Steem4nigeria Accelerator Contest Week 57: What gender do you prefer your child to be?

Over time, the gender of children has always been an issue in African culture. I don't know about other races. That's why topics like this bring us to the point of reasoning, thanks to @steem4nigeria for this wonderful topic.

Don't you see that children are God's best gift?

^{Psalms 127:3a (Message Bible)}

The Bible verse above did not say didn't you see that "boys" or maybe "girls" children are gifts.

^{Design with Canva}

When we are talking about "expensive", what exactly do we mean by expensive? If it was in the 90s, I would have chosen one gender, leaving the other. To be very sincere, every single child is very expensive to raise in today's world and economy. You can't say a male child is less and put your focus on raising the girl child.

As a mother of a boy and a girl, I have learnt never to overlook raising my boy just like I'm raising his sister. I give them everything equally. After all, they're both mine.

Let us look at the following analysis

• They both need education

• They both need food and clothing

• They both need good home training

• They need quality healthcare

• They need equal love and care

The list is endless, you can add yours. Now tell me, will you say one of the genders is less or more?

^{My children}

Before I got married, I never really preferred a particular gender. All I discussed with my partner was, whatever children God decides to give us, we will love and take care of them equally. This is because I believe that whatever any child becomes is from what the parents have put in them through the help of God.

I said that to my husband because my sister and I are victims of child preference. My father made us feel we weren't children, as if the male child was the only child anyone should have. A story for another day.

So, when I became pregnant for the first time, I wasn't specific, as if I was told to make a choice, I just said I would want a boy first. This was to prove to the world that, from my mother's end, a baby boy can come forth. This is after my younger sister had given birth to two girls.

Mine wasn't a choice for personal gratification, but just for God to prove to haters that God can give a boy to my mother's offspring.

Then, my second child, I just said, since I have a boy, it won't be bad if this is a girl. And so, it was a girl. None of them was a choice of self-aggrandizement.

^{My mother with my children}

I know everyone's mind will be on the female children. That they may be involved with the opposite gender who are sometimes older and mature, that may lead to some troubles.

You see, not because I am a teacher, I still believe that whatever you put into your children will play out at every stage of their lives. The problem is not always the children but 'parenting.' If you set up your roles and advise your children appropriately, you'll definitely get a good result.

The statement shows that female children can be better than males if given the same opportunity. As a strong believer in the girl child, I believe that equal opportunity and upbringing gives both genders the equal opportunity to thrive. Focusing so much on male children is some of the causes of rapid ageing in men today.

Let's set aside gender inequality and embrace fairness, total love, care and support for our children despite gender. Male or female, the goal can be achieved if equal opportunity is given.

I invite
@okere-blessing
@impersonal
@alexanderpeace