I always knew my husband and I would have a boy. An ultrasound at 21 weeks proved I was right.
Usually I love being right.
Not this time.
Aside from my adorable Baby Brother, I found boy children exhausting. They didn’t sit still, they didn’t listen, and they were super messy.
I tried to psyche myself up for a boy. Maybe my child would read books and be nerdy, like my brothers. Maybe I wouldn’t have to chase him all over creation with food and soap. Maybe he’d be sweet and compliant.
“It’s all in the parenting,” became my daily mantra. I vowed to put my kid in swimming. He’d learn to ride a bike. He’d play soccer. I’d teach him to clean up after himself, and he wouldn’t have time to draw on the walls or dig up the yard.
I told Andy, “I bet those terrors I babysat would’ve been delightful young men if their parents given them exercise, discipline, and affection.”
Andy gave me a look. “Isn’t that what the Dog Whisperer tells people who own destructive dogs to do?”
“Well, yeah, but I don’t see how it is not also applicable to the male animal.”
Andy laughed and said “Sure, honey. Sure.”
About the time I’d convinced myself I could manage a son, First Nephew came to visit. (All my family comes to visit because of Disneyland Proximity/ Free Place to Stay.)
First Nephew was about five years old. While his mother, Pretty Space Cadet Sister, worked on cross-stitching and read books, First Nephew wrestled and played tug-o-war with my dog Woofie. Woofie weighed ninety pounds. First Nephew weighed thirty-five. First Nephew lost every time, but never gave up.
When Woofie collapsed from exhaustion, First Nephew found a carabiner and cable. He hooked himself up to our outdoor umbrella. Then he yelled,” Look, Auntie Autumn! I’m climbing Mt. Washington!” and tried to repel up the umbrella.
After saving child and umbrella, I sent First Nephew to repel up an actual tree.
He did. Then he got bored and repelled up the swing. As the swing weighed less than First Nephew, rescue was again in order.
The repelling gear was repossessed and we went to a park. The park had a three-story rocket ship. First Nephew went up and down for an hour.
I thought he’d be tired when we got home. Instead of a nap, he tore around the house. “Auntie Autumn! Watch me bonk my head!” First Nephew would yell, running head first into the sofa cushions.
I begged off the following day at Disneyland and lay around the house in a stupor. Andy finally asked what was wrong
“I can’t do it,” I moaned. “I just can’t. I know I used to dance non-stop entire weekends, lift weights, swim, and even run 10Ks. But I’m exhausted after just two days of trying to keep up with First Nephew. And I’m going to have a boy of my own soon and I. Just. Can’t.” I put my head down and sobbed.
“It’ll be okay, honey,” Andy said, patting my back.
Sudden fury gave me the strength to lift my head and glare. “It will for you,” I snarled. “You’ll be safe at work with adults. You can close your door and nap. I’ll be the one trying to chase down a rabid mongoose with opposable thumbs before it climbs on the roof with matches.”
Andy wisely said nothing. He also removed all the matchbooks in the house before First Nephew returned from Disneyland.
After First Nephew returned to New England, I got a call from my OB. She said, “Your hemogloblin levels are so low you are now anemic. I’ve sent a prescription for iron supplements to your pharmacy. Pick it up right away and start eating meat, kale, and spinach.”
“I would if those things didn’t make me gag,” I told her.
“Eat some iron-fortified cereal. Preferably one with a lot of fiber, because a side effect of those iron pills is constipation.”
“Oh, that sounds fabulous,” I grumbled.
“It’ll give you more energy.”
“Wait. That’s why I’m so tired? I’m anemic?” Apparently a side effect of anemia is being seriously slow on the uptake.
“Yes. Now go get your pills ASAP and pick up some Grapenuts.”
I took my pills and her advice. I was chowing down on cereal when Andy got home.
He asked, “Why are you eating gravel?”
“Good news!” I told him. “I’m anemic!”
“Uh.”
