Study: Boys reduce Mom's lifespan

CLEVELAND - Maybe girls really are made of “sugar, spice and everything nice.”  A recent Finnish study found having all boys can shave about 8 ½ months off a mom’s life.

Researchers looked at people from the 17 ^th through 20 ^th centuries who did not have access to modern medical care or birth control.

The results could vary by country because Finnish girls usually shouldered more of the household responsibilities during that time period, helping mom live longer.

Doctors say in other cultures, the opposite may be true.

“In fact, some of the folk wisdom in our culture is that if you have daughters, it probably taxes you a little bit more because daughters and moms get to be a little combative, especially when girls get to be in adolescence,” said Dr. Scott Bea of the Cleveland Clinic.

Doctors say that modern parents probably don’t have to worry about their little boys taking months off their lives.