Equality

We are simple people. We don't have maids or butlers. We don't have a chef or a groundskeeper. (Who does?) We don't even have a housekeeper. That would be me. When I feel like it. Sometimes when I don't.

My kids idea of waitstaff is gleaned from waiters or waitresses at restaurants, and once a waitress sees the four children she generally disappears into the depths of the kitchen only to return once or twice to refill drinks. All I'm saying is that the kids don't have any idea what servants are. This is neither good nor bad, it's just the way things are.

Today at the hotel, I asked the boys to clean up our room a bit before we headed down for breakfast. Josh informed me that "the maids would do it, that's their job."

Stop. The. Presses.

He's absolutely right - the maids get paid to clean rooms at the hotel. But I informed him in my best mom/school teacher/I'm your boss and you'll listen to me voice that there's a difference between cleaning up after yourself and expecting someone else to clean up after you. It is the maid's job to run the vacuum and wipe the bathtub down and put clean sheets on the beds. It is NOT her job to pick up our clothing or put our toys away or keep our toiletries neatly lined up on the bathroom counter. I asked Josh to write a note for the maid, thanking her for cleaning our room this week. He did. I was proud.

At breakfast we were chatting with one of the servers. She's the sweetest lady even if she is a bit of a talker. I love that the boys treated her just like a friend and not someone who was there to wait on us. What I didn't love is the fact that the other hotel guests wont' even look our way for fear of making eye contact and having to be friendly. They won't acknowledge our presence (and it can't be denied, with Micah around) because they are clearly so much better than we are. That bothers me. A lot.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want my kids to grow up knowing that no matter what social class you're from, no matter where you find yourself staying for the night, no matter who you meet through your day, we are all the same. We are all to be treated equally. And a smile is meant to be shared.

13 comments:

Keri said...

And the redneck comes out in me...

There ain't nothing about anyone in that hotel restaurant - no matter how fancy schmancy it is - that is better than you. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF MICAH!!!

You and your family are precious. Snotty snobs are a dime a dozen and not worth a plug nickel.

Viv said...

Give me a stage of my own and I'm a star, take me out of my element and I am really very shy. There is nothing that I dislike more than having worked up the nerve to smile at someone only to be ignored. That is just one more reason I love children, smile at a child and they always return the love.

Anonymous said...

I am thrilled that my kiddos are still young enough to look past height, weight, age, gender, skin color, and socioeconmic status and love everyone equally (while mostly equally . . . Cooper loves the girl nextdoor a little bit more than he loves anyone else right now.)

I don't do snobby, and I am glad you don't either!

the planet of janet said...

sing it, sister.

Kimberly Wright said...

People often suck. There I said it. I find it horrible that people act that way towards your family. It pisses me off.

Those people are definitely not better than you.

Becoming Mommy said...

Those snobs? Need to realize that at any moment THEY could be waiting tables and making beds. Employment is never a sure thing and we all need to be prepared to do what we gotta do.

I'm always happy for a Waitress job when I'm not on a contract. And I'm even happier for people who don't treat me like a big bowl of warm poo when I have taken those jobs.

As for snubbing you? They should only be so lucky as to have such a loving, beautiful family.

Becoming Mommy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I think that last paragraph is what most parents want for their kids. Well, except those snobby parents :)

Mrs. Ohtobe said...

Well said!

Karen Deborah said...

I wonder if the snobs left a thank you note? Your raising them right! Man I sound like a broken record but shoot fire, YOUR SUCH A GOOD MOM!!

Michelle said...

Amen. I'm aiming for that same world view. People so disappoint me though. Regularly. WE would have made eye contact. And played with you.

Roger Miller said...

Amen to that!

When people start to stare at us, we try to engage them, even if it is just a quick wave. My children will not be snobs, no matter how hard they try.

caramama said...

Amen! That's how to raise kids! We are all just humans and we should treat others as we would like to be treated. Period.

Great idea to have him write the thank you note to the maid. That. Is. Awesome!