Being Princesses

I have long been rallying against the Disney Princess culture. I think the idea of raising young women who think it is their lot in life to get into trouble and then hope a handsome prince will come and save them is unrealistic and damaging. And frankly, that's what the Disney princesses represent to me.

I also acknowledge that a lot of little girls are drawn to the prettiness, or romantic nature, or story telling of princessory without having to buy into the anti-feminist jargon. So we have kept Sydney from all of the movies and stories that have the damsels in distress but have made not effort to keep her from the idea of a "princess." With her dress-up birthday present came many princess wands and tiaras, but no preconceived expectations.

The result?

We are all being princesses, of course. To be a princess, you need a cool hat and a wand. Jack's wand was a rattle, but he dropped it just before we took the picture.

I love this kind of princess.