Two of my close friends had girls first and then they had boys for their second child. They keep telling me that having a son is so different, amazing...they just can't explain it and I won't understand until I experience it firsthand! 
Enlighten me!
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
oh gosh! This is a toughie for me because I had a boy first and a girl second. The only thing I can comment on is how my boy and girl have differed from each other. I think boys are simpler, and less dramatic, and definitely not as quick to learn certain things. I would classify my boy toddler as pretty happy-go-lucky, and his mood was pretty consistent. When he started in on the terrible twos, he of course had tantrums, but in general was still pretty happy-go-lucky. He wasn't as cuddly as my girl toddler is, but he was less demanding. For instance, he could play all day with his musical instruments, and he was interested in books, but he wanted to page through them with no help from me. My girl grabs a book and demands to sit in your lap and read the book over and over... which is really cute the first and second time, maybe the third time...
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
i think it might be more of a second child thing. my mom said that moms always favor the baby!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Oh wow, I think my son is opposite from yours Mrs. Wagon. He's a drama queen, extremely complicated and is a fast learner! He speaks two languages!
I think my heart is just as full as if I had a daughter. I think where the rubber meets the road will be when he's older, but then again, we'll have to wait and see.
persimmon / 1420 posts
My son is so, so, so different from my daughter. He's a drama queen, with his shrieks reaching ear piercing decibals, and my daughter is much quieter and easier to calm down. He's super into being with people, and quite interested in observing social situations, whereas she wants to investigate things. He's fearless, too- leaping off of things, going down steep slides, etc, and I have yet to be able to get her to go down the slide without freaking out. He has also been much slower to pick up communication skills (which I think is weird, considering his obsession with people)- he has trouble signing what he wants, whereas my daughter got it right away. He's also been slower to develop motor-wise- Ellie reached for things, rolled over, sat up, stood up, and is now (almost) walking before him. I really don't think it's a boy/girl, thing, though- I just think they're totally different kids, so they have totally different strengths and weaknesses.
ETA- I think it's been nice to have the twin factor play in here, too, so I know that I'm not favoring one because of the age, and I can watch them (literally) side by side.
grapefruit / 4120 posts
I have one of each and both have been wonderful experiences. For me as a female with no brothers and not a ton of male friends, it has been lovely having a son and just sort of seeing his development. It makes me feel so much closer to and more understanding of males in general. Is that stupid? I don't know, it has been very interesting! Not that he represents mankind 
pomegranate / 3863 posts
My son slow-clapped for me this morning as I cleaned up his horrendously disgusting poopy diaper.
That is all.
pomegranate / 3983 posts
I can't compare because I only have boys but I do think that both order is probably more of a factor...
coconut / 8279 posts
I don't think I'd know a difference unless I had both!
J is very independent, very opinionated, not cuddly but very loving and kind, too.
He's always been ahead on milestones as far as standing, walking, sitting, etc., but doesn't take the time to learn words and gets frustrated when I try to get him to pronounce things properly.
I wonder if it's because he's a boy or just his personality? He's definitely more like me personality-wise..
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
Can't compare since I only have boys, but I've certainly been peed on a lot
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
LOL.
It's an unexplainable love bond!! You have to have a son to experience it
squash / 13208 posts
I think that statement can be said for the 2nd child if its a different gender.
I had a boy 1st and loved everything about him, although he was high needs and is still dramatic at 5!
Then I had a girl and thought OMG she is amazing and wonderful and told my friends with boys that they just had to experience for themselves - ha!
I think when you have the 2nd gender it is just different
Hope that makes sense! =)
apricot / 491 posts
My son is only 4.5 mo (my only child), so I don't have tons of experience, but I've always wanted a girl first and to have a girl, but so far having a boy has been pretty easy, although he is an easy baby. Loves to cuddle, sleeps great, silly. I just love him to death.
nectarine / 2177 posts
@petunia354: this is amazing!!
@autumnlove: so weird. I think each child, regardless of sex, is unique and that a mother's love for that child is in turn unique. I have just one baby, my son, and I love him to the moon and back. I am sure my love for a diagnose would have been just as strong but different in its own special way!
pineapple / 12802 posts
@petunia354: haha!! Me too!
