I was helping my five-year-old with his environmental science school lessons. He was confidently answering most of the questions I posed. He was eager to get to bed with his warm milk and my stories. We were learning about Types of Rooms. I halted at the question, “Where does your mother cook?” Maybe because cooking is a chore, or because it was being presented as a task for women, I found it somewhat politically incorrect. I changed it to, “Where does your uncle cook?”
He hadn’t anticipated that. He had never heard the question put that way at school. He paused. He giggled. He sighed. He shrugged. He looked at me and asked, “zero”? I wanted to scream. Instead, I asked, “Where will you cook when you grow up?” “In the kitchen, in the kitchen!” the answer came fast.
Through stories and movies I show my son that men too cook. I explain to him how men make women happy by sharing chores – cook, do the dishes, set tables. My son, all of five, dreams of the day he will get to be the master of our kitchen and perform like a Jamie Oliver. But there is a good chance society will cast that desire out of him.
On the flip side, I’ve seen other mothers proudly quoting their little devils as saying: “Amma, stay in the kitchen and prepare snacks for me. Always. Do not come out.” I would be offended if my son said that. But not every woman would be. I agree the kitchen is a beautiful place to be. It’s heaven. But it truly becomes one only when it’s shared.No matter how much the mommies and the grannies say they are happy to be in the kitchen, don’t let them be. Share it.
Daddies! Step inside the kitchen. Toast some bread. Make some coffee. Treat your wife to breakfast you made, in front of your son. He’s watching you. Our girls need gentlemen.
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