Let's hear it for the [child of unknown gender]
As my wife begins week 35 of her pregnancy with child #3 I have almost perfected the ability to guess the age and/or social upbringing of any person (typically a woman) who says "Oh, you have two boys? You must be trying for a girl."
Trying for a girl? How about hoping not to have a child with Down's Syndrome? Or hoping not to deliver a baby with the cord wrapped around its neck? How about getting a clue, people? I know that parents sometimes decide to have another child simply because they want a certain gender, but this is perverse. Unless you're centrifuging semen, that's a recipe for disappointment half the time.
Yet, you see this attitude in older people all the time. Have a girl? Oh, you must be trying for a boy. And it is of course worse when you're having a third child. As if no one in their right minds would attempt three without striving for a specific gender. I really don't get it. Oh and I am so looking forward to calling people (including family) from the hospital to announce our new son and receiving a dramatic pause and limp "Oh, wonderful. Will you try for a girl next time?"
Posted on April 19, 2006 to the category called The Darnedest Things .
