Tuesday, February 26, 2008

You're Too Cute To Be A Boy! A Story.

As an only child, I often wished I had a brother or a sister. I envied friends who came from bigger families. I sometimes felt deprived and decided if I ever got married, I would have more than one child.

After I did marry I was soon the young mother of two boys, only eleven months apart. When Joey was almost four and Greg almost three, I was elated to learn that I was expecting a third child.

"I'm praying and hoping this baby will be a little sister that you guys can be big brothers to," I told the boys one day, as my pregnancy became more obvious.


One night, just before I tucked him in, Greg decided to help me in my petition for a girl.

"Dear God, Mom really wants a girl. Could you make sure that it is a girl? And I think it would be nice to have a sister. I hope you're listening, God," he prayed earnestly.

"I think a sister would be nice , too, God," Joey piped up from his corner of the room. "Besides, if it's another boy, this bedroom will get too crowded," he added.

I smiled as I tucked them in and kissed them good night. "Actually, another little brother would be a blessing, too" I added, just before turning off the lights, for it was true.

Andrea was born July 31, 1963, and she was an adorable little girl from day one. Her father and I were elated. Her big brothers stared at her with wonder and became her protectors from the day they first saw her. And as she grew, her big brothers were her idols, as were her three boy cousins. She wanted to be like them, dress like them, and play with Tonka trucks and Hot Wheels and any other boy-toys they played with. Her own toys remained untouched. Dolls were looked at with disdain, and she resisted wearing the cute dresses I bought her in favor of pants and T-shirts. Clearly, the cute little blond daughter I had prayed for was a big-time tomboy, through and through.

When she was almost three, I was determined my little tomboy was going to wear the cute Easter outfit and bonnet I had gotten her for Easter services. Her brothers, almost six and seven by this time, had handsome Easter suits to wear.

"I don't want to wear a dress and a bonnet" Andrea wailed, as I dressed her for church. "I want to wear a suit like Joey and Greg are wearing."

"You're a girl and will dress like a girl for church," I said firmly to my tearful, angelic looking tomboy.

"Well, when I grow up, then I'll be a boy," she retorted, tears rolling down her cheeks.

In the car on the way to church, Greg told Andrea, "God made you a girl, and it's too late to change his mind now, so you might as well get used to it."

"Yeah," Joey piped in. "Besides, you're too cute to be a boy. And we like you being a girl."

She smiled at Greg and Joey through her tears and stopped crying for a change. Her big brothers liked her being a girl!

Soon after that, I enrolled Andrea in dance school where she met other cute little girls. And at her very first recital, when she danced to "Alley Cat" and received a big hand and loud cheers from her brothers, who sat with us in the front row, her pride in being a girl was finally well established.

These days, Andrea is a mom to two beautiful girls and still the cherished sister of two big brothers, whose brotherly devotion is as strong as ever.
...

From "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrating Brothers and Sisters" copyright 2007.

I hope you enjoyed this little story. Thank you for reading. Have a blessed week, everyone!

48 comments:

BClark said...

Hi Renie, I loved your story, what great hearts those boys had even at such a young age. I enjoy so much coming to visit you, always something interesting going on. Best to you, Barbara

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Barbara,

Thank you kindly for the nice comment. My daughter and her brothers remain close to this day, for which I am thankful.

I hope all is well with you.

Renie

Deborah Wilson said...

That's a cute story, Renie. Your boys were glad in their hearts for another sibling - they were also 'prepared' for it by their mother....

:) I'm sitting here laughing at myself, because that wasn't the case when my sis arrived.

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Deborah,

Oh, were you a little jealous of your baby sister? Since I was an only child, I never experienced sibling rivalry. The boys were happy about a little baby sister. Not that it was smooth sailing all the time, but they became very protective of her, and for that matter, later, they became very protective of me! But that's another story.

Thank you for coming by. I am glad you liked the story. Have a nice evening.

Renie

Patty said...

How wonderful, very nice story. Loved it.

