Stereotypes again?

Maybe her girls are just ugly , ok, I'm sure they're not. I think the boy comment was un-called for, but I'll bet she had no idea what she was saying. I always imagined Sweden as a paradise of egalitarian high thinkers. But, it seems you have some of the same issues with putting girls on a pedestal given the comments you get...I definitely would have noticed that comment and it would have bugged me-- but I have some GD-colored glasses, too! Look, your friend doesn't have boys so maybe she really doesn't know that people out there in the world actually stop us on the street to tell us how beautiful/cute our boys are. I know I get lots of comments like that, although they are slowing down for my older son now that he is no longer a baby. (He is gorgeous, though, and I often think people should be making more comments than they do, LOL). I'm tired too, though not from a night of fun, so I'm probably not making sense...Just know, I empathize. I think we're in the same place with this GD-- trying to figure out why having boys is made to be such a scourge. Just know, you're doing so very well and have basically conquered your demons...maybe it will help you just to see her as unaware and missing out on the joys of boys (which she is).

 " Well I have found that when my girls were little/toddler age and dressed in

pink people would ohh and ahhh over them and give them plenty of attention, but nowadays

when they are older (5 and 7) - people often just ignore them or look at them as being

just another bunch of annoying children, same thing happens when I dress them in blue -

maybe they are mistaken then for being boys or something, but that is the reaction that I get"

Is it how I am reading this, or are the last two lines drawing two different reasons for the same reaction?  First she says people ignore them or look at them as annoying for being OLDER, then she says it's because they are in BLUE.   It's stupid then to say it's because they are being mistaken for boys, if the get the same reaction in any OTHER color.  Are her 5 and 7 year old girls REALLY being mistaken for boys just because they are dressed in blue?   Tell her to try putting a pink bow in their hair or something if it's not obvious they are girls, maybe a shirt that says "No I'm not a boy" (I didn't think that would be necessarily for girls their age but I don't know what they look like!) 

I have a friend who has two girls. I know she is jealous of her sister who has two boys. We have had discussions about it. THis was before I had my two boys of course.

ANyway she said the same thing that her girls would get oooohs and aaaahs when they were little and now that they are older, nothing.

I think it is the bows and clothes. I really do. Not that they are girls necessarily. Think about it, boy baby clothes are cute but pretty tame. Girl baby clothes are covered in ruffles and ribbon roses . The maryjane shoes are beyond cute. Then let's mention the adorable HUGE bow in their hair. Who wouldn't think they were gorgeous ? It reminds us moms of our babydoll days. But after 5t the girls are in jeans and t-shirts like the boys and then the playing field is more equal.

Let's really be honest here . Haven't you seen the toddler or baby girl slathered in pink and bows and though how cute she was? . You tell the mom how adorable. Then you really look at her and most of the time she is actually rather plain or sometimes not cute at all. But at first glance.......

I know when my son was in preschool I would have gd seeing all the  girls in their cute outfits. But now that he is five the girls are in jeans and Hannah Montana t-shirts. Now I see my sons gorgeous thick hair and beautiful coloring next to the girls with fine thin hair that is falling out of their hairclips and I really don't have GD moments anymore. Not to mention the girls are now in the snotty phase. Waiting for that phase to end. lol

I

I agree with babygirldreams. It is an age thing.

The only one of my kids that still get a lot of attention is the twins and that is because they are identical. Well and twins. People just love twins.

Although maybe its how you look too. When my family goes into a restaurant we are stared at. Because we have 5 boys. People look and count like they don't get that is rude.

So if you have a girl in a beautiful pink dress with ribbons and ruffles they will get attention.

I always thought boys were cuter, as I dislike that whole frilly pink dolly look - So I initially dressed DD in orange, green, purple - anything but pink - & every old lady we encountered in the street would say 'What a lovely little boy'! - Not everyone thinks girls look cuter; some people just like babies, no matter how they're dressed!

Argh, bad comments! 

There is just such an ingrained reaction that girls are 'better' than boys...it's hard to overcome at times.  People always compliment(ed) my sons on their appearance when they were small, but that kind of dried up as they got older and more awkward (I'm sure this is true of boys and girls alike).  But now that they are older, they get a lot of positive comments on their behavior and intelligence, and I value those much more anyway.  It is such a good feeling when teachers, coaches, and elderly neighbors compliment you on how well behaved your sons are.

BTW I also hate it when people ignore children waiting in line at stores - especially if they are polite and patient, they have to stand there for so long without being helped!  I've actually had to teach Clark to be more pushy and aggressive, and I think there is some irony there, because haven't we all 'heard' that boys are always so aggressive and ill-mannered??  Nope, he had to learn to be ill-mannered from Mom!