Raising boys and girls- which is harder?

[tweedledee*tweedledum]

I was just at the local shops with my children and a woman came up to me and pointed to my son and said, "He will be a handful!" I asked her why she thought that and she said "Boys are always harder to raise than girls". So now I am wondering whether there is any truth to this woman's ramblings? At this stage, my children are only 5 months old, so I am yet to have too much trouble with their behaviour. In fact, I am finding Serena to be a bit more fussy at this stage, she sleeps less, eats at random times and becomes cranky a lot quicker than Braden. So what do you think? Is a boy really harder to raise than a girl? :confused:

[Can I?]

I'm thinking that woman needed a slap upside the head. :mad:

I have 3 sons and I get those stupid comments all the time. It ****s me off because people say it over my sons heads and they hear it. So I tend to respond with comments like "We love them exactly how they are" or "We wouldn't have it any other way". If people say "So you have THREE boys" I just say "Yes.....we are really blessed".

The differences between individual children will always be greater than the difference between boys and girls. If that woman couldn't cope with her sons then she is just stupid and has missed out on fantastic relationships. She has no right to tell you that your son will cause you trouble....he is a precious little baby. I would have been really mad. :mad:

[daisyxs]

harder? no, different? yes of course.

both of my kids can be a handful at times.

p.s didnt her parents tell her its rude to point :shame:

[jasminesmum]

I have 2 boys and 1 girl.
I agree, I think it depends on the individual child rather than the sex of the child.

[Starlet]

I said NO.

But this is only because that is what my experience has been.

In my household we have 2 boys(4 and 2 1/2) and 2 girls(3 and 2). And the girls are WAY harder, it's always tantrum after tantrum(the 2 y/o has been chucking one for the last half hour right now! All because Dora is not on TV), where as the boys are alot more laid back and easier to please! lol.

BUT, the girls live at their mums as well, there are no rules, these girls are allowed to do as they please, so coming here they don't like having rules and being discliplined, but we refuse to give them seperate rules to the boys.

[MrsMiggins]

That's funny! People are always telling me the opposite! When I tell them I'd love to have another little girl, they always say "Aren't you a glutton for punishment?!" or words to that effect. Apparently I am asking for trouble because girls are such a handful to raise!

Oh please!

I had two brothers growing up, and I am the only sibling who did not;

a) repeatedly write my parent's cars off
b) need to be picked up from the police station every second Saturday night
c) get into drugs
d) move out of home at 18, back two weeks later, out again at 19, back two weeks later etc. etc. etc.

It is definitely more to do with personality than gender. I wish people would get over themselves! :shame:

[FourAngelKisses]

In my experience, boys are harder as toddlers, but when they are about 6-7, girls are 50 times harder as they are really *****y. By that age, boys just go with the flow.

[annsam]

Remembering what I was like as a young girl, Id have to assume boys are the less stressful. They both have their joys and woes though I guess.

[SassyMummy]

I don't think they're easier or more difficult...it just depends on the individual.

I do agree that, often for mothers, teenage daughters could be quite a handful...mainly because they're a bit *****y and such...and are more likely to "sneak around" than boys are (in my experience...boys just tend to do stuff and not really care if their parents find out...whereas girls are more secretive). I think you're also more worried about your daughters getting raped/pregnant etc than you are about your son (even though there's equal opportunity for him to get raped and get a girl pregnant...it just doesn't seem to play on people's minds as much).

Also, girls (not always) tend to be more into "buying" stuff...to make themselves feel as if they're cooler or whatever...and so they probably empty your wallet faster than boys.

Still, it IS all about the individual, rather than gender assumptions.

[Lila]

:)
my experience is EASIER!
i have 2 boys and 1 dd......
i love dd to bits, but she is such a strongwilled person...oh dear!

of course it depends on the individual, but overall i would say boys are easier. (IMO)

[melbryan]

Each child is born with their own personality and it has nothing to do with gender mainly to do with how determined and strong willed they are.
I have two ds's they are chalk and cheese already!!!

[SimplyMum]

From my bro and sis experiances, I'd have to say girls would be more difficult for me. I think girls are all in the head, so emotionally hurt one another and take things said to heart. Where as a boy, you'd be more likey to get called down to the scool because of a fight, grades, etc. So, both are hard in their own way, but I would personally find a girl harder because I'm not very good with emotions and *****iness (I just wouldn't know what to tell my daughter on an appropiate way to handle te situation).

[Cheekychops]

It has been said that overall :

Boys are harder untill the age of 12 but after that it's girls you don't want!!! :laughing:

I have 2 boys - who are totally different to eachother, and yes a handful, but I think they could be the same personalities without the willy iykwim!!!

Each individual child helps - oh and discipline is important!!!

[FourAngelKisses]

My 7yr old girl is a total PITA at the moment. But my almost 9yr old boy is a total dream. 2yrs ago, it was the other way around.

[RedPanda]

My family is very girl-dominated, and people often say "Ohh, wasn't that *****y?", but it wasn't. Of course we argued sometimes, but most of the time we were just really good friends. I think it would depend on the individual child (of course, I'm no expert - I only have one and he's still a bub!).

[becca74]

I think it depends on the individual child's personality - but I wouldnt know about daughters :laughing:

I have heard it said that boys are more physically demanding whilst girls are more emotionally demanding ....

but what would I know? I will only know the joys of boys.....

[Pippi Longstocking]

I have three girls and two boys ranging in age from 11 months to 11 years in alternating genders - girl boy girl boy girl so I reckon I am a bit of an expert on the topic :p

And I can honestly say - there is no bl00dy need to compare them! They all chop and change depending on their personalities and moods etc. At the moment, my 11 month old girl is driving me batty. My 4yo boy has been just gorgeous all day. But I know my lot well enough to know that by dinner time, they could all be being perfect, all being revolting, girls misbehaving while boys play nicely, boys brawling while girls are getting along.....