Since we just got back from Disneyworld, and this is something I have seen becoming a "popular stand" to take and I just have to add my two cents on something...
I have seen a few posts, articles and things on Pinterest about some parents who are making a point to teach their daughters who "real female role models" are and making a point to steer them a way from the Disney Princesses. To those parents, I say great! I will not judge your parenting, but please don't judge mine.
I am a firm believer that a difference of opinion is healthy. I think it makes us; a country, a community, a family...it makes us what we are. How boring would it be if we all did everything the same, thought the same, acted the same....ick!
I too enjoy talking about the amazing women in our countries history, looking at high powered women of today and I enjoy celebrating women who may not be as outwardly powerful, but make a big impact on people (mothers, teachers, doctors, etc.)
I have a young daughter who loves Disney Princesses. She loves to dress up and although she has only seen two of the movies, she loves the Disney isle, the Disney toys, the more pink the better! Hey, I loved it all as a kid too. In fact, to this day, I can sing "A part of your world" and the lyrics just seem to come back to me and maybe my love for it was the starting factor for my daughter, so what? When I was little I believed in fairy godmothers, dreams, wishes and that one day I would find my one true love. It's now a common language between my daughter and I and it is something we enjoy playing
together.
I do not think that showing my daughter "The Little Mermaid" and letting her play princesses will make her any less intelligent, less compassionate or less powerful as an adult. She is two. She likes things that sparkle, wishes that come true and she loves when the princesses sing and dance. I think this is healthy and good with a good dose of fun.
Life is hard.
When the time is right she will learn (by my husband and I teaching her as well as living out life experiences like we all do) that there really aren't fairy godmothers, that power and knowledge take commitment and hard work, that people's problems aren't just fixed by a kiss, that not everything is a fairy tale and that SHE is in control of what power she has in her world.
For now, I say...let her be a child. Let her believe. Let her dress up. Let her enjoy the pretty fluffy world full of princesses and flowers.
Ariel didn't stay a mermaid, she fought for what she wanted
Cinderella worked hard and overcame obstacles to get to the ball
Rapunzel wasn't going to settle for a life stuck in the tower, she explored the world and found the real meaning of her life
These are silly stories, but the lessons are still there...
Disneys stories have life lessons too, but in a world of color, fun, imagination and good vs. evil (And it's just a bonus that the songs ROCK) The positive messages are in there but if all she sees is the imagination and dress-up that is okay with me too! The lessons will come.
She is 2. She is smart and funny and full of love and laughter...she is just fine and if she didn't know any Disney princesses, all of that would still be true. It doesn't add to her or lessen her, it is a fun hobby, an interest that her and I (and now our whole family) can share together. And, I say there ain't nothin' wrong with that ;)
A look back on some of our favorite moments on our recent trip to Disneyworld and the Nick Resort
Thanks for reading!
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