One evening, we were busy doing school projects.
As usual, Wizheart and I divide ourselves into our two kids: my husband and Gabo; Rago and me.
The reason of the assignments is that a bulk of Gabo's homework is usually Math.
On occasions that Wizheart has to stay out late for meetings, I help Gabo, of course.
But it's always with much effort on my part.
In the case of my husband, one cursory look at a problem, he already knows the solution to it.
Rago's homeowork, on the other hand, is mostly drawing or cutting pictures as part of their learning Math, Science, and Civics.
It was one of those nights when Rago and I were cutting out pictures and making them into an "animal mobile.
" The instruction was to draw different kinds of animals on a cardboard, color them, and cut them out.
Then using a string, we had to string these cut-out animals in a hanger.
I was in the process of cutting out the photos, when Rago went, "You're so good at cutting, Mama.
Did you study cutting out animals?" Trying not to laugh out loud at his question, I went, "No.
But I'm older and so I already learn how to do these things.
When you grow older, and have kids also, you will be doing this, too.
You will help your child do his assignment.
" Rago said, "No, I won't.
My wife will do it.
Like you.
" This time, I laughed out loud.
I couldn't help it.
I just hugged and kissed him.
The incident made me think that, yeah, gender roles start at home.
Where else can kids get their concept about gender roles, but right at their homes? They learn that women and men do certain tasks, and most often these tasks are not interchangeable.
In most modern families, though, the male and female do exchange tasks.
And so kids learn that there are tasks that men and women can and cannot do.
Which brings us to the crucial part, that is carefully showing our kids the right roles so as not to confuse them.
In our family, I want my kids to learn that men and women are both strong and that their strengths do not only come from which tasks they can or cannot do.