<p>I think some kids of either gender just fall into what sports make them happiest. S enjoyed both team and individual sports (Soccer, basketball and Swimming), D hated soccer& basketball, loved swimming, tennis and equestrian. Her tennis wasn't high level, more just goofing so it wasn't like they were there to "beat" the other person(s) (doubles). She just is a fairly gentle spirit at least to everybody but mom and dad. :) Most of the time she's alright with us, as long as we don't ask her to empty the dishwasher.</p>
<p>I just have daughters. </p>
<p>We just returned from vacation on Cape Cod, and I remarked to my husband that I only saw boys doing things like throwing seaweed at each other, dragging each other down sand dunes, and throwing themselves fearlessly onto the waves (ouch!) from their skim and surf boards.</p>
<p>It made me think that parenting boys must be very different from having only girls.</p>
<p>One of each, here. Some stereotypes apply, others don't. Older s, younger d. I am completely convinced that sons are easier to raise than daughters. Yeah, the boys do some really dumb things along the way, but they are so much nicer about it. </p>
<p>As I am typing, my daughter is packing and she just walked out of the room carrying about 7 pairs of shoes; I'm sure she owns at least 40, most of which seem to me totally useless except to adorn feet while she is sitting down (she surely can't manage to walk very far in them - she has a fondness for pointy toes and very high heels). Son was strictly the wear-one-pair-until-they-fall-apart type.</p>
<p>For the most part, S. hung around the house and stayed out of trouble while he was in high school, his primary hobby being sitting in front of the t.v. playing Grand Theft Auto. D. was always out and about, definitely the party girl - no surprise at all that she is off to the Big Apple for college.</p>
<p>I also have 1 of each - same mold. </p>
<p>D - older, overachiever, harder to get along with, independent, has basically handled her own affairs since 6th grade</p>
<p>S - laidback, easy to get along with, unmotivated, poor grades tho he tested higher than she did in elem and Jr high, I still handle his affairs (tho he's starting to get better)</p>
<p>2 boys. The Cape Cod story reminded me of my son's beach story this summer. Both boys were with another family in Duck, NC. 15-year old cut himself on fin of surfboard and was bleeding into the surf around 7:00 pm when he had a shark sighting about 20 feet away. Once he got close enough to shore to feel "safe", tried to lure the shark closer with his blood. It's amazing boys ever survive to adulthood.</p>
<p>2 boys, both social, athletic, ambitious in an easy going way. Both performed below potential in primary and secondary school. Neither had 'academic maturity' during most of secondary school.</p>
<p>20 year old, in the midst of some exciting internships, is starting to hit very high marks. 17 year old is turning it on in non-school related software ventures. Not worried about the eventual success of either--partly because their easy-going social ability will carry their brain power to great heights. </p>
<p>IMO, boys tend to hit their competitive stride, their academic maturity, after high school. They may avoid intellectual competition in high school society but they don't have those hesitations in college when their testosterone is at full tilt.</p>
<p>Also, the current 'success' of girls' academic achievement is a false success from my point of view as a long time business owner. Girls lose the plot when their authority-pleasing success does not translate to working world/professional success. Society does girls a great disservice by overpraising their success in primary and secondary school settings. So says me.</p>
<p>D, 18 - calm, quiet, shy, independent, OK student, physically tough & fearless. She'll pack in time, barely, - messily.</p>
<p>S, 13 - emotional, very social, brighter than D but academic underachiever, a flake. He'd pack. Then he'd forget to bring it. Wouldn't really mind.</p>
<p>To cheers:
Society does girls a great disservice by overpraising their success in primary and secondary school settings.</p>
<p>Hmmmm, isn't girls' success in academics based on grades and test scores?</p>
<p>"IMO, boys tend to hit their competitive stride, their academic maturity, after high school"</p>
<p>Sure saw that with firstborn son. In high school he was so laid back that geometry teacher made him stand through class in order to keep him awake. He wouldn't get up for school until after I, H, and younger sibs had yelled at him for 30 min. I thought that this kid will never make it through college---and he did so like a dream. Couldn't believe how much he matured!</p>