I never had sympathy for those parents who blamed "the school" or "the other kids" for their children's behavior. Surely parents had more control over their children than their peers did, at least until adolescence began. And when a parent would assert that little Johnny had never kicked anyone before entering my first grade classroom, I would grind my teeth together, secretly blaming Johnny's kicking on his father's rumored drug use. Sure my classroom was purely a force for good, I was thrilled to find a preschool with a similar philosophy.
And then Ironflower actually went to preschool.
It's not that she became aggressive. If anything, her behavior got better. But my smugness lessened when she began talking about the Disney princesses. Up until then, she had played princess like she had played other imaginary games. "Princess" was a character like "doctor" or "paleontologist". Then she learned about Cinderella. And Ariel. And Sleeping Beauty. And Belle. And. . . . .now it's become an obsession. Just like it is for every other girl in her class. A not very imaginative obsession, at that.
And it's not like the Princesses send out a great message. In fact, I despise the whole idea of The Little Mermaid (think about it, she gives up her VOICE for a cute boy. If that ain't a metaphor for a tragic female adolescence. . .). But they're all over my house anyway. Because I didn't want her to be an outcast.
At least Lovebug discovered Thomas before he discovered school. At least I know it's his passion. Because I'm not so sure about Ironflower and her princesses sometimes. Of course, that could be wishful thinking.
(During this writing, ChunkyMonkey managed to army crawl all the way across the family room to get to his brother's Lego train. I see more Thomas crap in my future.)
Anyway, I feel like such a sell out. I never intended to purchase all this character crap. Of course, we also weren't going to watch TV and we were only going to eat organic.
Note to self: Stop making parenting pledges ahead of time.
13 comments:
I'm a Disney geek, so I'd be cheering on her new found good taste. :-D Although, I do agree about Little Mermaid. Never could stand the movie, and always felt more or less the same "But, if I become human, I'll never be with my father and sisters again!". Yes dear, give up your family, friends, and, as you said, your voice in exchange for a CHANCE at winning Mr. Hot Prince whom (who?) you've never even talked to. Gah! So stereotypically teen.
It's not even like she was eyeing up his crown, either. Not moving up in the world, except literally, since she was already a princess!
Parenting pledges get flushed pretty quick once the sleepless nights take their toll on our over stressed brains.
I swore no Barbie would pass through my doors, as Barbie is after all the Anti-Christ. A friend, or maybe not, gave Giggles her first Barbie on her 4th Birthday and that was it, Barbie obsession. 24/7, barbiebarbiebarbiebarbie. Gack.
And then one day, the fresh wind blew, and Barbi was relegated to the bottom of the toy chest for art supplies. I was saved.
The princess overload shall pass and one day you will breathe again.
hopefully.
Parenting pledges are the pits. I make no pledges whatsoever.
I feel exactly the same way - I vow to not buy any pricess crap for my Isabel. But then I might fall into the same exact trap you did. At least I can postpone it since she's only 7 months - her biggest concern is trying to fit her foot in her mouth.
I hear you. Nora's just started the whole "princess" semi-obsession and it makes me want to buy her toy dump trucks and paint her room blue. I HATE PRINCESSES.
oh, those "my kids will never..." ugh! I learned not to make those either...of course, only after my kids did exactly what I said we would never do!!!
I HATE all the licensed character stuff. ESPECIALLY on clothing. That is the one place I put my foot down. If I have to trip over it all day long on my floors, I'm certainly not going to start dressing my children in the crap as well. Gah. Hate.
First time on your blog.. well children do show different behaviors when they go to school but your are right, most of the onus does lie on parenting and not schools.
It's funny, because part of why I said I'd never buy my kids licensed character clothing was because when I was growing up, I think some of that stuff was more expensive than the plain stuff. Nowadays, at a place like Target, sometimes the character stuff is cheaper or the same, so that was a parenting surprise! I have just been trying to encourage Cars stuff lately because McQueen is on the PullUps :) and a mathbox-sized Lightning McQueen can keep Craig quiet and happy for HOURS.
Follow-up -- gave Craig a new coloring book while at the grocery store this a.m. Has all different fairy tails and stories, and at some point he looks at a character in a dress and says, Ooooh, a princess. CLEARLY MOMMY NEVER WEARS A DRESS :) And neither do any of the other women he knows in real life, I guess. Ha! Had to mention it.
O ya those parent pledges. Those get me is such a ruffle sometimes. The old saying think before you speak man does that bit me in the ass... I feel ya
LOL - I'm with you on the parenting pledges! I think we should stop being perfect and settle for being good, and then work at improving without obsessing. Now if I could only follow my own advice, I'd be golden.
Amen cuz. She is still a bit to young but maybe she will eventually get into for Buffy or Charlies Angels (tv show not the movie) or maybe even Wonder Woman? A princes still, but she's not thinking about no Prince. Do little girls now days even know who Wonder Woman is?
I think what annoys me about some of the Disney characters is their faux feminism. They talk tough and act independent but at the end of the day their actions are still defined by some dude who may or may not live happily ever after with her. Voice? Shmoice! I need a MAN! sigh
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