Sugar and spice and all things nice. That’s what girls are made of if the popular nursery rhyme is to be believed, while boys are made of slugs and snails and puppy dogs’ tails.

But as mum to two girls as well as a boy I’ve realised there’s a lot they don’t tell you about raising girls.

raising girls

While there’s lots of information out there about the perils of raising boys (some of it funny, some of it not) there’s not half as much information about what it’s really like raising girls.

So, on the eve of my youngest daughter’s second birthday, I thought it would be fun to share what I’ve discovered in two years raising two girls.

10 things they don’t tell you about raising girls

1. Girls are easier than boys. Or my girls are anyway. I’d go as far as to say one boy is harder than two girls put together.

2. Dressing girls is way more fun than dressing boys. There are more colours, more choice and you’ll wish they did them in adult sizes too.

3. People will refer to them as a ‘he’ when ‘he’ is quite clearly a she. Especially strangers on buses.

4. Gender stereotyping starts from the moment they are born. Pink fluffy booties, plastic irons and fuscia kitchen sets. And it’ll make your blood boil.

raising girls

5. Girls can scream. I mean really scream. Ear piercing, glass shattering screams.

6. You’ll glimpse the teenager they’re going to become before they can even talk. And you’re already afraid. Very afraid.

raising girls

7. They’ll wear your shoes from the moment they can stand. And your heart melts every time you see them clippety clopping around the house.

8. Doing hair is a lot more complicated than it looks. It doesn’t matter how many YouTube videos I watch, I still can’t get the hang of a French plait. You’ve either got it, or you haven’t.

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9. They’re like a mirror into the past. Especially if they look like you. You’ll remember all sorts of things from your own childhood – things you thought you’d forgotten.

10. People of a certain generation will say things like ‘you’ll have to marry a rich man’ in response to their hopes and dreams. And it’ll drive you potty.

raising girls

Are you mum – or dad – to girls? Does any of the above resonate with you? I’d love to hear about your experience!

If you liked this you may also enjoy reading:

10 things they don’t tell you about raising a boy

Weird things I worry about now I’m a mum

5 apps I can’t live without since becoming a mum!