Kareena Kapoor's 'Family Dining Rule' Is A Reminder For Equality

In a recent conversation, Kareena Kapoor Khan shared about her 'family rule,' which says nannies can eat with the kids at the same table. However, she revealed that it wasn’t like that initially and went on to share an interesting story about her son Taimur.

Her older son, Taimur Ali Khan, once asked why his nanny sat at a different table while having meals. Kapoor said that her boys’ nannies were eating with them at the same table because Taimur had asked and Jeh was already saying, "Why are you sitting there? Sit here."

Bebo Talks About Equality

Kapoor said, "This is the house's rule because the nannies look after the children while I and Saif work, so they deserve the same respect." Kapoor went on to say that the nannies are with them most of the time, and they travel together. They looked after her children like their own and called it something that she could not oversee.

How many of our families have an equal policy at home for ourselves and our helpers? Not many of us can raise our hands for that, right? Many households continue to offer separate utensils and seaters for helpers, or worse, subject them to discrimination and ill-treatment while benefiting from their services.

Teaching Equality To My Kid

As a mother, I’ve always ensured that my daughter learns to respect people for who they are and not for their social or economic status. Since the time she started pretend playing, she has been inclusive of our maid and cook, which I’ve largely encouraged. We don't have a stay-at-home helper, so there have not been instances of us eating together, but we've never followed any form of discrimination against our helpers.

My daughter hugs the assistants at her playschool every day while leaving, and it makes me so happy that she recognises the kindness in people and is appreciative of them. After all, the help that they provide deserves a basic level of humanity and respect.

A Reminder Of Social Change

However, it’s not the same in every family, even in today’s age and time. How ironic is it that we let our maids touch the utensils while washing them but won’t let them use them to eat? We let our cook prepare food but won’t allow them to eat the same and give them the remains or even stale food. We don’t mind the babysitter taking care of our children and doing everything for them, but we get offended when our children give them a hug!

Where do discriminatory thoughts disappear when we utilise the services of our helpers? Do they go under an invisibility cloak when we are being benefited and then jump out as soon as the job is done? Let's put an end to all sorts of discrimination practised by the older generation and pave the path for the establishment of a society that values equality. As millennials and Gen Z parents, it's our responsibility to do that for our future generation.

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