Tiny Thief

There are so many old wives' tales that are supposed to predict or indicate whether you're having a boy or a girl.  One that I can remember hearing since I was a little kid was that girls "steal your beauty."

I guess that's supposed to mean that you get sicker and just generally more haggard looking if you're having a girl.  But then I think about one of the first conversations I had with my doctor after I found out I was pregnant.  It went something like this:


"Can I continue highlighting my hair?"

"Not for the first 20 weeks."

"Can I use anything to treat acne if I break out?"

"Nope."

"Can I get a spay tan?"

"I wouldn't recommend it, and it won't stick anyway because of the hormones."

"Can I use allergy medicine or eye drops when my eyes and nose get itchy, red and runny?"

"Nah."

"Can I take or use anything to treat a cold sore?"

"No."

Clearly it's no old wives' tale; girl or boy, my beauty was stolen from that day forward.