When we were expecting our fourth, we already had two daughters and one son, I said it would be nice, if we had another boy, that way two of each could share the bedrooms. The first day we brought home the fourth child, born on March 7, 1962 who turned out to be another girl, her youngest sister who was 3 turning 4 in July, was watching me change the baby's diaper and she goes Oh, Chris didn't get his baby brother did he? I guess until she saw the diaper change she just assumed it was a boy. We all thought that was funny and cute. The other two were 4 going on 5 in May and 5 going on 6 in June.

Needless to say the first three were very close. Then our surprise and fifth child came along in June of 1973, another girl. We were just happy and very fortunate they were all healthy.

Have a great week.

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Patty,

You have a very cute story there, yourself. Chris has a harem of sisters then. LOL. The most important thing always is that they are healthy!

Thank you for coming by and the nice comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

Have a wonderful evening!

Renie

Mountain Mama said...

Oh what a sweet story!! And it's true that a little sister sometimes needs to be validated as a 'sister' by her brothers. Your sons were wise beyond their years. Obviously thanks to their wonderful mama. God bless you and yours Renie.

Karen H. said...

Good Evening Ms. Renie,
I am sorry to be so late in visiting, but since I didn't post on Monday or even visit, I am still trying to catch up with everyone. I am feeling better tonight and I'm waiting on my DH to get home so he can heat some of my good cooking. LOL. I fixed some Cheeseburger flavored Hamburger Helper and some Indian like bread. I so enjoyed reading the story of your children. You have such wonderful Sons and they got it from you my friend. I know your daughter is just like you as well. You have taught them well and you should be very proud of them. Our oldest daughter is 11 and will be 12 in April. She is so much like her Daddy that it isn't funny. LOL. She is on the Tomboyish side as well. She doesn't like to wear dresses even now. She hasn't worn one in a long time. There is no need in buying one for her if she isn't going to wear it. I did put up a new post for today(Tuesday) and have been working on my post for Wednesday. I will publish it in the morning while I'm waiting for coffee. Take care my friend and have a great evening. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Unknown said...

Here is to you and your beautiful family! Long may you all roam, happy in each others arms.

--

I am afraid, my friend, you have fallen victim to a tagging experiement instigated by a fellow blogger (Jo @ Bits & Pieces).

You have been tagged to compose a list of 'Seven Weird Things' about yourself, in order that the blogging community might get to know you better.

If you accept the challenge, check out my blog.

(The challenge is a weird thing to propose unto itself, in my opinion)

Cheers.

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Mountain Mama,

Thank you for reading and your nice comment. Have a wonderful week!

Blessings,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Karen,

Nice to see you here again. I'm glad you're feeling better, and I'm sure your DH enjoys your cooking, when he is home. I'll be over to visit later today. Thank you for visiting. Have a blessed day, my friend.

Love and Blessings,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Hello David,

Thank you for visiting and reading. Have a great day!

Best wishes,

Renie

2 LMZ FARMS said...

Andrea sounded alot like me when I was growing up. lol Hope this finds you doing well. Take care and hope you and yours have a blessed day.
Laura

Renie Burghardt said...

Laura,

What a nice surprise to see you visiting. I am doing well, thank the Lord. I hope you and yours are doing well, too. Thank you for coming by. Have a wonderful day.

Renie

Merle said...

Dear Renie ~~I enjoyed the story about your children and your boys were so wise to make their sister feel comfortable with being a girl.
Thank you for your visit and I am glad you enjoyed the post. Thank you for your kind words, my friend, Enjoy the rest of your week and take great care, Love, Merle. Hope your weather warms up a little.

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Merle,

Thank you for your kind words on my little story. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Our weather will be warming up a bit this week, the forecast says. I hope so. I'm tired of the cold. Have a blessed week, my friend.

Love,

Renie

Maria Lynn Gattuso said...

Hi Renie,

I am afraid, my friend, you have fallen victim to a tagging experiement instigated by a fellow blogger (Jo @ Bits & Pieces).

You have been tagged to compose a list of 'Seven Weird Things' about yourself, in order that the blogging community might get to know you better.

If you accept the challenge, check out my blog.

Cheers.

Leann said...

love the story,your a wonderful writer.
this will be short I been under the weather so I havent been bloging.and now my computer is acting up.so who knows when Ill be able to post right.

love leann.

Glo said...

