How do girls compare with boys?

[~Trish~]

Well, I have two DS's and am expecting a DD. I know lots about boys! But I'm wondering what life will be like with a girl.

So...for those of you with both genders, are little girls much different to boys? (I'm not talking physically of course I kinda know how that works LOL!) Are their traits completely different? Do they gravitate more towards mum or dad in the first year? Do they do things differently (like reach milestones, play with toys, etc) to boys?

I know all kids are different (my two boys definitely are), but I am still wondering how different things will be with a girl in the house. Both my boys were extremely clingy mummy's boys as babies, only mum would do. Are girls like this too?

This is probably such a dumb question LOL! But I really have no idea what to expect!

[Trillian]

Hmmm yes and no. It really comes down to their personality as to how different they are or not. I have two of each, and they were all reasonably similar when it came to milestones, although my eldest didn't walk till over 12mths whereas the other 3 were all walking by 10mths but I think that was more to do with him being quite happy to just crawl. Both my boys and one of my girls were more clingy towards me, and my eldest DD was more of a Dad's girl. 99% of the time girls will lean towards playing with gender-specific stuff like dolls and other 'girl' toys, and same for boys, but you will find that because you will have both genders, both genders will end up playing with each others toys simply because they are toys and they are in the house kwim? My girls love playing in the dirt and with cars etc, just as my youngest DS likes to play with dolls from time to time (though it is usually stuffed in the back of a dump truck ) Academically once they get older they have been on par so far, both of them excelling at the same things (reading, literacy, spelling, english etc) and also they aren't as strong in the same things (maths).

[Fleur]

Hi Trish, congrats on your pink bundle!

I have 2 DS's and a DD and we are hoping this one is another DD.

Yep, they are pretty much all different...that is exactly what I was going to say ... all 3 of my kids are different, it's really hard to try & pinpoint character traits that are down to gender iykwim.
TBH I tried really hard to think of something, anything...and I can't! I know that's not much help to you but I would say the only thing you can really count on is getting another little individual!

I am constantly amazed by how my 3 children can all be so different. I am so looking forward to seeing what this one is like!

Also my DD is the oldest - yours will be the youngest - I think that will have an impact on what they are like too? I really think how they are treated, birth order etc may have more influence on what they are like than gender - at least that's how it seems here.
Sorry if that's not much help to you, maybe someone else has a different story?

Anyhow best of luck & congratulations I'm sure you'll enjoy your girl

[Tinks]

I agree with the other ladies, it all depends on personality but I did find that my girls are far more independant than my son.

[~Trish~]

Ha ha, I thought there wouldn't really be an answer to my question! I just hear such generalised things re: boys and girls from the older generation that I wondered if there was anything to it.

Trillian - Thanks so much for sharing about your kids . I guess it all really does come down to personality. How interesting that your kids all excel at the same academic things!

Jasp - Thanks to you too! Your post really does help . You're right about birth order, etc all being factors. I hope number 3 is much easier LOL! I'm hoping she'll understand that she can't have my full attention ALL of the time, because my boys definitely didn't understand that

ETA - Tinkerbell - I've heard that about girls too. I really hope it's true for this one!

[BellyBelly]

I'd have to agree, depends on personality and birth order too ... I know some last born girls who parents have said are very whiny and I know some first born girls who are very mother hen and some bossy lol... but in general I think girls tend to be more independent, when my son was born the midwife said to me something like, 'They are such mummy's boys... you'll drop them off at kinder and they will cling on your leg and not want you to go.... girls tend to be, 'seeya mum' and run off before you get to have a kiss.' lol... so I think the independent thing is true... they are more into reading and writing especially earlier. My son was very very cuddly and loving early on.

Girls you don't have to be so quick to nappy change LOL. There are strengths for both, in my experience they are very different, they way they think, interact etc. But thats all the fun of getting to know them

[~Trish~]

'They are such mummy's boys... you'll drop them off at kinder and they will cling on your leg and not want you to go.... girls tend to be, 'seeya mum' and run off before you get to have a kiss.' lol...

Oooh, I hope so Kelly! DS1 was definitely a mummy's boy and a leg clinger when I first sent him to kinder. Thanks for sharing your experience too

[Willow]

As you know, I have one of each and they couldn't be more different! But I suspect it comes down to personality more than anything.

DD is the most easy going, happy, laid back kid. Whereas DS...isn't! hahaha. He is a happy kid but was MUCH more clingy as a baby, very much a mummy's boy and is much more easily put out by disruptions to his routine etc. Don't get me started on the sleep!

