As soon as I read the instructions for this assignment, I immediately thought of an occasion where my son made a comment that embarrassed me in the grocery store. We were checking out and I was casually chatting with the clerk. My son said “mommy is that a man”? I tried to ignore it, but he only got louder so I had to answer. I said “no of course not”. He then asked “why does she sound like a man”? I replied by telling him that everyone is different, and then I tried to make light of his comments by joking with the clerk. Luckily she did not take it too seriously, or at least it didn’t appear that way. But, there were other customers around and I felt put on the spot because of my son’s questions. When we left the store I told my son that we must try not to embarrass people or say things that might hurt their feelings.
I think that my joking of the situation could have possibly influenced my son in the wrong way. I don’t want him to think that we should laugh at those with differences. I also don’t want him to think that we can’t speak of others differences. The message that I was attempting to send is that we must speak and address these things in an appropriate way that is not hurtful.
An Anti-Bias educator may address such an issue by providing examples that a child can understand that involves feelings and differences; including ways of how to address their curiosities. Perhaps an educator would explain an alternative way of asking questions while respecting others.
