping on her legos and trains…and cars…and dolls, and washing her princess dresses. Ya never know what you are going to get around here. My theory is that she is an only child, so she is covering all the bases for me…except the peeing standing up.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Mom of boys here. Love them, love them, L-O-V-E them!
August 19th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
my little boy has turned out to be the love of my life, too. and a lesson in not trusting my own biases.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I had the little girl I always wanted (I’m a single parent, too) but she’s a tomboy to the core. I had to draw the line at buying her boys’ underwear (she has a boy’s swimsuit that she wears over her girl’s suite), and she would totally pee standing up if she could.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:53 am
next time i’m giving birth, i’m totally going to picture myself as a pinata. hilarious.