Boys vs. Girls

Lots of people have been asking me whether I want to have a boy or a girl. At first I didn't care which...in fact, I hoped for twins so I could have one of each. But now I'm officially hoping for a girl.

Here are my reasons for wanting a girl:

1. The carpet in the room that will be Bernamon's room is pink. While it's not particularly beautiful, it's in good shape and I'd rather not replace it.

2. Bernamon will be born in July, and will be one of the youngest kids in his/her class. Since girls develop emotionally sooner than boys, and because physical size isn't as important in establishing female pecking order in school, a girl will have an easier time dealing with the disadvantage than a boy.

3. It'll be easier with Nephew.

Nephew will be four months older than Bernamon. That's huge in baby time, but that gap will become almost nonexistent as the kids get older. Bernamon and Nephew will be in the same grade, and and it'll be tough not to compare the kids. I'm sure my parents and brother will never explicitly compare the kids in front of them, but it'll be hard to erase all comparison. Statements like, "Oh Bernamon, you made the Honor Roll! How did school go for you this quarter, Nephew?" or "Hey Nephew, great job on making the track team! What have you been up to, Bernamon?" could pit the kids against one another. I think the comparisons will have less of an impact if you're comparing a boy and a girl than if you're comparing a boy and a boy.

As far as what I want to do with Bernamon, though, it doesn't matter what he/she is. The activities I imagined doing with my kids - hiking through the country, teaching them to draw, going to the library, playing in the park, riding bikes, visiting all the places in Milwaukee that would appeal to a kid - don't depend on gender. I don't have visions of braiding hair or mother-daughter manicures. I just think things will be easier if Bernamon is a girl.

Also, I won't have to replace that carpeting.