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- Girls Can Be Wild and Spirited Children Too
By Lisa Johnson
March 28, 2023
The day I shared the news on social media that my partner and I were expecting a baby boy, one of the first congratulatory messages featured a meme that humorously defined a boy as “a loud noise with dirt on it.” We both laughed. My husband hails from a family of boys, while I grew up surrounded by sisters. The prospect of raising a son was both thrilling and daunting for me. I mentally bid farewell to my pristine furniture and light-colored carpets, recalling them fondly before my little one’s arrival turned them into a battlefield of mess.
However, when my son was born, I found myself pleasantly surprised. As the days turned into months, my home remained surprisingly unscathed. He grew older, and during our visits to the playground, I found myself not in a state of panic, but rather enjoying the peaceful sight of him playing quietly in the mulch. Aside from a brief phase at around 12 months when he seemed to scream out of sheer joy, he was a calm and cheerful child—more of a gentle noise surrounded by dirt than the chaotic definition I had anticipated.
Fast forward a couple of years, and I was expecting again. This time, we chose to keep the baby’s gender a surprise. Trusting my instincts, I was convinced I was having another boy. I thought maybe this one would be the lively, boisterous type I had imagined.
I was only partially correct.
Enter my daughter. When I say she’s wild, I don’t mean in a free-spirited, whimsical way. I mean she embodies the untamed spirit of a honey badger—fearless and unapologetic. She is a whirlwind of joy, showering me with hugs and cuddles throughout the day, yet she also has a fierce growl that could scare anyone. Her stink-eye is a perfected art form, one that could only be honed through years of discerning judgment.
My once-pristine furniture? Now securely anchored. The light carpet? We’ve relocated, but I keep all art supplies under lock and key because she possesses a sixth sense for chaos and can create a masterpiece of mess at lightning speed. You know those horror movie moments when a character senses something’s off, only to discover chaos has erupted around them? That’s my daughter with a pack of Sharpies.
Remember that phase my son went through of random screaming just for fun? That’s become my daughter’s everyday soundtrack for the last 10 months. Whether she’s happy or angry, the screams are constant. Her expression rarely changes, making it hard to decipher her moods.
At the playground, I often feel immense gratitude for my son, who remains content playing quietly. He allows me the freedom to chase after my daughter as she fearlessly leaps from the highest point of the jungle gym. As she dashes through the park, the only time she pauses is to shoot me a fierce look when I dare to suggest she slow down.
Our library trips are a race against time. While some parents meticulously plan their grocery lists by aisle for efficiency, I map out the book locations to ensure we’re in and out before we draw attention. I watch other mothers encourage their children to use their “inside voices,” while I merely hope my daughter won’t perform a full-blown ET impersonation, arms waving frantically as she runs and screams.
The lesson here is clear: the saying “boys will be boys” is a myth, and girls are not necessarily easier to manage during their early years. Children are simply children. Each individual will navigate the world in their own unique way—some see it as a playground while others perceive it as a fierce competition. Their levels of calm versus chaos are not dictated by gender.
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Summary:
Raising children, whether boys or girls, comes with its own set of challenges and surprises. As I navigate motherhood, I’ve discovered that my daughter embodies a wild spirit that defies the stereotypes often associated with gender. Each child is unique, and their personalities don’t conform to traditional expectations. Embracing the chaos, I find joy in the spirited adventures of parenting.