My daughter keeps talking about how she is going to look after me when I’m old. First, so interesting and so gendered. My boys have never said this type of thing to me at that age, or ever, really. Second, her description of what it will mean to look after me is fascinating, and revealing of the lives we lead.

“Mama, when you are old, I’ll drive you to school.”

Her brothers interject with condescension: “When she’s old she won’t go to school.”

“Ok, I’ll drive her to the store then. Wherever you want to go, Mama, I’ll look after you.”

In her 4-year old world, care is equated with (auto)mobility.

AgingAutomobilityDrivingPetroculturesPetrofeminism