A Princess with a House on her Head

Olive walks into the kitchen in her skivvies and announces: "I have Cinderella underwear!"

"Who's Cinderella?" I ask, as I glance at Nick.  She didn't meet Cinderella at home. Must have been preschool.

"A princess who lives in a castle." Olive says, as if I should know, and of course I do. I know all about Cinderella. But I don't tell Olive this.

I don't tell Olive I once spent hours dancing around my room with a broom pining for a ball. That my friends and I took turns playing the fairy godmother and evil stepsisters, the Prince, and the oh-so-coveted princess. That I knew the words to every song on my Cinderella 45.

Work work work, I try not to complain...sweeping, dusting, cooking, scrubbing, every days the same...

Instead I ask: "Is she smart?"

"Yep."

"Does she play hockey?" Nick asks.

"No," Olive laughs. "She's a girl."

"Girls play hockey." Nick and I say together.

"Your Mom plays hockey."

"Yeah, I play hockey."

Olive gives me a cocked smile. "But you're a grown up."

"Girls can play hockey too."

"Your cousin Tess plays hockey." Nick adds.

"Huh?"

"Yeah." I say. "Princesses can play hockey."

"Look at my spin!" Olive holds her arms out and twirls.

In October, when she told me she wanted to be a princess for Halloween, I asked her: What do princesses do?

Her response: Spin.

I smile. "So, is Cinderella strong?"

Olive plants her feet. "Yep!" She puffs her chest and reaches her arms into the air, her little hands balled in fists. "She can lift whole houses."

"Good."

"And monsters!"

Even better.

Comments

[Mom and Dad]

Christmas is going to be fun with Olivia and Chance together. Too kids with a lot of character!!

[fleming]

I had an issue with Barbie when my little girl came along because she just loved playing with them. When I realized the amazing "imaginative play" that was going on when sometimes Barbie was a frazzled mom and other times she was a super hero with a cape, I realized that it was my issue to deal with and had nothing to do with my daughter. In fact sometimes I even "use" Barbie in role play to figure out how my daughter is feeling about something. It is truly stunning what our children can teach us.

[Christy]

Love this perspective Fleming. I just keep trying to recreate what a princess can do so if Olive wants to be one at least she can do more than spin:) i will remember your words when Barbie comes into her life.