This is a weird theory. I've always (even pre-pregnancy) wanted two girls and I have 2 girls.

Anonymous wrote:Because this is DCUM others will weigh in , but meant for parents of two.

A group of friends is debating a theory. Weigh in?

Parents of tiny children (pregnant; toddler age) want one of each. Parents of older kids (elementary and up) prefer same sex siblings. Same for the siblings - each gender prefers its own.

I wanted one of each and that’s what I got. If not, we would have had more.
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We have two boys.

I didn't have a preference either time.

DH wanted a girl the first time, then loved our son so much that he hoped our second would be a boy.

They are super close and get along great... life is good!

my DH had no preference. I had a slight preference for a girl. We ended up with two girls. If I were to have a third- I think a boy would be awesome!

I think most women want at least one girl and most men want at least one son.

I do agree that same sex siblings tend to be better friends. I would have loved two girls and I think dh wouldn’t have minded two boys.

Ridiculous.

My son and daughter are 14 and 9 and I always wanted one of each sex. My kids have not expressed a preference regarding siblings: indeed one wanted a fish, the other a dog

I am an only child.

I have one of each. They are complete opposites of each other and I like the dynamic of that in our family. I had an older sister growing up. We get along great but I did feel as though she was the pretty & popular one in our youth and it did affect my self esteem grown up. It wasn't until I was older and moved away from our small town that I found myself.

When I was pregnant with my second, I was so ambivalent about the gender. When I found out I was having the opposite of the first, I was thrilled to have one of each and at the same time sad not to have two of the same gender. Now that they're older, I think they might be closer if they were the same gender so that's too bad, but at the same time I think there's less competition between them then there otherwise might have been because there's much less overlap in interests, potential friend groups, etc., than I had with my sister growing up and that I see in my friends' families.

I don’t think preference has anything to do with age of current kids. I can see why in theory parents with kids already in activities might find it easier to parent same gendered kids who have the same interests so it’s only one stop at dance class or one stop at t-ball and not both. (But that also assumes overlapping interests just because of gender which is definitely not always the case.)

My aunt didn’t care what she had but she desperately wanted two of the same gender—she got two boys. My sister really wanted to experience one of each—but got two girls. I knew I wanted a daughter more than anything but I’m completely indifferent on what the next one is now that I have my girl.

Your question is flawed OP parents don't want to admit gender disappointment with the kids they already have. You should be asking parents of young toddlers / older elementary with one child what they would wish for with a second.

I have teen/tween. I'm happy with one of each. Same for when they were infant/toddler. When I told my dad I was having my second and the gender was the opposite of the first, he said that was perfect, and I had to agree. Obviously, this is just my opinion.

My kids probably would've wanted same gender sibling, but they would've fought a lot more if they had.

Have you actually found parents of elementary age boy girl siblings who wish they had same sex children instead? At that point it would be sad to wish for something other than what you have.

I have two boys, and they’re great! Two girls would also be great, and so would one of each!

I have young daughters (3 yrs and 6 mos) and I wanted two girls. That's what I wanted before I ever started having kids, what I wanted after my first daughter, and still what I want.

I will admit when we found out the 2nd was a girl, even though it's what I wanted, I did feel a bit of a bittersweet sadness that I would never have a boy. Just kind of coming to terms with being done I think, and the finality of it all. But I think I was going to feel like that no matter what.

Sorry to disprove your theory!

People want what they grew up with (same gender sib, opposite), but get over it fast. Except for # of kids, many only kids purposely had only one kid. Same for large families.

Because this is DCUM others will weigh in , but meant for parents of two.

A group of friends is debating a theory. Weigh in?

Parents of tiny children (pregnant; toddler age) want one of each. Parents of older kids (elementary and up) prefer same sex siblings. Same for the siblings - each gender prefers its own.