“I don’t see a third leg,” I recall the ultrasound technician saying. The little pang of hope that wanted another boy evaporated in that fleeting moment.
There are four years between my son and daughter, so my wife and I were pretty used to boy clothes, toys and ways. It’s difficult for me to pinpoint exactly why I wanted a boy. Partially, because I can relate to being a boy. Partially, because I know how rude the world can be to women. I joined a fraternity in college for God sakes.
The world is full of examples on how parents treat their sons and daughters differently. Pink clothes for girls. Blue for boys. Boys get trucks and cars. Girls get dolls. Boys get sports gear. Girls get arts and crafts.
As a father, I can’t imagine not having my daughter. I fell head over heels in love with her the minute she was set into my arms.
I can’t even bring myself to think about how boys and men can be. My almost-one-year old girl stands up to her brother, tells us how she sees it (in her own crying way) and shares her joy with the world with 100’s of smiles every day.
I make sure to evenly distribute wrestling. She has already taken a liking to grass and dirt (much quicker than her older brother ever did). And I can honestly say that we haven’t filled her room with the color pink or dolls.
Are those steps in equality? I think so. Treating offspring differently is the beginning of a separation between men and women. But there is something to be said of the fact that men and women think differently. We have different energies and leadership styles, which according to this Business Insider article are better, women are better at.
International Women’s Day has been celebrated since the 1900’s. Crowd counting experts estimate that three times as many people turned out for the Women’s March, January 21-22 than President Trump’s inauguration.
The ratio of the human population is about one to one. The world depends on the collaboration of men and women, not only to procreate and continue human life, but to advance the big issues of our time.
So I can only hope that my daughter is brought up to be bold, say what she means, and live honestly to help our communities.
God willing, I’ll do my best to raise her that way, along with the help of my wife of course.
Father Through Me 