Top 10 Things to Never Say to a Mom of Boys

I can understand that people's comments are frustrating, but whether you have boys, girls, both or puppies, you are still going to encounter stupid questions/comments. I love how when defending either gender some people think the best way to go about it is to insult the other (thank god I have boys, girls are so high maintenance etc).
As for boy names on girls... Tell my why it is that your sons can share toys, clothes, sports, interests with girls, but not a name? While you're so busy being progressive and open-minded about gender identity you're busy letting us all know that in names an trace of femininity is forbidden. Girls didn't steal your sons names, they are sharing them. The next argument is teasing, right? Well, newsflash, "unisex names" (yeah, some of you are whining now, "UNISEX?! But that's a BOY name, not unisex!) are the norm. My 7 year old daughter hasn't gotten teased about her name yet, and thinks it's cool to meet other kids with her name. IF she does get teased about her name I have two reasons to throw up a big old BFD. She'll get teased about something, sometime and let's hope it only gets as far as a petty name insult. When she gets teased I hope that she'll remember everything I try to teach her about being a strong, confident girl, and how useless it is to get worked up over another persons spiteful comments. And, of course, I'll be right here to help my daughter through any issue.

My name is Shannon, Yes, I'm a woman and Shannon is a traditional, Irish, masculine name. It's from the root "John". I love my name!! When my mom gave birth to me, she shared a room in the hospital with another woman who had just given birth to a boy. She named him Shannon. How wonderful!! I love to meet men named Shannon. Also, I can dodge sales calls by saying "Mr. (insert last name) is unavailable at the moment. May I take a message?" Absolutely love it!

Name your child whatever works for you (unless its Crap Bag). Gayle, Leslie, Alex, Shannon, Taylor, Ryan, etc... Perfectly wonderful for a girl or boy.

I have to disagree with #1 - Even though Ryan is traditionally a boys' name, at least it's a real name spelled correctly; so teachers, employers, etc. won't have any problems learning that name. If you happen to have a son named Ryan and you meet someone with a daughter named Ryan, so what? This could have happened no matter what you named your child, since people seem to be doing whatever the heck they want anyway.

I agree with Jocelyn (May 6). Boys & girls can be both rough and sensitive. My daughter is 21 and my son is 18. We never made them dress or do or play anything that was gender stereotypical. I had a few (silly to some) rules: No video games until you're 10 (but we had lots of outdoor activities like camping, fishing, yard-work, travel, soccer, etc. and indoor activities like baking, Legos, K'nex, arts and crafts, reading, and once they started dressing themselves...no velcro shoes until they learn to tie their shoelaces. They had to learn to tell time on a clock that wasn't digital. The most important things I think parents should encourage in their kids? Empathy, good manners, doing their best, helping others, and do what makes them happy as long as its not illegal or harmful to others. Personally, I didn't want to know what either was going to be until they were born, and I was perfectly happy to stop at one of each. Best Wishes to all present and future parents.

I know i have heard these more then a few times... esp #3. My son is my youngest, and has 2 older sisters, and he plays with many a "girl" toys (though we dont call toys girl toys or boy toys here, toys are toys). He loves to play in our wood toy kitchen, and has his own baby doll. He also loves legos, dinosaurs and Cars, just like my girls love littlest pet shops, babies but i think my middle child 9girl) gets dirtier then my boy ever has!
And more then once with 2 girls i was asked constantly if i was "trying for a boy". After almost losing my first, and having a miscarriage, a healthy child was all i was worried about having.

Kudos on number 7, there, mom of 4! How many parents (usually mothers) are so bloody scared of anything remotely resembling a firearm!! Indeed, good of you to notice how boys do have the tendency to "make" a gun out of anything.

I have a little girl and right now she'd rather have the "boys" toys in her Happy Meal rather than the girls toys. I'm cool with that.

It's not the actual name that is the problem. It's the messed up, concocted spelling! If you are going to name your child Elija (Dani Delirium) then spell it that way and then people won't mispronounce it. You can't have it both ways. You can't have a "common name" and a "unique name" in the same name! It's either common, or unique. I have male friend named Ashley, and a female friend named Charlie, and they were never picked on or messed up emotionally for life or gender confused because of their names. Get over it.

I am going to say something about circumcision and that is if the boy is born with hypospadias the doctors use the foreskin for reconstructive surgery. I know this as my son was born with the condition and had reconstructive surgery at 8 months of age. He is now a healthy 5 (turning 6 next month) yr old.

Holy Wah! Read this article and proceeded to the comments - are you people for real? None of you should ever have been allowed to procreate. Now I know what is truly wrong with this country.

