The Double XX Syndrome

Some of you may guess that this is about us females, since we have 2 X chromosomes, and males have XY.

And, yes, it is about us women, starting with little girls and their sibling interactions with brothers.

I know all of you with a two or more kids have heard these phrases:

"It was an accident!"

"I didn't mean to hit him/her/it!"

"It's not my fault!"

And so many more. 

Recently, at a BBQ at our friend's house, we all got chatting about the kids after an incident of sibling unrest.  My hubby and I have 2 boys and a girl, and they each have an older girl and younger boy. 

We started laughing about these phrases we all hear and then our friend, A, mentioned how his daughter always gives back at least two times what she gets back to her brother.  Our other friends and myself, indeed confirmed that this is the truth; the girls tend to pay back double.

I have been thinking about this for a while since that BBQ, and I have noticed that my little Pumpkin Muffin really does feel compelled to cause at least double the injury inflicted on her, in retribution, back to her brothers.

A recent hit in the arm from a brother, was retaliated in kind, and followed up with a swift kick in the shins for good measure.  If a brother loses a book of hers, then she will purposely "lose" two of theirs.  Lord help you if you draw blood, because my sweet little girl has fangs!

I have definitely found that it is case of "One good turn deserves two others" in the brother/sister relationship wheel.

But, that isn't all.  Once a tussle has happened the boys forget as soon as the incident is over.  They quickly get distracted by video games or tv.  They just move on, and will be ready to laugh and play like it never occurred.

Not my dear Pumpkin Muffin.  She will not let it go.  She will brood on it.  If she feels that sufficient pain was not dealt out to the offending brother, she will lie in wait like an operative for the CIA.  She will smile and draw them into a false sense of security, that she has, indeed, forgiven and forgotten.  Poor misguided boys, that is when she strikes and wields the death blow.  Now, it is over, because SHE says it is.

Interestingly, my hubby seems to think that this behavior is consistent with that of women in a dating relationship or marriage.  After freezing him out for a sufficient amount of time after making such a statement, I asked him if that is true, and he was raised with sisters, why didn't he learn from those experiences as a child?  He had no answer to that.  Humph.

I think that he didn't learn because the pattern of the Double XX Syndrome was not pointed out to him so he could become aware and thus, possibly change his behavior accordingly.  My hubby readily agreed.  (smart man)

I am going to try to help my sons from repeating their father's mistake.  They have already noticed the Double XX Syndrome in their sister.  I have nodded my head and so has my hubby and told them that they need to make note and get used to it. 

After all, these young men will someday be dating and even getting married.  I owe it to their future wives to help them understand us women better, don't I?

Be well,
Dawn