She's doing it again. Sweets has this tendency to grow. It's driving me crazy. Like, yesterday, I put her in a 4T dress she's been wearing for the last month or so. After getting on her level, the skirt was above her knees. Then again today. Another 4T dress. It's well above her knee. Yet both dresses are still big around her middle. What's a mother to do? Do I just start buying the next size up and let her swim in her dresses? Why does this only happen with dresses? Most of her pants and shirts (3T size) still fit. What's with the dresses? Do they shrink? Do clothing designers just think we want our two-year-olds to show off their legs in miniskirts? Or is my daughter just one of the special tall/skinny kids who will struggle with clothing size her whole life?
On a completely different note, I loved Disney growing up. I wasn't obsesssed, but I pretended to be Cinderella and Ariel. But I'm starting to second guess Disney's "Happily Ever After" messages as I share these stories with Sweets. There is something that really rubs me the wrong way. I'm not a big feminist or anything. I think it's the love at first sight ending with marriage then "happily ever after." They never date. Their love is never really tested. (This was something I loved about Enchanted. They made fun of this.) Granted, these are movies/stories for kids, but the message is still there. This stereotype doesn't really end. Teen movies have "conflict" but there are even worse messages there; I'm not going there. But marriage is always the end. In college all I wanted was to get married. It was the idyll. Now that I'm married, I know different. Don't get me wrong: marriage is wonderful. I recommend it, highly. It's just harder than I thought it would be. You have to work to stay in love and work to keep everything good. This is the message I want to give my kids. Marriage is wonderful, but it takes work to get the happily ever after.
So do I get rid of the stories? Do I allow them but try to drown them out with better stuff? Do I just give these stories free reign but try to teach different. Any advice? I'd like to know what you all would suggest.
On another random note, I love library story times. They are wonderful. At least the ones at the main Salt Lake CIty Public Library. Oh, and don't read Audrey Niffenegger's new book, Her Fearful Symmetry. I couldn't finish it. (Guessed the ending, looked ahead and I was right. Not really worth your time.)
And one more thing. Someone left us a Wii with two games. No name, only note said it was Three Kings Day. So we are the proud owners of a new Wii. Thank you, whoever you are. You have caused happiness and hours of family fun. Not to mention made us feel very, very loved.
3 comments:
I love that you got to celebrate Three Kings (we call it wise men's) day. Don't know who gave the gift but I'm glad it made your day.
For someone who is contemplating a marriage proposal right now, your post was refreshing. Happily ever after comes intermittently through hard work, sweat, and tears. That's my observation. The difference is knowing that it was right. I remember you were so happy...sooo happy. What a great couple you were and most likely are now because of the trials you've gone through (and most likely will go through). Ah...now those are the ties that bond. What great perspective you have.
Becca, this is Rachael from freshman year--Jolena sent me the link to your blog. Anyway, just thought I'd give you my two cents on the Disney thing--I let my children look at the books, but I won't read them the stories. I explained why, and left it at that. They do have some Disney dress-ups that grandparents have given them, but we don't watch the movies (we don't have a TV anyway).
Anyway, kind of random, but I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one who is irritated by the Disney message.
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