They both reached milestones at around the same age but DS averaged about a month earlier with each one. His verbal/language skills at this age are also more advanced than DDs (from what I can remember anyway).

I'm irrationally sorta praying for a girl because for me, DD was so much 'easier' on mummy than DS has been - but I've heard friends say the opposite so I guess you don't know till they get here!

[Arimeh]

DD is soooo laid back and very independent.

DS is soooo NOT laid back (ie, he's a little stressball drama queen) and is NOT independent. Even at 2.5 years.

Willow - I'm sorta hoping for another girl too.. LOL

[~Trish~]

Fingers crossed she is a laid back, easy girl!

[mbear]

My H is only 5 weeks old...so dont really notice the diff yet (besides the obv..)....but maybe we can exchange notes in a few months....

My mum had 4 girls....and she now has 2 grandsons. She takes my older nephew out to the shops when she minds him - she cant believe how different boys are. He will run his hand through the rack of clothes at Myer - hide under the clothes, pull them off the coathangers - just for the heck of it. My girls (), follow grandma asking 'grandma can you buy me this, ohhh i love that, can you buy me that'. Mum says they are totally different.

Just a few weeks ago had a MHCN come to my house to weigh H. My DD#2 was sitting on the lounge watching Ariel - it was her rest time, and thats exactly what she was doing. The nurse laughed, and said 'you realise in 3 years time this one (harry) will be jupming on the lounge, pulling out toys, and just generally running a muk, dont you?'.......gawd help me....

[Willow]

^^

That's definitely been my experience!! DS never stops! So full of energy and mischief, TOTAL climber, gets in to things DD would never have even thought of!

So does anyone out there have a calm, placid, settled little boy?

On the independence thing though, I'd have to say that now he is older, I don't notice much difference between the two.

Mel - at least this time if we have boys we're prepared

[Fleur]

My DS1 is fairly placid. And DD was a total climber

But yeah, both boys do tend to run amuck from time to time

[~Trish~]

mbear - Yep, that sounds about right LOL! Both my boys love climbing and jumping on the couch etc. I'm worried that this girl won't have a chance to be placid if she has two older brothers to influence her

I like the sound of a quieter, non-climbing person LOL!

[Willow]

Trish - was just thinking about this and realised I do know of one family where its the opposite...my nephew is a pretty placid, quiet sort of kid, doesn't get up to much mischief...his younger sister on the other hand - sheesh!

Here's hoping whatever way it goes, we all survive

[Trillian]

Out of the 4 I have only had one placid one and that was the first one LOL. He still is that way and has never been a drama to parent and rarely gets into trouble and as a toddler/young child he was quite timid and not into rought and tumble play, but the other three, well they have gotten progressively worse, DD1 was (and still is) high maintenance and can be quite precious and her personality would be better suited to an only child LOL as when she is on her own with me she is truly a delightful girl and the rest of the time she is bossy, independent and stubborn and while those qualities will serve her well as an adult, they make it hard to be a good parent to her now kwim? She was a really full on toddler. DD2 is a bit of a tomboy (she asked for and got a tonka bulldozer for her 4th birthday LOL) and was constantly on the go when she was little so much so to the point where the preschool teachers of the older two were dreading her starting preschool LOL, but she grew out of it. And DS2, well lets just say that he does stuff the older three never did and is very full on and a real boys boy. But he is also very affectionate and a dear little boy. They are all raised the same, same parents and even though I do have two of each, they have all brought their own unique dynamic to the family kwim? And they certainly don't fit into any stereotypical gender types.

[~Trish~]

Willow - It all sounds very random! I don't like my chances of a quiet child, she is so active on the inside, just like her super-active, larger-than-life eldest brother was

OK, here's a typical boy scenario that I just had:

DS1: (Poking his head in from the back door) "Mum? Where's the head-torch?"
Me: "Why?"
DS1: "I need it so I can find Jasper's (our dog) tennis ball in the wood pile. Can I go get it?"
Me: *Sigh* "OK"
Me: Walks out into the kitchen a few minutes later to find muddy shoe prints all over the white tiles, left after DS1 went hunting for the torch.

Does this happen with girls???

ETA - Trillian - You're not giving me a lot of hope

[Trillian]

Looks like I am about to burst your bubble again My girls are messy - real messy. DS1 is a neat freak and DS2 will be the same I think cause he will help pick up his toys. ANY gender child will track mud through the house LOL