“It’s good news because that’s why I was so tired! I thought I just couldn’t manage a boy child, but it was only the anemia talking. I’m going to be fine!”
I would have liked to be right about that, too.
Let’s hope you are right. I didn’t have kids but have step kids. I was over the moon when I heard the grandkids were two twin girls. So fun, colorful clothes, princesses. Now they are 13 and the normal moody teenager but we had those great years of neon colors.
I didn’t even think about clothes and pretty stuff. At least the majority of boy children will save you a fortune on accessories?
And lipstick (hopefully).
Yeah, cuz you need that savings for the ER bills.
Good point. I never broke any bones when I was a kid.
That’s so ominous, I’m scared.
Only humorously ominous! Though the in-laws will be reappearing soon, so who knows? That can always take a dark turn.
They say parents influence how their children turn out. But the reverse is also true. One of my writing buddies has two grown sons, and it shows in her whole mindset about life. Also very clearly in her writing. I, on the other hand, have three daughters, and my outlook is definitely skewed in a feminine direction. Also I have more trouble writing from a male point of view.
I do have two grandsons. They’re both pretty active. One The ten-year-old channels his excess energy into soccer, swimming, tennis, baseball, martial arts, etc. My daughter says she has to keep him busy. The older grandson hikes, walks, jogs, plays ultimate frisbee, and goes to the gym. All I know is they’re different than girls, and I can’t keep up with them.
See? Your daughter has Caesar Milan’s advice down pat! Exercise your kid to exhaustion or you’re toast. Or maybe your house is toast.
Indeed, ominous ending!
To be fair, I’ve met some crazy little girls, lol. Hoping your little boy isn’t as crazy as first nephew!
Do you think genes has a big influence on how a child’s personality or temperament is?
I do. I’ve got a few very quiet male relatives that can read or sit and color. And then there are the boys who will do forward rolls on your couch because they can’t sit still for more than a minute. I think all a parent can do is channel a kid’s energy if they have a lot of it. You just don’t know what you’ll get until you spin that genetic roulette wheel.
Thinking about the males in my family, they’ve always had a lot of energy and are good with running around and heavy lifting but also like to chat a lot, possibly to gain attention. I on the other hand would love to have the energy to run around and do all that heavy lifting and dance and life like you do all weekend, but because of health issues, that’s a no for me.
I hope you turned out fine from here.
The males in my family are also chatty…if by chatty you mean lecture-y.
Sometimes we really do take our health for granted. I should be more like, “At least I can chase my kid!”
The males in my family are lecture-y alright…and ramble a lot when they have had too much to drink.
If you can chase your kid, you should pat yourself on the back.
Chase, sure. Catch? Ummmmmm….
I’m a bit scared now haha. I’ve never really been around little children and I’ve never been super energetic either. Maybe my son will make me lose weight chasing him, looking on the bright side…
They are all different. Whatever you think you’re prepared for, life will hand you something else.
Sorry to say but there is no way to keep up with a kid growing up. I am dead exhausted when Nathan has a friend over. They don’t get tired at all and I am down after an hour or so. Nathan alone I can keep up with but as soon as there is another kid or even worse several kids he is unstoppable. It is like with he doubles his energy when there is another child!
My father used to say that the amount of work increased exponentially with each child. My kid will be an only child.
The only child could also turn into terrible demon
Absolutely. But one terrible demon is better than two.
That’s true but two Demons might also negate their powers when together! (in our case they just amplify their powers)
Yeah. I’m not that lucky.
I honestly thought my little boy would also be sweet, angelic, and calm. Umm, right now he enjoys jumping everywhere, loves taking off his diapers, is stubborn, and just goes nuts over cars. ( his favorite day is Thursday because a garbage truck comes by and he gets to watch it drive by.) Oh yeah, forgot to mention that he is also a climber too…
LOL, yeah. Nothing beats a garbage truck. Except maybe a fire truck with an aerial ladder.