‘Do you think you’ll go back for a third? You know, try for a girl?’
‘No.’ I reply happily. ‘My cup is full. I feel complete and content.’
This mother of three girls looks at me, bewildered. ‘You’re going to miss out on so much. There’s something so special about a mother-daughter relationship,’ she goes on, thinking this might convince me to change my ‘very made-up’ mind.
I grew up with three brothers and no sisters. I now live with my husband, two sons and a male dog. I couldn’t be happier.
Our decision not to have any more children is a considered one, and hubby and I are completely in love with our two boys. Nonetheless, it begs the question: what am I missing out on?
After reading this blog called ‘The Great List of Things I Can’t Do Because I Only Have Daughters’, I thought I’d come up with a list of my own…
The Great List of Things I Can’t Do Because I Only Have Sons
1. Watch Anne of Green Gables together – I have my red wine, chocolate and Anne in one room while dad and the boys watch footy in the other. I’m okay with that.
2. Play dolls – Actually, they flock to the dolls & toy prams at Play Group. Boys can play with dolls. What are you afraid of? That they’ll become great dads?
3. Do their hair and makeup – I used to do my little brothers’ hair and makeup until they were old enough to protest. I don’t even really do my own hair and makeup these days. Who am I kidding?
4. Teach them to cook – Okay, to be honest; my husband is a far better cook than me. I have actually burnt water – yes, it’s possible. And Friday nights, he makes pizza with the boys… from scratch! My 3½-year-old can already successfully crack open an egg and can just about make pancakes on his own.
5. Buy pink – Walking past racks of tutus, frills, and achingly cute dresses doesn’t worry me. I’ve always loved blue. When a friend announces she’s having a girl, I’m the first to lavish pink upon her.
6. Have girly chats – I may never lament with my boys about ‘that time of the month’, but I hope they will still consider me (and their dad) their best friend and talk to me about anything and everything that’s going on in their boy worlds.
7. Go shopping together – Okay, as well as being a better cook than me, my husband is also a better shopper than me. I literally have no sense of style. We shop together all the time, and our boys are learning from the best (their dad) all about fashion and style.
In answer to this mother’s question: ‘Don’t you want a little girl?’ My answer is this: I want happy, healthy children who love me and their dad and their God. So far, so good.
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Originally published at Mum Daily. Photo by Elina Fairytale.