Life’s surprises are like summer lightning—rare, breathtaking, and beyond our control. One such bolt is the choice to leave your baby’s sex a mystery until birth.

To be clear: this decision isn’t a moral fork in the road. Not a battleground of right versus wrong. It’s an invitation. An invitation to a shared moment. A moment of anticipation and wonder that everyone is invited to—like a communal campfire around which we gather in the open night.

We live in an age where Google has replaced the crystal ball. Got a question? Google it. But this—this is a different game. A game where you don’t Google, you wait. You savor the mystery, like a suspense novel you can’t put down.

And then…the big reveal.

A singular moment, unique as a fingerprint. You can’t Xerox this. It’s like the first splash of color in a sunrise—irreplaceable, inimitable, unforgettable. It’s a moment that writes itself into your memory, creating a personal narrative that lasts a lifetime.

Or… don’t.

It’s not a mandate. It’s an option, like picking the scenic route over the highway. Choosing to find out your baby’s sex? Perfectly fine. Parenthood is a journey filled with awe and beauty. It’s a responsibility that outshines any grand spectacle, a gift that unfurls like the most beautiful morning.

Think of this as an opportunity to shape a moment, like a potter with a lump of clay. It’s not about preventing regret. It’s about crafting a memory. A moment to look back on, to smile, to share. So, you can go ahead, peek into the mystery, or you can simply let it unfold. Either way, you’re on the road to an experience that is unique, treasured, and ultimately, yours.

Stephen Boudreau serves as VP of Brand and Community at Virtuous Software. For over two decades, he has helped nonprofits leverage the digital space to grow their impact. To that end, Stephen co-founded RaiseDonors, a platform that provides nonprofits with technology and experiences that remove barriers to successful online fundraising. He is an avid (but aging) soccer player, audiobook enthusiast, and the heavily-disputed UNO champion of his household.

Copyright ©2023 Stephen Boudreau.