So, since I named my daughter Ryan long before I read this article, I guess I should introduce her as Erma when we meet? (You can't be serious about the whole "we own the rights to this kind of name thing"). Names evolve, deal with it. I have 2 different friends who named their sons Ryan AFTER my daughter was christened Ryan--(and after they had met her) so if it doesn't bug them, why are you getting your panties all in a twist over it?

I absolutely hate when anyone attributes behavior or development to a child's gender. It really has nothing to do with it all. I have been told this from everyone from our local checkout girl to our pediatrician ( shame on her!).
Every child develops at their own rate, and with little regard as to whether or not they have a uterus/penis. They are individuals.
When people say idiotic things like "you know boys/girls are" - "I like to say, no I only have the one, only know how he/she is."

You hit all my pet-peeves. Thank you. I love my boys and am not lacking something because I don't have a girl. Great article.

I agree with everything but the first issue involving naming girls and boys. What does it matter if Charlie, Taylor, Sam, and Jo are both girl and boy names? Why be possessive over a name as there are thousands out there if you look and many can go both ways depending on how the mother views them.
I guess what I am trying to say is that if I had a boy, the current names designation would not decide for me, my opinion of the name would. And Charlie, Taylor, Sam, and Jo fall under suitable for both girls and boys.

Well, my son is 12 years old and does very well in school. He usually stays on the Honor Roll and is in Band and Student Council. During his early years, I let him play with anything he wanted to: dolls, stuffed animals, toy guns, rescue action figures, building blocks, etc. He had everything and then I got him a video game when he turned 6 years old, and he can outplay any adult on most of these now on his PS3. A lot of guys at the stores are asking him for advice. Also, did I mention, that I am raising him as an only child being a single Mom? A child will go as far as their imagination lets them go with a little encouragement. For all you ladies out there with little boys, PRAISE GOD AND THANK YOUR LUCKEY STARS!

#6 is a load of crap - the author doesn't want people to make sexist assumptions about male schoolchildren, but is perfectly happy to make sweeping generalities about the styles and competence of female teachers. Thats the sort of attitude that breeds tension between the gender and encourages schoolkids to make excuses instead of taking responsibility for their behavior.
And you know what, lighten up about the gender ambiguous names -name your own kids what you want, and let other people do the same.

#1 - Hillary, Ashley, Shirley, Beverly, Micah... all used to be boys names. There are many others.

All, and I mean ALL of my friends have boys. All boys. And all of my friends are desperate for daughters. It isn't that they don't love their sons, but they spend time with my girls, and want one of their own. I'll admit, I have used a few of these, mainly number 6, which is true. School has become about sitting down, shutting up, and taking tests. Boys are usually- usually, but not always, more physically active, making it harder to do well in a traditional school setting. I'm usually saying this to convince a friend, that no, your son does not need ritalin, he's just being a boy. I have also used number 10, but, as an adoptive parent, I try to convince them to look into adoption. I have a bio daughter, an adopted daughter, and a stepdaughter. I wanted all girls, so I chose to build a family of all girls. One friend only wanted three kids. After her second boy, she knew a third pregnancy could mean a third boy. Rather than continue to have kids she chose to foster to adopt a baby girl. Now she has the family she wants, the little girl is loved, everybody wins. My brother just decided to be a foster parent. I'm so proud of him. He only ever wanted two kids, one boy, one girl. Now he has the family he wants. Better than my cousin, who just had her 4th boy, that she can't afford, hoping for a girl. I have never used number 10 on her, but I know other people do, and it is just irresponsible. All of her sons know they were supposed to be girls, I'm sure that doesn't help their self esteem. I have heard that while boys are more desireable elsewhere in the world, in America and Europe, people prefer girls. At least, it is harder to place a boy for adoption. This could be because of the high rate of single parents, mostly women. Girls are told they're special and can do anything. Boys are told to sit still and shut up. What they don't realize, is that if our society doesn't stop devaluing men, if we give boys a free pass to act however they want, if we assume they're way of being is wrong, what kind of men will they grow to be? What I say to my friends that long for a little girl, is to love the children they have, whatever their gender.

I agree with everything except number one. You're telling other people not to challenge your decisions, so don't bash theirs. Especially in the number one spot.

i have 2 wonderful boys and my little one went threw a phase when all he wanted was barbie dolls and watch beauty and the beast and when i bought him beauthy and the beast doll and prince....people went huh???hes a boy.i said i know,let him play enjoy explore and eventualy hell give up..and that what he did.
now all he wants is ben 10 toys.
and boys more agressive that girls....THAT IS SOOO NOT TRUE!
i have seen so many agressive girls and im not saying my boys are innoent angels...but my god they are nothing compared to thee girls.
And i HATE!when they keep telling me try for a girl...i say i dont want a girl...why would i want a girl...2 boys is all i ever asked for.