Okay so I’m like 100000% on board with gender reveals. I know some people say that my/our generation does everything over the top and that we have to make everything “a big deal”, but why not have some fun and do something exciting every chance you get? Life should be celebrated and bringing new life into the world is something to celebrated even more! So that’s the bottom line on how I feel about that.

What I really want to talk about here is you CRAZY people who choose to go 9 months NOT knowing the gender and finding out once you give birth– Kendall, I’m talking to you, and you know I love you. [Disclaimer: I tell Kendall all the time I think she’s nuts for not knowing gender for not just one, but both her babies and most likely her future babies as well] [[ I’d never write something up here on the blog that I wouldn’t tell my friends straight to their faces lol so know that about me]].

Of course to each their own, do you, do what makes you happy, and make your own decisions- 1000% in every aspect of your life. But here’s where you non-gender knowing people lose me. For what reason do you not want to know gender? is it the element of surprise that’s thrilling to you? I just can’t wrap my head around it.

I’m a planner. A big planner. So much so that this quote from Benjamin Franklin might as well be tattooed on my forehead.

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”

I like knowing things and planning for things in advance and I like being prepared. The biggest issue I have with pregnancy and labor actually is that I can’t plan or prepare for just about any of it. If someone could tell me the exact day and time I was going to go into labor, it probably wouldn’t be so terrifying to me. If someone could’ve told me before I ate whatever meal that about 30 minutes later I’d be throwing it all up, I’m sure I would’ve made a lot of other choices. But alas, that’s life. And I get that and have *over time* come to terms with the fact that I can’t control or prepare for everything. 

But when I can control/prepare for something, like perhaps the information about the gender of my baby, there’s not a chance in hell I’m waiting 9 months to figure that shit out. I feel like there’s just too much fun stuff you miss out on if you choose not to know. How are you going to decorate a nursery?? How do you know what kind of vibe you want? NAMES?!? Oh my goodness, my husband and I have spent 6 months trying to figure out a name we like for baby boy, I couldn’t imagine having to figure that out after giving birth. A baby shower? There’s so much gender specific stuff that you don’t get to play into if you don’t know gender! For example, we’re in the midst of planning our baby shower for baby boy and I’m having so much fun with our theme, but it would not be a theme I would’ve picked for having a girl. And while gender neutral stuff can be aesthetically beautiful and fun too, sometimes it gets a little boring to me.

Having shared my thoughts on the subject, pretty openly, I want to circle back and say I realize that this is purely because of how I am wired as a person and know that not everyone has too or wants too prepare for everything. I know some of you people like being surprised by things and are content just waiting patiently for things to happen. And in some ways, I envy you for it. I’d like to think that one day I might be *so chill* that almost anything could happen and I could just sit back and smile. Maybe one day I won’t be planning a party a year in advance, but I doubt it 😉

I’d really love your thoughts on this topic! If you’ve waited to know gender- why? If you haven’t- would you ever or are you flabbergasted by the thought of it like me? If you haven’t had kids- what would you do?

And if you’re one of my friends who has waited to know gender, just know that I love you and think you’re crazy. But again, love you.