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Nana Owiti shares how her daughter’s question changed her perspective on judging others
05th August, 2026 01:51 PM
Digital content creator and influencer Nana Owiti has shared how a conversation with her 12-year-old daughter challenged the way she thinks about judging other people, saying the discussion reminded her of the importance of listening before making assumptions.
In a post shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Nana revealed that the conversation began after her daughter received a Pride-themed T-shirt as a gift from their nanny.
Rather than focusing on the T-shirt itself, the young girl was concerned about how other people might judge her because of what she was wearing.
A simple question with a deeper meaning
Nana explained that her daughter’s reaction stayed with her long after the conversation had ended because it reflected a level of understanding she believes many adults often overlook.
She said her daughter was worried that people might assume things about her identity simply because of the T-shirt.
“I just came home, and my daughter was telling me about a Pride T-shirt our nanny bought for her. Her biggest concern wasn’t the shirt itself. It was whether people would make assumptions about who she is because of what she was wearing,” Nana wrote.
She noted that the discussion made her reflect on how quickly people form opinions without taking time to understand others.
Learning from a new generation
According to Nana, today’s children are asking questions that previous generations were often discouraged from discussing.
She praised young people for approaching difficult conversations with openness instead of fear.
“I genuinely love this generation. They ask questions we were taught to avoid. They choose kindness over judgement. They understand that acknowledging someone’s existence isn’t the same as becoming them,” she said.
She added that diversity has always existed, but many people have spent years pretending certain realities do not exist.
Choosing empathy over assumptions
Rather than telling others what to believe, she suggested that people should learn to approach different perspectives with curiosity and compassion. “Maybe what our children are teaching us isn’t what to think but how to think: with curiosity instead of fear and with empathy instead of assumptions,” she wrote.
She also pointed out that if a young child can understand that everyone deserves dignity and respect, adults should also strive to treat people with the same understanding.
A message to fellow parents
As the mother of a preteen, Nana admitted that parenting continues to challenge her in unexpected ways. She said conversations like the one she had with her daughter have encouraged her to become a better listener instead of rushing to conclusions.
Concluding her message, she urged parents and society at large to create more space for understanding rather than judgement. “As a parent to a preteen, I’m challenged. Let’s stop assuming. Let’s start listening,” she concluded.
