I have heard a rumour (OK I read it in a newspaper sometime ago) that the big boss man at Disney has decided that princesses are passe and so the studio will not be creating any more Princess movies (post Tangled). I wonder what research informed this enlightened decision. Perhaps, after he folded his copy of the Guardian, he had a chat with the same folk who have tried to convince me that Bea's love of dollys, pink, sparkles and princesses is entirely due to the way her Daddy and I have raised her. We have thrust this upon her. We have guided her and directed her along the path of girliness. Perhaps we have. If so it was unintentional. But, if my girl wants to be feminine, if this love of girlie things is all her (which I strongly suspect it is) go her! I know that she will do it alongside climbing, running, shouting and enjoying the odd wrestle with Daddy.
He certainly didn't have a chat with any of the two, three or four year old girls I know. Princesses are a bit of an obsession with them!
Saturday will be Beth's "Princess party" The excitement is already building in our house, with both Bea and I, if the amazing invitations are anything to go by!
Josie too has demanded a "Princess party" and Beatrice has instructed me that her party has to have "princesses and pink and flowers and sparkles" That I can do.
Princesses are big business. Beatrice has already amassed a collection of clothes, dolls, clocks, stickers and books. That is not to mention the dvds, nor the fact that I have actually downloaded "Hail to the Princess Aurora!" from itunes (who in their right mind.....?)
Beside Bea's bed is a framed photograph. It shows Bea, Josie and Beth in an assortment of Beth's princess dresses with a collection of her dolls. This photo occasionally stops Bea going to sleep. She has to hold it, gaze lovingly at it and reminisce. The princess love is established and overwhelming.
Anyhow, the enlightened big boss at Disney acknowledges that this is a stage that little girls quickly grow out of and that little boys do not fully engage with. True. He also thinks that princesses are not good role models for our children. He wants heroic leading ladies, not sappy chicks in pretty dresses with tiaras just waiting to be rescued. At this point he and I part company. I think there is a lot to be admired in the princesses. Look at Cinderella. She worked hard and continued to love those who treated her unfairly. She was kind to those less fortunate than her and always tried to see the best in people (or cats). She never, despite the circumstances, lost her faith - although it was shaken. Yes, in the end, she fell in love with a handsome prince and lived happily ever after. Now to anyone who resents her...give the girl a break! What about the warbly voiced Snow White? Another grafter! Look at how bravely she copes with being taken into the woods, almost killed and then abandoned with only the clothes she stands up in. Does she fall to pieces? Yes there is a moment when it is touch and go, but she rises to the challenge, faces her fears and overcomes them.
Yes, I understand that this is not real life. Not everyone gets a happily ever after. But, I am a grown woman. I am educated. I live in the real world, have a real relationship and bleach my own toilet. Still, I love beautiful dresses. I love to twirl and watch my skirt spin out. At times, I too, need to be rescued* But here I am, still working out my "happily ever after", still enjoying fairy tales, still believing that it is possible. AND I suspect that I am not alone.
I suspect the 24.5 million people who watched the Royal Wedding on terrestrial tv hadn't tuned in by accident nor were they finding princesses outdated.
* particularly from birds (both living and dead). Last Friday, a bird got into our attic. I could hear it tap dancing above the study. I could hear it's dazed tweets as it flew into the window to discover that glass was stronger than he was. I felt compassion for the little creature, but not enough to put my head through the trap door to rescue it (I'm not a patch on Cinders) I had to wait until Jonathan returned to rescue the tweeter. Subsequently, while hanging the washing on the line I spotted a bird in two parts on the lawn. I walked in a large semi circle around it and waited until I was rescued by a large gull who swooped onto the grass (the avian equivalent to a mcdonalds drive through) and we'll just not mention the time Jonathan was away on a school trip and I had to summon Grif to drive from Ballyclare to put a dead bird in the bin so that I could release the hounds.
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