Interesting poll over on Facebook right now

[dramabird]

I have "liked" the Barnes and Noble Nook over on Facebook (love that product, BTW, I have two) and so sometimes on my newsfeed I get their status updates about books, authors, etc. Well, they're talking about a book called "Swagger," which focuses on raising boys in today's world. To generate Facebook discussion, they asked their fans the question, "Which are harder to raise, boys or girls?"

The answer, so far: 26 people said boys are harder, 83 people said girls are harder (and many added the phrase "by far" on the girl responses). Wowza!

Bear in mind, this is ~not~ me dissing girls -- I'm swaying pink! I want a girl! But I'll admit that part of my gender desire is fueled by this notion I have that girls are sweeter, cuddlier, gentler, more verbal, more intuitive, etc., and that only boys are difficult. So I can sometimes get resentful or self-pitying, thinking that I have it tough with my boys and all my friends with girls are just lolling around, getting mommy/daughter pedicures and eating bon-bons and talking about their feelings and never having any difficulties.

So it's nice to know that, hey, raising girls evidently isn't all roses either. Not because it changes what I want -- my desire for my boys to get their little sister is massive! -- but just because it helps me to keep some perspective. The grass is greener, the hairbows are pinker, you get my drift.

(It's nice and rare, BTW, for something on Facebook to actually make my GD feel better rather than worse -- every few months, I have to select to have a FB friend's posts stop appearing on my newsfeed because yet another one will find out she's having a girl and seeing the mushy-gushy pink posts is all heart-stabby each time I see them so it's easier to block them and spare my feelings)

^^^wowthatwasalongsentence^^^

[Hobbermittens]

Girls are WAY harder!! I have 2, and both are more challenging than my son has ever been. It may be personality, but he is sweet and mellow, and they are high strung and sassy.

[ThroughWithBlue]

I really think it depends on the child. Of course mine are only 2 and 1 and both boys. But I always ask moms of both genders which are harder and I'd have to say most of them say boys. But those who have an older daughter will say their daughters as a teenager/pre-teen. My family who saw my sons for the first time last year was shocked by how much more difficult boys were than they thought. My family is ALL girls from generations and generations, mom has 2 sisters, grandma had 4 sisters, her mom had 3 sisters, I have all girl cousins, LUCKY ME!!! Grass is always greener, they were always telling me how easy a boy would be, then they saw them in person.

[Myloves]

The grass is always greener isn't it? But ThroughWithBlue is right - it all depends on the kid's personality (or even the environment their being raised in).
I'd say my first boy is by far the hardest. He is a wild child; loves everything to go his way, has a horrific temper (though he is very forgiving too) oh and don't get me started on his attitude - he's sassier than most little girls I know!
My daughter is very easy. She's sweet cheerful baby, hardly ever fusses - she's everything I dreamed she would be . But then again she's turning 18 months in a few days... still plenty of time to be troublesome later on right? (Both my boys however were hell at 18 months, so there is a difference between them and my girl so far).
My second boy is a gem. Ever since he turned around 2 and half, he's became easier and easier and is now a calm kid. (I'm hoping he doesn't go back to his old ways! lol)

So basically I have 1 boy whose crazy (but a joy too), another boy who is easy, and one girl whose easy too.

[Junie]

I only have a boy but I have to say that even though I very much want a girl next time- I absolutely 100% believe that the teenage years with a girl are much worse then with a boy. This isn't to say that both sexes can't be hard at different times,etc and of course personality plays a role but I know how I was as a teen and I know how my friends were and I definitely think having a 14 year old girl in the house is probably a lot more annoying then having a 14 year old boy in the house.

Let's hope if I get my girl she isn't just like me LOL!

[Yuzu]

Well, I don't know about girls, but my oldest son was absolutely horrific to raise! He had (and still has, sigh) such a mouth on him...oh, my gosh. If you say black, he says white; you say up, he says down. He'll argue with a post. I hate to talk behind the boy's back, but I don't think I've ever gotten over some of the stunts he pulled.

[Myloves]

Well, I don't know about girls, but my oldest son was absolutely horrific to raise! He had (and still has, sigh) such a mouth on him...oh, my gosh. If you say black, he says white; you say up, he says down. He'll argue with a post. I hate to talk behind the boy's back, but I don't think I've ever gotten over some of the stunts he pulled.

It seems like I have a miniature verson of your oldest (hopefully things will get better as he gets older).

[Princess of Pink]

I think gender has nothing to do with it at all...it's 110% personality!! My mother would say the complete opposite, she has 1 daughter and 2 sons. I was quiet, liked to read, and play with girlie things. I did well in school, had really nice friends, didn't drink until I was 18 (legal age here), didn't have sex until I was 18 even though I had already been with my boyfriend for 2 years, got a job while in school then went to university, was responsible and never a drama. My brothers on the other hand snuck out of the house, drank, did drugs, got in with the wrong crowd, kept getting speeding/driving fines, you name it they did it!! It's who we are, not our gender.

I have a 14yr old daughter and I don't have a drama with her. I get the odd bit of sarcasm or laziness, but she has never been a drama or caused me worry. I have 2 daughters that I am sure will have me in for some trouble...but it's their personalities and not their gender. My girls have been a breeze to raise so far and have not scared me off having girl #6...they only reason I want a son is to experience something a little different...and to see what a son the DH and I produce would look like lol. I am not expecting him to be any easier or harder because he has a penis!!!

[Flava]

Maybe ppl say that who don't even have girls? I only have girls and I don't think it's so hard at all.(and I have 4!)
But sometimes we get together with a "friend' she got 1 girl 3 boys and those boys making me crazy! They make a huge mess acting like a tornado , jumping off from bunk beds ect ect. (her girl is calm )
If my girls would do the same i would have gray hair by now. I KNOW not all boys are like hers. but my girls are playing together , hanging out , watching movies, color , ect. not much fight at all. So for me girls are not hard to raise at all.

[Mochagirl]

I have very high maintenance, high strung boys (horrible temper tantrums, rude behavior, non-stop fighting), so I can't imagine that the young years with a girl could be any worse. Of course, those could be fatal last words...