My son taught me an important lesson about equality

We were driving to school when my son asked about a rainbow flag that had been hoisted up a flagpole in front of a building we passed each day.

"Why is there a rainbow flag there," he asked.

"It's because there's a same sex marriage vote in November," I explained. "People who support same sex marriage use rainbow flags."

"Why rainbow?"

"I'm not sure," I said. "Probably to reflect diversity in a happy way. With happy colours. And who doesn't love a rainbow?"

(FYI: The rainbow flag, also known as the "gay pride flag" was devised by San Francisco artist and gay activist Gilbert Baker who borrowed the idea from the Flag of the Human Race which was developed during the Hippie movement. Wikipedia)

It was one of those conversations that takes place frequently when you're a parent.

It was brief, profound, potentially life-changing, and quickly forgotten.

Soon enough we'd arrived at school and he dragged his ridiculously heavy bag (Put some books in your locker!) out of the car while I yelled out at him not to forget the art workshop he wanted to attend at lunchtime (I put lunch money in your wallet!) that day in the school library.

I drove home, parked the car, hopped on a bus and went to work.

That afternoon he arrived home a few minutes after I did.

Instead of going straight to his room and logging into one of his many devices, only appearing at dinnertime to feed, he came straight into the kitchen.

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"Mum, can I show you something?"

"Sure," I said, thinking he'd injured himself playing at school or had retrieved a startled insect from it's natural habitat during his short walk home.

Instead, he got out his iPad and started tapping away.

I desperately hoped it wasn't another 'funny' video he wanted to share with me, despite the fact I rarely find any of the videos he enjoys funny.

But instead he showed me two drawings he'd done in art that day.

Image: Provided

His first drawing I found to be just incredible, sad, and sadly accurate for any child of difference, whether their socially-assigned difference is sexuality or disability or height or weight.

And the second drawing is even more incredible, with it's mis-spelled 'aquality', somehow giving it more impact.

It's innocent and child-like and made me think of that saying, "Out of the mouths of babes."

He doesn't know a lot about the history of the LGBTQI community in Australia and how much better life is now than it was when I was a teenager and my best friend was coming out.

Listen to the latest episode of Super Mums with special guest Lisa Wilkinson:

He doesn't know what the solution is to the 'problem' of same sex marriage is.

He doesn't understand the process of the November plebiscite or what might happen afterwards.

All he could do was put himself in the place of a child who feels different, and judged for that difference.

By putting himself in someone else's shoes to try and understand what their life is like, he has shown a capacity for compassion.

And what problem can't be solved through compassion?

I couldn't be prouder.