I have made a slightly selfish decision.

In just over 2 weeks, we will be finding out if this baby is a little girl or boy. I am really excited and looking forward to it so much, but there’s one thing that’s getting me down, and that is the thought of other people’s reactions.

It was bad enough when we discovered Natasha was a girl. I was over the moon - I really didn’t have a preference, but there was a part of me that was thrilled that I would be having two children of the same gender. I liked the thought that they could grow up with a real sisterly bond. I’d have felt the same if our first child had been a boy and we had another son. I was brimming over with excitement when I told my friends and family, and I was not prepared for the slightly sympathetic looks and the disappointed sighs.

“Oh dear… Maybe you’ll have a boy next time.”

“Ohh…. I’m sorry. You were wanting a boy, weren’t you?”

“Don’t you know how to make boys?”

“Oh. Another girl.”

“Was your husband very disappointed?”

It really hurt our feelings, especially (more…)