By Courtney Burkholder 

What can I say? I ain’t got none.

Girls, that is.

So what makes me think I can write an article about girls?

Well, for starters, I am one. And I have a younger sister and a niece who I have had a hand in raising. I also have many friends with girls who allow me to share in the drama and live vicariously through them when I am in need of a girl fix. And believe me, all moms need a girl fix every once in a while.

Raising boys is a beautiful experience, but it can also be downright painful at times. Boys are loud, rowdy, and sometimes they just plain stink – and I mean that literally. They aren’t interested in clothes or shopping, and even if they were, I’m not sure I would take them because of the constant pushing and horsing around.

They don’t like to help me do “mom” things like baking a cake or decorating cookies. When invited to join me, they usually chase the dog around the kitchen until she’s wound up and hyper, and then eat all the icing. They won’t go to “girlie” movies with me, or dance around the living room to Allie and AJ. I’ve never even seen Hannah Montana!

But I make it a point to listen to my friends who are raising girls and learn all that I can about the issues they face each and every day.

And this is what I know about girls: they are sensitive creatures and very different from boys.

I get this, because I’m a sensitive female – as my husband often reminds me. Boys are very black and white. My boys require information to be given to them in a simple, direct fashion. For example, clothing issues come up in every household. I would say to my son, “You may not wear that shirt because it is two sizes too small, it’s missing a button, and it doesn’t go with those green pants. Go upstairs and change into your white button-down, please.”

Would this hurt his feelings? No. Would he huff and puff and stomp upstairs? Probably. Because the whole getting dressed ordeal is never to his liking. But by being direct in my initial assessment and request, I avoid the inevitable argument that could ensue were I to be vague, “Hmm. I’m not sure about that outfit you’ve put together…”

Girls, however, could take these clothing observations personally – an insult to their fashion sense, their budding independence, and their ability to make good choices. A more appropriate response to the same situation when dealing with a daughter might be, “Honey, you know that pretty white button-down would go great with those green slacks! What do you think?”

An argument will still ensue - that’s a given. But the point is to avoid tears and damaging self-esteem whenever possible. Sensitivity requires sensitivity. Get it?

As the mother of boys, I both envy and sympathize with moms of girls. You probably feel the same. But girls come by their sensitivity naturally. Moms, you gave it to them. So complaining about it won’t do any good. Help them to learn to deal with their sensitive issues in a mature fashion. Nurture that sensitivity and protect it. Because it is that trait which makes them uniquely female and creates the basis for the women they will become. Sensitive females are a beautiful thing. Just ask their dads.

And for you moms of boys, it’s never too early to start teaching them about girls and their sensitive side. Certainly, this is not a skill they will ever master. But at least they will know what their getting into when they ask a girl out on that first date!