For those who don’t know me: I’m a uni student and nanny in London. I’m relatively openly #queer and write and post about books. Besides that I’m highly invested in #childcare, school systems and education/parenting, which probably stems from my job and my my mum being a teacher.

This morning whilst I was preparing the breakfast table the boys I’m nannying were getting ready when they got into a fight. #nannylife But suddenly the older boy exclaimed: “That’s gay! Ugh disgusting!” and pushed his brother away. He’d wanted to hug him. #rude

You have to keep in mind that they’re 7 and 9 but I was a little shocked. I dropped everything and we had a sit down in the middle of the hallway. I probably terrified the boys because I was visibly furious. But not with them. With society.

Instead of yelling or similar I calmly asked: “What does #gay mean? Do you know?” Both boys looked at me clearly confused when the older one answered sheepishly: “It’s when a boy loves a boy. But that’s bad, isn’t it?” #noitsnot #lgbtqeducation

Ok. With this I had to take a deep breath. #staycalm I asked in return: “What am I then?” Both proper confused I went on with something along the lines of this:

“If I have a girlfriend, I am gay. That changes nothing about me as a person or my worth. So you two and any one else is free to love whoever they want. Boys, girls or nonbinary people. (Obviously explaining terms to them as well) You can’t choose who you fall in love with!”

After discussing a few questions the little one called out: “How stupid of my friends to use it as an insult then! That makes no sense.”
And THAT my friends is why #LGBTQ #education is so needed! #childcare #nannylife #uk #kids