A friend of mine recently gave birth to her first baby, a boy. I was inordinately excited not only because it was a long-awaited child but also, I soon realised, because she’d had a boy.
“Welcome to the MOB!!” I exclaimed excitedly in an email reply to her announcement.
Mothers Of Boys. We’re a unique…um…mob. I’m sure mothers of only girls have their unique challenges too but there’s something about being the one outnumbered in the household gender stakes that makes life more interesting. (Any fathers of girl-only households reading this are welcome to write their own blog post perspective.)
It’s quite possible that my friend, down the track, may become a Mother Of Boys And Not Boys but for the time being she is a part of the club. A club in which I am a more-than-paid-up member.
A Member of the MOB
After my first two boys were born and I was pregnant with my third child, I lost count of the number of people who asked “So, are you hoping for a girl?” It got a bit boring so I took to looking at the enquirer in horror and saying, “Oh, goodness, no! Why would I want one of those? I wouldn’t know what to do with one.” (I still don’t.)
Do I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have a daughter? Of course. Do I ever wish one of my boys had been a girl? Never.
Besides, from listening to my girlfriends, bonding time with daughters seems to mainly involve clothes shopping. I’d rather be poked in the eye with a blunt stick (I believe it’s more painful than a sharp one). Give me a Joss Whedon movie outing with my boys any day.
In the hospital, after the birth of my third son, a cleaner told me that when my children were teenagers, I’d be glad I had boys. I held on to that promise through the years of small boys running amok in playgrounds, picking up any remotely pointed object to be used as a weapon, through the three-year-old penis obsessions and the pre-teen biffo and insults. And now, with two teenagers and one on the cusp, I can honestly say she was right. As I watch mothers of teenage girls struggle with the hormonal nastiness, psychological bullying and body image issues, the full-on early boyhood years seem worth it. Boys – my boys at least – are so much more straightforward. Well, as straightforward as parenting any teenager can be.
I can’t wait for the possibility of a cuddle with this newest member of the male race and to recall those thrice-heard words,
Master of Something I'm Yet To Discover 
It is a wonderful thing….when I heard of another boy baby being born I always said, “Well, she got it right the first time!” I never longed for girl children….as a matter of fact that was probably my biggest fear! I love the worlds boys create. They’re an absolute intrigue to this female mind of mine. Am proud to be part of the MOB!
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After my third boy, people would ask “Are you going to try for a girl?” I’d say, “I’d just end up with four boys.” I think I was made to have boys. And I agree, they’re great! 🙂
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As a MOB of two toddlers I’m clinging desperately to the hope that they get easier! My boys are boys (which is fine) but compared to my niece they are complete monsters! I do love being the only female in the house though and would never want to trade in my crazy boys!
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Welcome fellow MOB member! Oh, Cristi, it does get easier, it does! 🙂
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I’m just getting out of diapers finally so I have a way to go yet but it’s good to know!
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I will make sure you have a cuddle soon!
Thanks for the warm welcome to MOB. I am strapped in with my heart open and my safety harness on awkwardly ready to take the ride.
Fortunately love is thickly in the air. Lovely blog. I think it’s funny you were obsessed with their penises for 3 years 😉
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Oooh. I will be counting the days. 🙂
Enjoy the ride! It’s bumpy but exhilarating.
Haha. I realised it might be read that way. Actually, if you’re going to take it in that context, that penis obsession lasted 8 years. Until they were out of nappies. 😀
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Haha, I suppose I am a half MOB half MOG kind of gal! I cannot imagine the stories you you have with three little monsters! 🙂
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Oh, there are so many, Sasha, sooo many!
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I’m a MO Both, wouldn’t change it for the world!
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I think as long as we’re happy with what we got, it’s all good. 🙂
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As a MOB, I can’t imagine how different life would have been with girls. I would have liked a girl but like you, I think I was programmed for boys.
Sometimes it was challenging always being out-voted 3-1, but they’re the best! 🙂
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🙂 I think it was lucky I’m not a girly girl. It’s been easy to fit in with three geeky boys.
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