I really enjoyed your blog today,as I do every day. You made my day a little brighter. I always wanted a big brother....but I was the first born...so Mom gave me a little sister when I was 4....I thought she was alright,but when I was about 8 I tried to trade her to our Doctor for a horse....We get along fine & love each other...but I still wonder what it would have been like to have a horse. hee hee
After I had my own children,Boy and then a girl. My son was very protective of his little sis. They are 5 1/2 yrs a part. We had our share of bumps,but survied. It was hard on her when he went off to college. They are still close today..They are 43 & 37...so close that they know what the other is thinking. There are time we think they share the same brain.

Have a great week. Still cold here. hoping to get to 50 this weekend.

Hope said...

Hi Renie,
I loved that story! I was quite a tomboy when I was young too. Never to the point of actually wanting to BE a boy! I also liked getting dressed up and being "girly"! My granddaughter is the same way. Your boys sound so sweet. Siblings are usually there for each other when the chips are down, even my son and daughter who fought like cats and dogs growing up.

Thanks for sharing that story! I always enjoy reading them or anything you write here on your blog for that matter! :o)

Hugs,
Hope

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Maria,

Well, I have done a couple of meme's recently, so I don't think I have much new to share about myself. Thank you for asking me though.

Best wishes,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Leann!

Good to see you, my friend. I have missed you! I hope you feel better soon, and that your computer problems will be worked out.

Love and Prayers,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Glo,

Good to see you again, too! That's a funny story about wanting to trade your little sister for a horse! And your son and daughter sound like my sons and daughter!

Thank you for coming by. Our weather is improving. We got to 45 today and had bright sunshine. Tomorrow and the rest of the week will be in the mid-50s. Yay! Maybe Spring is making her way here.

Take care, Glo, and have a nice evening.

Hugs,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Hope,

You are right, when the chips are down, siblings are there for each other.

I am enjoying reading everyone's comments on their childhood and children.

Thank you so much for the nice comment on my story and blog. That is so sweet! Friends like you, in blogland, are true kindred spirits!

Have a wonderful evening!

Hugs,

Renie

Nonnas News said...

What a sweet, sweet story! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us readers. I always enjoy reading your blog.

Mississippi Songbird said...

lol.. What a cute story.. Thank you for telling it..

Michele said...

Hi Renie,

You know I loved this story the first time I read it, but it's even more special this time 'round! :-)

How kind of you to share it on your blog, and how very wise of Chicken Soup to purchase it in the first place!

Smiles,
Michele

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Ms. Renie,
Well, I am here for our morning coffee. I hope I'm not too early. I woke up a little after 3:00a.m. and decided to come and visit a while and finishe my new post for today. I didn't have to set an alarm today because the girls are out of School today. Yesterday was a nice day but on the chilly side. Today is suppose to be nicer and up to 53 degrees and by Sunday 64 degrees. I think we have a chance of rain this weekend as well. I hope you are enjoying this nice weather. Take care my friend and have a great day and "THANK YOU" for the coffee. I always enjoy our coffee together. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Tina Coruth said...

Renie,

I love this story! How wonderful that your two young boys could make their little sister feel good about being a girl. Very wise and loving for their tender years!

I hope you are having a great day!

Hugs,
Tina

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Patti,

I'm glad you enjoyed the story, and thank you kindly for the nice comment on it. I hope all is well with you.

Hugs,

Renie






Hi Stephanie,

Thanks for stopping by and the nice comment. I hope you're feeling better!

Hugs,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Michele,

I forgot that you read this little story last winter, when I had first sent it to Chicken Soup. I do remember now that you told me you liked it. Thank you, my young writer friend. I always appreciate your nice comments and visits.

Always fondly,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Karen,

Sorry, I seem to have missed our coffee. Maybe I was still snoozing? LOL. Although I'm an early bird, not as early as you.

Hope you and the girls enjoyed this beautiful, mild day, although it got cloudy in the afternoon. I was gone half a day, and out hiking around the other half, and early this morning, I had to work on something that has an upcoming deadline!

Thank you for stopping over. I hope your Thursday has been nice.

Love and Hugs,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Tina,

I'm not sure if they were so much wise, as they were infatuated by their little baby sister. And when she made them her idols, they lived up to it, I guess.

