Talking to myself in a monologue...(* thanks for the line Dylan): December 2008

Am I the worst mom in the world? I’ve been reading these tirades against “Princess Culture” on the DC Urban Mom’s listserv I’m on for the past several days and I just don’t get. I fully agree that the INDUSTRY is much more out of control than it was when I was a kid - you can’t even get past the dollar bins in Target without being bombarded by Disney doodads, but am I really skewing my 3 year old’s body image for life and teaching her that she needs to sit pretty and wait for a Prince to swoop in to save her by allowing her to watch The Little Mermaid, play with her new box set of 7 Disney Princesses (yes, 7 – she’s been asking for Barbie’s and to my eyes at least the diverse line up of Jasmine, Belle, Mulan, Ariel…was much preferable, but apparently not!), or put on a tiara from her chest of princess/fairy dress up clothes? Seriously?!

I fully understand the impressionability concerns and intend to do the best I can to foster a healthy body image, confidence and self reliance. But her overhearing me say, ugh, mom needs to exercise, my jeans are to tight one too many times is probably way more damaging than allowing her to comb Sleeping Beauty’s long blonde hair. Frankly, I grew up on the same Disney movies, granted w/o so many of the tie-in products, and I love re-experiencing them (over and over and over again) with Leila. Indeed, the bulk of her Christmas presents came straight out of my childhood – Colorforms, Tinker Toys and a Viewmaster Oh My! She plays with her dolls for a few minutes then asks me to get out Colorforms and help her create scenes. She also received her # 1 request: “a baby that pees.” It’s gross and ridiculous, but watching the way she nurtures her baby “Isabella” as a little mommy, it can’t be all bad for her development and imaginative play skills. She’s also just as likely to pick up her plastic sword and shield and pretend to be Peter from Narnia as she is to drift into Princess La La Land. Yes, I’ve also probably damaged her for letting her watch Narnia so young, but it inspired her to request the book – the same Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe book I was enthralled with as a somewhat older kid – and while she won’t sit through a chapter of my reading it yet, she walks around holding it and narrating stories about the few illustrations properly identifying the character names etc. Anyway, while I don’t dare jump into the flames of my listserv, I’d like to advocate as strongly as I can for letting kids be kids and embracing the Princess phase with all its satin and jewels for the short time it lasts.