When I worked in retail during my teens and twenties, my coworkers and I often said “Everyone should have to work retail at least once.” The idea was that, if everyone knew what it was like, they wouldn't treat retail workers so poorly. I definitely remember saying that I would make my future child get a part-time retail job in high school so they would grow up to be kind to retail workers.
Well, fast forward and I'm in my thirties and I have a wonderful baby girl. Man, I don't want her to have to work retail. As a young woman, I dealt with not just super rude customers, but sexual harassment and once even literal stalking. Now I'm thinking, huh, maybe I just teach to be empathetic and kind to everyone, even if she hasn't been in their exact position.
What do you all think?