I do get tons of cuddles from my little man.
pineapple / 12234 posts
@petunia354: hahahahaha
Hmm. You know...DH and I have discussed this a lot since we have both a boy and girl. We have different feelings toward both kids but the same amount of love, if that makes sense. I'm not sure if it's related to sex or their placement in our family but I'll try to describe what we feel...
DD (our second) has been more independent from the get-go, making it a little harder to bond with her like I did DS. She gets hurt easier and complains more than DS did so in that way, we both cuddle her more. DS has always been laid back and caring (well, except for the 3's but the other years, he has been). DD is funny because although she is only saying 2 word sentences, she is a better communicator than DS was as a toddler. It's already easier to talk her out of tantrums by explaining everything we're doing and why - which makes me think the 3's will be easier with her. I think DS was just so emotional as a 3 year-old that it really took a toll on DH and I.
Overall, DH and I have said even though having a boy is so great and special, we wouldn't mind another boy or another girl.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@mrs. wagon: THIS. everytime i read one of your responses I can't help but agree wholeheartedly. The book example is classic Noelle and Jaren!
@autumnlove: I think my kids are so different in every way. Maybe it's a personality thing more than a sex thing? Whatever it is, I like the balance that it brings to the household! Noelle is definitely more emotional, high needs, likes to have me close, and was a very very cuddly baby… to the point that I could never leave her or put her down. It was exhausting at the time, but I miss it now because Jaren is so not the cuddly type - he always wants to be on the move. Something catches his interest and he is off! I do like the independence and activity that he brings too though. It's a good, refreshing change.
Noelle is more sensitive, gentle, and cautious. She is so thoughtful and always concerned when I have a boo boo or when I look sad/distressed. She is easy to communicate and negotiate with. She's never had one of those full-fledged throw your face down and scream type of tantrums that last a long time. I keep waiting for it, but she's 3 now and it still hasn't happened… (I think we're going to get it with Jaren though).
Jaren is more fearless, rambunctious, easygoing (nothing phases him and he gets over his boo boo's in a second), constantly on the move, independent, and very physical. The descriptors I'm using is very typically boy and girl, but I can't find a way around it. That's just how they are wired!
I think you can have two girls and still experience these things! I don't think you need a boy to know what it's like.
Would you say E and M are very different personality-wise? What are they like?
pomegranate / 3503 posts
@Mrs. Bee: I think you're right. I definitely feel I favor the younger one just a tad bit more because she'll always be the baby in my mind.
I actually don't see a huge difference between my son (older) and daughter. Perhaps it's because she looks up to him so much some of her personality is influenced by him. She's definitely more opinionated and quicker to learn things than he is. My son is more emotional though but I think that is the product of us coddling him too much when he was our only baby.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
@Mrs. High Heels: LO 1 is emotional, very needy at times and she is opinionated and isn't very go with the flow.
LO 2 is just chill. She doesn't get upset a lot...yet! Daycare always comments on how easygoing she is compared to LO 1....
pear / 1769 posts
I just don't believe that one sex has a set personality factor that makes them more/less desirable. I think every person is different and every situation is different. It makes infinite outcomes. And every good parents loves their child unconditionally for who they are.
When people say things like that, all I try to hear is "I am so happy with my kid."
As far as the second child thing goes, I know most second time moms don't have the same fears they did as first time moms, so I imagine the experience is much different and they can appreciate it better. Plus, if it is their last, then they probably try to savor that kid more.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@BoogieBea: @Mrs. Bee: I read somewhere that ppl tend to "favor" the one that is more like our birth order.. would you guys happen to be the babies of the family?
@autumnlove: It seems like a lot of 2nd children tend to be the more easygoing ones! My younger sister was more easygoing than me as a baby too. We should do a HB poll!
pomegranate / 3503 posts
@Mrs. High Heels: Actually, I'm the older one. There is also another reason why I favor her. The grandparents slightly favor my son over her just because he's a boy - they say they don't but everyone can tell. Even during my second pregnancy, I can feel that lack of excitement after finding out that she's a girl. As a female, I felt so bad for her even before she was born so I guess I try to make up for that.
honeydew / 7235 posts
@petunia354: you just made me LOL with that comment. Awesome. I hope my son does that to me one day - he sounds hilarious.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@Mrs. High Heels: i'm the oldest and mr. bee is a middle. that means i should favor charlie because i always thought it was so much harder to be the oldest! but i have a soft spot for olive because she is needier.
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