The Ultimate Debate

I really struggled with what to write about today.  Being that it is the Fourth of July, of course my first thought was to talk about this holiday and what it means.  And I will address it towards the end, but I finally decided to discuss the ultimate debate. . . 

Boys versus Girls

I am not talking about which sex is stronger or smarter.  Let's be real there are strong people in both sexes and weak people in both sexes.  There are also smart boys and girls and absolute idiots on both sides!  I am talking about raising these people.  We had a little discussion at church yesterday about which ones are easier to raise.

I have often said that I would have a dozen more boys before I would have one more girl!  Now you might ask how could you not want another cute, adorable, cuddly and loving little girl in pigtails?!  Well let me tell you how long that phase lasts.  At the most, you get two and a half to three years, but realistically one year.   And don't argue with me!  After raising three girls of my own and handling at least six granddaughters, I consider myself an expert!

Those sweet little girls turn into opinionated and bossy little girls within one to two years.  And it grows from there.  Don't try to pick clothes for them.  "Mommy" would not let me pick her clothes by the time she was four!  Hairstyles?!  Let's not go there!  As they get seriously into grade school, the girl fights at school start.  "You can't be my friend and her friend too!"  or "I like him, you can't like him too!" (Yes that does start in grade school!)  And then we move into middle school.  That's when things get really serious.  We play serious mental games with our parents and friends at that point.  And let's not forget that previous sentence about clothes.  I used to check what the kids were wearing when they left the house.  My mantra was "Shirts down, pants up!"  Then (years later) I found out that "Mini Me" would sneak different clothes in her backpack and change at school!  Personally, for that reason alone I think backpacks should be banned.  I grew up in an age where you carried your stack of books in your arms, or you got a cute guy to carry them for you!  By the way, backpacks are also a great place to stash makeup, which I didn't allow until high school!  Believe me, girls keep you on your toes!  You get all this with girls plus attitude!  They are masters at rolling their eyes and getting that "tone" in their voices!

No boys, they do have a few issues but nothing like girls.  Believe me, they are cute and adorable too.  Little boys LOVE their mommies!  And they show it!  My guys always held my hand and hugged me!  To this day I get hugs, I love you's and they check on me!  (My girls do too in all fairness)  I will never forget the day "Calvin" looked at me and said "Mommy, I will never stop holding your hand."  I listened to him with love in my heart knowing that he would one day trade my hand for his wife's and eventually his own daughters'.  But that's okay.  Boys also do not go through the emotional and hormonal turmoils that girls go through.  I can guarrantee you that they do not hide clothes and makeup in their bookbags.  In fact that problem goes more the other way. . . you tend to me appalled at some of the outfits they put together.  My grandsons dress for winter in the summer and summer in the winter.  I just shake my head and move on.  They are rough and tumble and forgive much easier (most of the time - I have one that holds grudges!)  The debate can go on and on. . .

Now to my Fourth of July speech!  Because of the freedoms that men and women fought for over the centuries, we have the freedom to choose to have children and raise them in a church of our choice.  We have backslid some (does taxation without representation sound familiar)  and we must be very cautious to respect the freedoms others have established and earned for us!  Let's send up a prayer to God at some point today, thanking Him for strong and committed forefathers.  Let's pray for those who gave all so we could enjoy liberties.  Let's thank God for the USA, which is still the best country to live in!  Have a safe and blessed Fourth of July whether you prefer to raise boys or girls!