It’s OK to be a Princess
At the beginning of the school year all of the kids in my daughter’s kindergarten class were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. While some of her friends said athletes, doctors, and teachers, my daughter came home and exclaimed she wanted to be a “mermaid ballerina princess!”
I did my best to keep a smile on my face and be encouraging. The last thing I want to do is dim that light that shines so bright. In time her own dreams will evolve and grow.
If you asked me what I wanted to be when I was 5-years-old I probably would have said a famous singer, a princess or an ice skater. I might have even had mermaid on my list. I remember having an obsession with Ariel at that age.
I’m not sure when princesses started to get a bad wrap. I mean I get it, we parents don’t want our daughters giving up our voices and giving up their fins for legs for the sake of a boy. But everything I gather from my daughter wanting to be a princess is her wanting to be a pretty, strong girl who can help save the world. It’s like they’re her own version of super heroes.
Not only that, but it’s nice to see the images of princesses evolve. From The Princess in Black series my daughter loves, to the new Dream Big Princess campaign by Disney, I think we’re moving in the right direction and catching on to what girls want.
When she runs around the house in her dresses, or plays with her friends I don’t hear cries from a damsel in distress, but a warrior looking to save her friends and animals.
Without skipping a beat she’ll take a “break” and run to the garage to practice her pull-ups, in her glittery gown and all.
I’ve noticed as the school year has progressed, so have her dreams. She still loves dress-up, but spends a lot of time doing art, and when asked what she’d like to be when she was class start of the week, she said an astronaut because of her new fascination with space.
Parenting a school-aged kid, though a young one, is giving me a whole new perspective on child development. There’s something beautiful and inspiring about watching it happen first hand.
I’m sure her dreams will continue to grow and evolve as she does and I’m excited to be right here, helping them all come true.
I so don’t want my daughter to turn into a princess freak… yet I’m totally prepared for it to happen. We haven’t introduced them to many characters or Disney movies yet (#judgemeifyawanna) and not sure when I will, but I know as soon as I do, I’m going to have a frilly pink princess monster on my hands. I’m ok with it. John… that’s another story. He is anti-princess… I’m trying to explain that it’s inevitable and wont last forever… not sure he believes me. HA!
Oh the dreams of a child. When my girls were little they dreamed of this too. So much fun watching them grow up.
I love how Disney has changed how we view Princesses. They ones coming out now are strong women with a voice. There is nothing wrong with being a Princess after all they one day become a Queen and rule their own kingdom.
Love this! No reason girls can’t be beautiful princesses and strong women at the same time. They can certainly have the best of both worlds:)
I think it was Disney’s “Brave” that first got me thinking of Princesses in a different way. I think it’s great that your daughter has this dream to be a Princess but has other dreams and aspirations as well – like all brave, smart and creative Princesses do.
Princesses can mean so many things through the eyes of a child. Dreaming of what you want to be and being able to change your mind daily is what being a child is all about.
I think that all little girls want to be a princess. I also think that means something different to each little girl. My princess is now 25 and “rules” her life as a princess in her own way. She is beautiful inside and out and that is what matters.
You did a great thing allowing her to let her dreams evolve as she grows. Princesses can still kick butt. And I love the pic of her wearing the princess dress doing pull-ups!