My sister-in-law, Katie, is pregnant with her second baby. They are finding out on Wednesday if it is a boy or girl and I am dying.to.find.out!!! Before bed tonight, I asked the boys if they wanted to place a bet on whether or not Aunt Katie’s baby is a boy or a girl. Now, betting is not a common practice in our home, so I had to explain what betting was and how it works, etc. They caught on pretty quick and were very excited. I also explained that we were not betting money or toys but rather experiences and gave them some examples. They were all on board and we decided on the wagers.
First, we were down the middle with what sex we were placing our bets. Henry and I are betting that it is a girl and JJ and George are betting that it is a boy. Easy enough. You could tell JJ was thinking about what he would bet right away. Asking all sorts of questions what would count for a bet, weighing his options, but never sealing the deal. This is SO JJ he is a thinker and is nervous of making a bad decision - poor guy unfortunately this is a genetic trait.
George and Henry both decided that eating out qualified as an experience, which I signed off on, and George decided he wanted pizza if it was a boy and Henry wanted McDonalds if it was a girl.
JJ was still undecided. Some of the wagers he was weighing were extra video game time -or- that he didn’t have to clean up for a week -or- that he could “order” Henry and I around for a full Saturday morning.
While he was still contemplating I announced my wager if it’s a girl— that JJ and George would have to wear “button” shirts to church the Sunday after we found out. A little background, my boys HATE button shirts. A button shirt in our house is an oxford or a polo. They know I only ask them to wear them on Easter or if they are in a wedding and even those occasions I have to prep them weeks before that they are going to have to wear a button shirt soon. (and even then they find comfort in the fact that their superhero t-shirt is under the button shirt)
Right away JJ stammers, “I can’t bet. I’m not wearing a button shirt.” (I told you they hated them!!)
So then I go on to explain what if it’s a boy, then if you don’t bet then you can’t win and explain the big concept of risk. He then decides he is going to bet that it’s a “half-boy half-girl”. Oh, Katie and Brian – I am so sorry! But I explained that he can’t do that- he’s either in fully boy or fully girl or he’s out.
He asked for clarification on the parameters of how long he had to wear the button shirt – just for church, could he take it off right after? After much debate, I told him he could have a couple more days and we’ll close the bet on Sunday night. I’ll keep you posted!
2/25/2011 UPDATE JJ did bet on a boy finally and he chose a favorite dinner option…don’t remember what it was now because he lost. Aunt Katie is having a girl – so fun! JJ and George both had to wear button shirts to church that Sunday…although JJ found a loophole and wore his Boy Scout shirt – still a button shirt he said. I couldn’t argue I didn’t specify which button shirt.
