My Thoughts On Having A Boy

September 15, 2014

I am not going to lie; I was hoping for a girl.  Of course, it goes without saying, that first and foremost I wanted a healthy baby, but I was definitely pulling for team pink.  I had already planned my daughter’s nursery in my head and all of the trips we would take around the world together.  I would teach her to be fearless and that her gender would never stand in the way of her dreams.  I think most people assumed that I would have a girl, because I come across as a girly-girl.  However, what most people do not realize is that I was not always so in touch with my feminine side, in fact I was about as big of a tomboy as a girl can be!  I grew up playing every sport I possibly could and finally settled into swimming around the age of 14 when it was clearly the sport I excelled in.  I wore my father’s hand-me-downs and threw temper tantrums if my mother mentioned shopping for new clothes.  Makeup?  Haircuts?  Forget about it!  Boys?  Dating? Gross!  I was faster and stronger than any boy I knew and if someone told me that I could not do something because I was a girl, I would make sure I proved them wrong.  Then halfway through high school it was like a switch had been turned on and overnight I became obsessed with all things girl.  Believe it or not, I have not owned a pair of pants in over 15 years!  I even went skydiving and bungee jumping in a dress and sandals.  But, the moment the ultrasound tech said, “It is a boy!”, nothing has ever felt so right in my life.  Any desire that I had to have a girl instantly went away and I fell so deeply in love with my son, Joaquín Alejandro.

Once I started telling people that I was having a boy I heard story after story about the extraordinary bond between a son and his mother.  How affectionate they are with you, how they always want to protect you.  I get more and more excited with each passing day.  I am looking forward to tapping into my tomboy side that I grew out of so many years ago.  Maybe I will have to crawl around in the mud in a dress, but I say bring it on!

One thing is for sure, I will raise my son to be respectful, kind, and loving to women.  We desperately need more men like that in this world.  I will also encourage him to follow his dreams, whatever they may be.  The only thing I hope for is is that he never asks me to take him camping.

Photographs Taken By: Brittany Lauren Photography

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Andi Perullo de Ledesma

I am Andi Perullo de Ledesma, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Travel Photojournalist in Charlotte, NC. I am also wife to Lucas and mother to Joaquín. Follow us as we explore life and the world one beautiful adventure at a time.

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27 thoughts on “My Thoughts On Having A Boy

  1. Cata

    Hahaha re: camping. I hate camping too!!! I hope Emma never asks me to go. I have no doubts that you will raise him to be a gentleman. I can’t wait to meet him!

    Reply
  2. Carmel

    From what I’ve seen amongst my friends who have had boys – you’re absolutely right. Mama’s boys through and through. Sweet kids, too. No matter the gender, I’m sure you and your husband will raise a responsible, kind, adventurous person!

    Reply
  3. Emily in Chile

    This was so sweet to read! I know you’d been hoping for and thinking girl, so it’s nice to hear how you’re looking forward to the mother-son bond too. Lucas will have to deal with the camping!

    Reply
  4. Vanessa Bright

    What a beautiful article!! I had no idea you haven’t worn pants in years, haha!! You actually inspired me to wear dresses and skirts back at PCOM. Maybe I’ll wear a skirt today because now I feel like it after reading your post. And as for camping — let Lucas take him!! They could have father-son bonding in an activity you don’t have to enjoy. 🙂
    Lots of love to all of you!!

    Reply
  5. Lisa

    Ohhhhh, Andi, not only will you NOT escape camping, I bet you will love it and make it look sooooo awesome with your photog skillz that we will all run out and buy tents immediately after seeing your pix! And if all else fails, tell your boys that you will only go glamping. Heard of it? Worth a google image search 😉

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo de Ledesma Post author

      Hahahaha you’re so cute! Thank you for such a compliment!!! I have been glamping before (did a series of posts on it), but it definitely wasn’t as glamorous as I thought it would be. I would be willing to give it another try though!

      Reply
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  7. Alex

    Your last paragraph made me tear up. I recently met a guy traveling and as you do on the road, we were best friends by day four. He was telling us how his mother had passed away that year and her last words to him were, “treat girls like you would want your sister to be treated.” I cried then too!

    I actually think it’s a fascinating topic — how DO you raise men that grow up respectful to women? I know it’s not travel related but I’d love to see you tackle it in a post sometime!

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo de Ledesma Post author

      Awww now I’m all teary eyed! I’m so sorry your friend lost his mom at such a young age. Tragic beyond words!!! I love that she said that to him. What an amazing mom! I will definitely do a post on that topic sometime. I have some great ideas on the subject!

      Reply
  8. Danvacationinghanaafrica

    Sorry you didn’t get what you wanted. But you have to thank God you and your baby are in great form. I hope he grows up to be a great person. Thanks for being thoughtful and wise and i know your boy is going to grow up with those same qualities.

    I wish the world had lots of mothers like you. It would have been a very better place if we had lots of them.

    Don’t worry about the camping because you have what it takes to make it work. Congrats and God bless you and your son!

    Reply
  9. Nicole

    and hey, it’ll be nice for your potential-future-daughter to have a big brother there to protect her and love her (and make her squeel as he shows off his worm collection or other icky boy thing :P)

    Congrats again gorgeous!
    xox.

    Reply

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