Jude 2

Well, I couldn't vote because there was no option for "equally" hard to raise.

Here's my experience: I have three girls and one boy. I didn't have trouble with the girls until they hit their teens. They were angels until they hit puberty. I'm in the process of refraining from slaying them as we speak.

Then, the boy. He came out a challenge and hasn't slowed down yet, however everyone tells me that they are much easier in their teens than girls are.

I think kids are hard to raise, period!

I voted girls but I will have to say. My daughter was the perfect child until she was about 12 years old then something happened. Chonda Pierce says aliens sucked her son's brains out and I'm almost inclined to agree with her. I like to think that it's stuck in the phone line somewhere and I'll get it back one day.

Now my son who will be 18 in April was and is a true blooded boy. I am thankful for him but I sure am thankful that God gave me the grace to raise him too. My girl never jumped 6 feet out of a swing to prove that she was tough. I'm still paying for that one.

My daughter was the perfect child until she was about 12 years old then something happened

OH NO so my 11 year old soon to be 12 is acting normal..... THIS IS NOT GOOD..

. I'm in the process of refraining from slaying them as we speak.

Oh you have those feelings to... Now good, I feel like I am not the worst mom on the face of the earth..

tears... been a bad day here with kids

LB said:

Oh you have those feelings to... Now good, I feel like I am not the worst mom on the face of the earth..

Yes, all mothers have those feelings. If there is a mom that tells you she doesn't, she is taking prescription valium.

See, the way I figure it is this. The reason they come out so soft and cute is because God knew if we saw them as teenagers that we would leave them at the hospital. It's really His way of talking us into bringing them home.

I have to be the one to admit that I raised a perfect child. Her name is Ondra White. She was born perfect, was perfect in school. (No comment from Joey Simmons please), and she is still perfect. So there!

LisaMarie wrote:I voted girls but I will have to say. My daughter was the perfect child until she was about 12 years old then something happened. Chonda Pierce says aliens sucked her son's brains out and I'm almost inclined to agree with her. I like to think that it's stuck in the phone line somewhere and I'll get it back one day.

It has been stated that our son's brains return somewhere between 22 and 25. I am inclined to agree with that completely.


It's actually about the time where the two halves of the brain finally connect up under that "soft spot". That's when the "light comes on" and you can finally tell that someone is home.


This usually happens to girls at a much younger age.

Shellie wrote:If there is a mom that tells you she doesn't, she is taking prescription valium.

LOLOL. Hmmm, choke my children or take a valium? Which is the lesser of two evils? LOL Just kidding. I have resigned from my "mom" job SOOO many times - just this year. But Joey keeps dragging me back. lol

Mine are still small, but I have noticed with friends and their children that at age 13 all of the sudden they are switched out with beings that look the same, but are nothing like your sweet child. I have seen this happen with girls, and it is like a night and day difference, boys seem to be less severe in this.

I will speak from my experience...which is all we can do.
I see roughly 750 students weekly, and I honestly don't think Shellie was too far off by sayng they are "equally" hard to raise, (and yet equally rewarding) when you look at the big picture.
I have also seen 2 children of the same sex and family, one is a terror and one is the opposite of that - God's since of humor or a way to teach us about others ...I don't know?
Age is definately a factor, as teenage years are proving to be more difficult than we expected.

I think our son's unique behavior has to do with a voodoo curse my mom put on me when I was a kid. She said, "I hope you have 2 kids just like you!".....and then we had 3.
Pray church pray!

Joey wrote:Age is definately a factor, as teenage years are proving to be more difficult than we expected.

If you think those years are hard for you, imagine how hard they are for them. I am 53 but still vividly recall some of the struggles, emotions and feelings I had as a teenager. I remember some of the secret things I worried about, wondering "is this normal?? Am I a freak??" It has made me a better dad, I think, even though on-the-job training is the only way you really learn this, and by the time you figure it all out, the kids are grown up!

Praise report: I thank God for my two kids. My 18-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter can drive us nuts sometimes, but they are great kids. Involved in youth, both worship musicians, smart, not involved in any kind of activities that make parents stay awake at night. We are blessed and thankful.