My son invited a friend over for a playdate.
When his friend arrived, I was teaching my son how to bake a cake.
The boy looked at him, completely confused.
“Wait… isn’t baking a girl’s job?”
Before I could answer, my daughter walked into the kitchen and smiled.
“Not in this house.”
The boy looked even more confused.
She explained,
“Here, all three of us learn the same life skills.”
“Cooking? Everyone learns it.”
“Baking? Everyone learns it.”
“Cleaning? Everyone.”
“Laundry? Yep.”
“Ironing? Absolutely.”
“Changing a flat tire? Everyone.”
“Checking the engine oil? Everyone.”
“Using basic tools? Everyone.”
“Managing money? Definitely.”
“And treating people with respect? That’s not optional.”
The boy looked at my daughter.
“So… your brothers know how to do all that?”
She nodded.
“Of course.”
“My brothers aren’t being raised to expect a woman to take care of them.”
“And I’m not being raised to depend on a man to do things I can do myself.”
The boy looked around the kitchen, then quietly asked,
“So… what is a boy’s job?”
My daughter smiled.
“Learning how to take care of himself.”
“And what’s a girl’s job?”
“Same thing.”
He thought about it for a moment.
“So basically…”
“There are no boys’ jobs or girls’ jobs?”
She nodded.
“Exactly.”
“There are just life skills.”
He looked at the cake batter.
“Okay… but does everyone also have to do the dishes?”
My daughter smiled.
“Now you’re learning.”
