Walking through a grocery store with my Mom today, as we headed for the registers I overheard a very little kid say "See! Here he comes again, and look he's wearing lady pants!" Then the parents went into a discussion with him. Two days before, a different grocery and a different child. A little girl asked her Mom as I passed them "Is she a woman?"
I pass in general but those kids are so perceptive and lacking filters. I can't fault kids who are trying to parse the meaning of gender for asking questions, however loudly.
So to cope with the conflict of being misgendered but loving the inquisitive minds of children I reached a conclusion that made me quite happy. Instead of taking it personally and letting myself get upset and down I realized that I had just made a teaching moment. Even if the parents say nothing to their child but "shush" that child has experienced someone who is confident, happy and gender variant. The next time I overhear a child asking such a question I am resolved to look in their direction and at least smile, perhaps wave. I will be the change I want to see in this world!
