I Believe That Words Are Powerful

When my mom began having children...there was my stepsister, then there was me. My dad told me later the first thing Mom said to him when I was born was, "I'm sorry it's not a boy." He was crying with happiness and kept telling her, "I don't care..I don't care..."

My Great Uncle Andrew came to my baptismal in our church. He had three half-grown sons of his own. He took one look at me, then at my mother and said, "You'll never have a boy!"

My first brother was born ten months after me. My baby brother was born when I was six and my first brother was four.

You were saying, Uncle Andrew?

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DrWatson · 70-79, M

What a strange thing to predict!

MaryJanine · 61-69, F

@DrWatson - This is a favorite family story. I hear so many people on TV saying, "I don't make boys(girls)". Don't they realize it is the father, not the mother, who gives the X or Y chromosone to determine the baby?

In our second generation, my one brother has one daughter. The other has one son. One child each.

DrWatson · 70-79, M

@MaryJanine Yes, the chromosome from the father determines the sex of the child, but the pH in the mother's womb determines which kind of chromosome the egg will accept. That's the basis of the prediction kits they sell these days, in which the woman can test herself and get a probability of a boy or a girl if she were to conceive right after the test.

MaryJanine · 61-69, F

@DrWatson I hate those people who absotively, posolutely HAVE to know whether they will have a boy or girl. I thought the most fun in my family was the anticipation of a coming child - but back in my day, they didn't have those kits that could predict yet. And there HAVE been errors when the parents were expecting one sex and got the other. My own father didn't care what he got, a daughter or son (he got both) but there are those who INSIST they must have or want to have a boy, and any daughter gets short shrift. Thank God my parents were sensible and welcomed us all.

DrWatson · 70-79, M

@MaryJanine We chose not to know until the moment of birth. I agree, the surprise is part of the fun! (Although at that instant in time, I am not sure whether my wife would have described the moment as "fun"!)

My daughter and her husband, on the other hand, have announced the gender in advance for both her pregnancies. To each his/her own.

MaryJanine · 61-69, F

@DrWatson I wish your daughter and her husband well with their children.

My mom had four of us and, I agree, the pain she went through in labor was probably bad (and your wife) but everything was forgiven when she had the new child in her arms - and ready to name him or her.

DrWatson · 70-79, M

@MaryJanine Yes, that was my wife's experience too! Our granddaughter is 16 months old. Our grandson is due in January. Thank you for your well wishes :)