I'm glad you enjoyed the little story. I enjoyed writing it, and am happy the brother/sister ties are still strong to this day. That's a real blessings. Thank you for your visit and comment.

Hugs,

Renie

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Ms. Renie,
I hope I'm not too early for coffee this morning. I just thought I would drop by and have a cup with you. We had a pretty nice day here yesterday and it got up to around 54 degrees I think. It is suppose to get up to around 64 degrees on Sunday. Me and the girls are invited to one of my Nephew's Birthday Party at his house. They are suppose to grill some Hamburgers and Hot Dogs and have Cake and Ice Cream. He will be 10 years old on the 3rd of March. Him and our youngest daughter are the same age. Well, she wont' be 10 until August tho, but they are both in the same grade. I talked to my DH this morning around 4:00a.m. and they were in Ozora, MO, and he was fixing to go to bed. It is South of St. Louis and about a 4 hour drive from here. He should be home sometime around 8:00a.m. I will be glad to see him. I don't know what we will do this weekend since it's suppose to be fairly nice, but I'm sure we will come up with something to do. Take care my friend and have a great day/weekend. May God Bless You and Yours. "THANK YOU" for the coffee.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Merle said...

Hi again Renie ~~ Thank you for your visit and kind words. I am so glad you enjoy the jokes. About the Zachery one ~ it was the way a Chinese doctor would say Exactly,
about her face looking the same.
I am glad your weather is mild and lovely and that you are enjoying that
It is much the same here. Take great care dear Renie, Love, Merle.

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Merle,

Oh, zachery is eacatly! LOL. Poor woman. Hope she didn't understand the Chinese doctor either. Hahaha.

Thank you for stopping by, dear Merle. Have a wonderful weekend.

Love and Blessings,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Morning, Karen,

The weather is finally getting spring-like, thank goodness. Mild out already this morning and the peepers have been singing earlier, at the pond. I love hearing them.

Yes, I'm sure you and your DH will find something to do while he is home. LOL.

The birthday party will be fun for you and the girls. Age ten is a nice age!

Enjoy the weekend with your family, dear Karen. Thank you for sharing a cup of coffee with me this morning.

Love and Hugs,

Renie

audrey` said...

Blessed Leap Day to you, Renie =)

Jmkdreak said...

you forgot to tell them that i went on side of the stage and kept going off the other side!


xoxoxox

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Audrey,

My Leap Day was blessed indeed, with lots of sunshine and mild temperatures. I enjoyed it so much. I hope yours was blessed as well.

Hugs,

Renie








Drea,

Yes, you did! Everyone thought it was cute, since you were only 3 years old.

xox

Margaret said...

Hi, I loved your story and can well and truly relate to it having had three boys and a girl who was a real tomboy. She now has a daughter of her own who she dressed as a little princess when she was small.
Thank you for visiting . Cheers Margaret

Unknown said...

That is a wonderful story, Renie! Thank you for the posting.

Mississippi Songbird said...

Good Afternoon,Renie
I would love to enter you in my blog Giveaway!..
Take care and have a wonderful Sunday evening!..Bunches of hugs...

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Margaret,

Nice to see you again! I think when little girls have only older brothers, and no sisters, they want to be more like their brothers. My daughter has 2 girls, and they are both girlie girls!

Thank you for the lovely comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Will be over to visit with you again, soon.

Best wishes,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Thank you for visiting, Mr. Nick!

Blessings,

Renie




Stephanie,

I have posted your giveaway. Hope you get bunches of entries for it.

Blessings and Hugs,

Renie

Mary said...

Renie,

A beautiful story and I'm so glad that your daughter decided to enjoy being a girl. I was a tomboy as well, so I can definitely relate. Congratulations on having this published in Chicken Soup.

Blessings,
Mary

Grandy said...

What a great story Renie! Thanks for sharing!! I'm working on my first article to send to Chicken Soup. I love reading yours!!

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Grandy,

Oh, thank you for the nice comment on the story. Good luck with the story you will be submitting to them. I hope you are doing great!

Renie










Mary,

Nice to see you again. Thank you for the lovely comment.

Hugs,

Renie