[Such a long read that it needs a caption. Let’s call it, “The Smoking Lady”.]

So M has still not reached that age or phase where a girl is exposed to a list of what she must or mustn’t, and can or cannot do because of her gender.

Sure, preschool has brought about conversations around pink vs blue, cars vs dolls, and tutus vs trousers but we have been able to navigate thru these by explaining choice and how what is long being followed becomes normal (which means nothing) but its okay to make individual choices. I feel we have been more or less successful even though Manya pushes back - “Mom, i know its my choice and girls needn’t wear only pink but its my life and my body and I choose pink glitter. Thank you very much.”
Cant argue with that either!

Anyways, going back to my initial point of her not having yet faced blatant gender based discrimination, I was shocked to hear from her today, “Mom, just look at that - a lady smoking!”
Thank you Seattle downtown for giving me endless opportunities to educate my kid. 🙄. During our stay here, we have encountered lines of people leaning against building and burning their lives in smoke, drunken brawls that involve choicest of abuses a five year old needn’t have heard, homeless people begging, property destructions in broad daylight, drug addicts approaching high headed in the middle of noon, cars racing and breaking speed limits, and all the PDAs around touristy spots. I am so ready to move to the suburbs.

But for today the smoking lady is of paramount importance. Here’s our conversation...
Me: Manya what is so special about a lady smoking?
M: How can she smoke. Didn’t you say its bad for health and bad for the planet?
Me: Yes it is. But that holds good for both men and women.
M: I know its bad for all but atleast women should not smoke.
Me (absolutely aghast and fumbling to understand the origin of this thought process): I dont understand manya, if its wrong for everyone, nobody should smoke.
M: yes nobody should smoke but atleast women have more sense and they should know better.
Me: why should women know better than men.
M: because girls are the best?
Me: not true, girls and boys can be equally good or equally bad - you have to talk about individuals - you have boy best friends and girl best friends, don’t you?
M: that’s true, you are right.
Me: I am always right.
M: These people need to stop smoking, I feel like puking.
Me: you are right
M: I am always right.

Phew.