In our house, we have embraced the princess theme.
Since having my daughter four years ago, I have read several articles that speak about not using the term “princess” with our daughters. That it makes them weak and powerless. As if they are one that needs to be saved.
As I read, I look around the room. Madeline owns enough princess dresses to make Cinderella jealous. She has multiple tiaras and magic fairy wands. She loves to dress up and be called princess. We read books about castles and princesses. She has every princess doll. She sings every Disney Princess song and can practically quote Frozen in her sleep.
At this point, I’m sure there are many of you who are cringing. But before you start throwing feminist quotes at me, let me also say that Madeline has superhero costumes as well. Supergirl, Spidergirl, Batgirl. She wears capes and masks. Madeline loves to play pretend with her Batgirl and Supergirl dolls. She loves to play Ninja Turtles. Currently, she is more than a little obsessed with all things Supergirl and gets excited every time she sees Wonder Woman or Batman.
There is a healthy balance of all things sparkly, pink, and girly and a deep love for all the childhood favorites of her dad.
Madeline is a perfect balance of soft and sweet and rough and tumble. She is kind and brave. She is sweet and fierce. She is loving and strong.
She is no damsel in distress. She will save the knight and then turn around give him a hug to make sure he is okay. Madeline is our strong, brave, smart, funny, compassionate, beautiful princess. And we think that is perfect.
She will dance and plays sports. She is soft and strong all at once. We are raising her to know that princesses are just as strong as superheroes and she can be both.
In our house being a princess means being smart and knowing you can save the prince like Belle – “People think I’m odd. So I know how it feels to be different, and I know how lonely that can be.”
It’s never being afraid of going after what you want like Ariel – “Bright young women, sick of swimming, ready to stand.”
It’s being kind like Snow White – “Remember, you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.”
She has goals and dreams of big things like Cinderella – “Well there’s one thing. They can’t order me to stop dreaming.”
It’s being brave like Merida – “Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it.”
A princess realizes she can do and be anything like Mulan – “You said you’d trust Ping. Why is Mulan any different?”
A princess stands up for herself like Rapunzel – “You were wrong about the world, and you were wrong about me!”
She knows she is more than just a prize to be won like Jasmine – “How dare you! All of you! Standing around deciding my future. I am not a prize to be won!”
A princess works hard for what she wants and deserves like Tiana – “Listen here, mister. This stick in the mud has had to work two jobs her whole life while you’ve been sucking on a silver spoon chasing chambermaids around your ivory tower!”
It’s believing in yourself like Pocahontas – “I don’t know what I can do. Still I know I’ve got to try.”
Princesses are strong. Princesses are brave. Princesses can change the world. And I am certain that my little princess will.
