Princess Culture Reading reflection

While I was reading these collections of articles and essays, I was thinking to myself, oh my gosh, was I a "princess"? Do I have the potential to become one? Surely Not. HOPEFULLY not.

Is my 4 year old niece a "princess"? Does she have the potential to become one? Yup. Absolutely.

Am I, my mother, and my sister-in-law to blame? Most likely.

Is there time to turn it around and help to mold her into a well rounded and respectable human being that knows that she should work for everything she wants and that it doesn't all come handed to her on a silver platter?

Dear Lord I hope so.

Watching Gabbey grow up, I witnessed her going through the same stages of "first crawling, then walking, and then the urgent desire to wear something pink and sparkly." Now granted, it was our fault for putting her in these clothes and shoes before she had the option to choose what she liked for herself. We were practically forcing the sparkles on her (Aunt Ray Ray, guilty as charged) because what little girl wouldn't want to wear sparkles and pink and zebra stripes? Truth be told, she looks just as cute and adorable in blue, or purple, or green, or flats or jeans.

Nana (my mom) has also had a generous helping hand in pushing the pink and sparkles. Gabbey has a plethora of pink jewelry boxes to put all of her fake jewelry in, she has many dress up princess dresses and accessories, she has the pink Barbies and all the accessories, she has the pink doll houses, she has the fake make up, she has more than her little heart could possibly desire. But she likes all of these things, so who were we, the keepers of the presents, to deny her? Who were we to deny her the things that she didn't even know she should want? Not that there's anything wrong with dress up clothes because she uses her imagination when she plays with them and that's very important. I'm just realizing now that maybe we should get her more Doc McStuffins (who is that, by the way) or scientist dress up clothes and the accouterments that accompany them to show her that there are other things out there for her to become besides a princess. Heck, I had a Barbie that was a veterinarian! Remember the 90s when Barbie had every single profession? She was a lawyer, a doctor, an Olympian, an astronaut, a teacher, a horse rider, a politician, a pilot, a fashion designer, etc.  Does Gabbey have one of those? Doubt it.

From now on I am going to work to introduce her to things that don't focus on just becoming a princess. I'm going to introduce her to the movies Brave and Frozen because those princesses focus on other important aspects of life instead of just falling in love and finding a husband. (Note to self: Focus on other important aspects of life instead of just falling in love and finding a husband.)

Now a cautionary tale for myself: YOU ARE NOT CARRIE BRADSHAW. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO SUPPORT YOURSELF AS CARRIE BRADSHAW. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE FANCY SHOES AND BAGS. ACCEPT IT.

Sorry you had to witness that folks. I have the tendency to desire the finer things in life, and while there's nothing wrong with splurging or treating yourself every now and then, I am working to learn that there are more important things to focus on and to spend money on than the fancy purse or the nice clothes. I have four purses that work just fine, when I get tired of one I'll just switch them out. I am working to fight the tendencies I have to be a "Princess" and it's going to be a constant battle. I hope that my niece and I come out on the other side.