Research Query - which are harder to raise - girls or boys?

Angela - posted on 06/03/2010

I have 2 girls and 1 boy, in my opion girls are much,much harder to raise.At the age of 9 outside influences played a big part.Really at that age ANY influence affect them one way or the other.I agree 110% with girls are harder to raise when they get older.Friends play a major role in the influence part i think it really depends on the child boy or girl does't matter. Technology does't effect mine that much because I have control over that.

Gabriela - posted on 06/03/2010

1.It's as hard with both of them. 2. I have a son 22 yo. and a daughter 9 yo - but she thinks and makes unbelievebly mature judgements. 3. Starting the first day when they get into a collectivity they get influenced by others - but here is the parent's everyday rolle - to truly keep in touch with the child and discover these influences. The good ones must be encouraged and the bed ones must be softly but firmly erradicated.4. I can't say that - I should say both - good and bad.5. I find them equaly hard to raise them - if you really take this job seriouslly - even though big part of the parent consider that kids grow any way..6. Very much...no I don't think is different, but again if you keep in touch with your children starting the very beggining, you will know who his/her friends are, and from what he/she tells you about them you understand if you like their friendship or not. If you build up carefully your kid's trusust in you, then you can have more influence on him/her then a bed choosen friend.
7. Very much. That's why - again parents controll starting from the very beggining - is very important. There must be strict but logical rules set regarding this, though kids must be told why they are not allowed to whach porn sites or violent movies or enter in all kind of chat rooms, or make public their personal info etc.

Gen - posted on 06/02/2010

1.) its a mix somedays/somethings its easier raising a girl but with other things its easier raising a boy
2.) I have a 14yr old boy, a 12 yr old girl, and an 18 month old girl
3.) outside influences have been affecting my 14 yr old for the last yr or yr and half. So far they havent affected my 12 yr old too much yet, she seems to want to stand on her own 2 feet and not go with her friends decisions
4.) my 14 yr old is more influenced by the idea of not having to listen, not wanting to do school work and throwing an attitude (which he gets in trouble for.
5.) both of 2 ODC's were easy to raise when they were younger and just recently have I had difficulty with raising my son. I think each child/situation is different. with many variables affecting how children are its hard to say if boys or girls are harder to raise.
6.) I think friends can have a huge influence on boys and girls. With girls the influence it seems tends to be more about looks and clothes. With boys the influence seems to be more towards seeing what they can get into or how far they can push authority figures.
7.) Media and technology can have a huge influence on kids. It is hard somedays to deal with the influences as kids always want the newest gadget. it can be different with boys and girls. Girls it seems are always seeing how they should look, dress, act, talk. Boys see that they need to be tough and raise hell

Diana - posted on 06/02/2010

Thank you all for your replies...It's so interesting to see other mother's point of view. Consensus is girls are harder..
With my daughter, I had a lot of control with her friends since my house was were they all came - I didn't let her go over to friends houses too much (much to her frustration). As my daughter was an only child, she tended to really seek a large group of friends - most of them good, I must say. Problem was when she turned 18, she decided that I changed the rules and thought she was supposed to be able to do what she wanted. Of course my rules didn't change - but only what she thought she could now that she was "all grown up". At 21, she still isn't as mature and responsible as she should be - but I've been told by a lot of parents of adult children that she's come around. I hope so!
Anyways - thank you again so much! And continue the great parenting it sounds each and every one of you is doing and GOOD LUCK!!!

Tammy - posted on 06/02/2010

I think both are difficult for different reasons... girls tend to be more dramatic and emotional. Boys tend to be very active and fearless. I have 4 kids. 2 boys, ages 15 and 10, and 2 girls, ages 9 and 5. Outside influences started affecting each of my children as soon as they started school. They are around way more children, and I noticed a change immediately. They test out behaviors they see other children getting away with. I believe that unwanted behaviors stick the most if they get away with them, so its important to let them know right away that those behaviors will not be tolerated in your home. I agree that boys are more difficult when they are young, as I said, they are fearless, and it scares you to death watching them jump off of things. Boys more or less learn SOME control over this, but girls are drama queens forever. My oldest boy is just now 15, so we are still experiencing his influences, but I can say that I have instilled in him the difference in right and wrong, and he USUALLY makes the right decisions. My son loves video games. He has many systems and would be happy to just do that all day. The girls will play for a little while, but not to the extent of the boys. I am planning to get my son a cell phone by the time he's 16. I don't think they need cell phones before they can drive. If they can't drive, they should be where they're supposed to be- period. Hope its not too late for your paper!

Sherri - posted on 05/23/2010

1. Girls are harder
2. 3 boys 13, 11 & 4
3. 1st grade
4. There friends different rules different houses. So things we didn't allow being said they were now hearing. Things we didn't allow them to play with there friends all had. etc.
5. Disagree girls are whiner and more dramatic from a young age. They hold on to grudges and don't get over things nearly as fast. Boys tend to be more physical but get over things much quicker than girls and not nearly so emotional.
6. There friends influenced them at school but it never changed anything at home. Same for girls and boys.
7. It didn't my kids don't have cell phones, limited internet access. Think it is the same for girls or boys.

Anne Marie - posted on 05/23/2010

I think girls are harder to raise, My children are boy - 18, girl - 15, boy 12. My daughter has given me much attitude and has a totally invinsible attitude. Boys do to but the girls are far more rebellious than boys. The outside influences do begin in grade school but really take hold in the teens. If your not aware of what they are doing and who they are with you can really loose them. I try to meet most of my daughters friends parents, my son had no problem with this my daughter fights it to the end. Teens all through history seem to think they knew more than their parents, technology can proove that theory. How many of us try to get information about cell phones and computers from our kids, they can look up anything on the internet. I think my youngest son is going to be easy in his teens but he has a very easy going character, however so did my daughter at one time. As for your 21 year old not sure how to answer that, I have a few nieces and nephew in that stage and it seem that someday they just kinda realize I am this age and need to get somewhere. I think we as parents spoil them without intent and they don't get what life is all about. Good luck.

Cheryl - posted on 05/22/2010

Depends on the child. I have a 14 year old boy he is going to drive me crazy. My 11 good as gold. Then I have a 9 year old is in between both. So I think it depends on the nature of the child.

Della - posted on 05/21/2010

Girls are harder, I have boys 11 and 13. I think parents have lots of influence and yes boya are harder if you don't give them the right opportunities to be wild little boys. Friends have great influence but parents can make sure freinds have the same kinds of influences from similar parents. The environment ie..technology, commercials, friends, cell phones have lots of influence. I spent lots of time being silly and running wild, as a young adult, later I thanked my mom for giving me a strong foundation.
Young people often make silly choices however most of them make it to the other side and GROW UP returning to their roots.

Olivia - posted on 05/21/2010

Girls are easier. I have a 12 year old and 7 month old girls. Outside influences began to affect my older child at around 3 when she started going to school. I think girls generally do better at sitting still in school at a younger age but are equally as difficult as boys would be. Boys want to fight more, they want just as much expensive toys as girls want expensive clothes. I think kids want to be accepted by friends but will always care more about having parents approval. Technology can take over if you let it. I don't let my daughter have video games or her own cell phone. She spends more time with her sports.