We’ve entered a phase I never thought possible (especially for a girl whose life revolved around trains): the princess period. If you have a daughter, you may be familiar with it. It involves (but is not limited to) any of the following: costumes that fall apart after one wearing, chirping birds, and fantasy balls. The whole deal. The real deal.
I’m not particularly keen on Princesses. The plot in (most) of these movies and books revolves around marriage, finding a prince, and pouting over a lack of beautiful dresses. Not things I necessarily want Peanut to aspire to, particularly throughout her early years. More often than not I find myself chasing her with a toy stethoscope, insisting she can be a “princess doctor” (she’s bought it, by the way).
That being said, I do understand the appeal of something beautiful. And I’m mostly chalking this up to being something many girls go through. I’m accepting it, and tempering it all with as much positive imagery as possible.
So nearly every day, Peanut dons a scratchy blue dress and insists on being referred to as “Cinderella” (blue’s still her favorite color). And nearly every day, we shed said dress before leaving the house.
Then last week, we were walking to pre-school. Peanut skipped ahead of me, stopping only occasionally to ask for a drink. “Need my super powers,” she said, intently, sipping from her water bottle.
I can deal with Princesses, I thought.
As long as they’re wearing metaphorical capes.
The emphasis on being passive and pretty and lack of agency (I could go on forever about this) is difficult for me to swallow. We too deal with it by talking about being a princess (if she must) that “DOES SOMETHING”! Can you tell I just yelled that? My big girl often wears a superhero cape with a princess costume- and yes it does make being a princess so much better.
It sounds like you’re doing a great job of rounding out her princess theories. I adore that she’s adding a cape to frills!! I’ve seen two of these posts this morning from moms of just over threes. Should I be scared of what’s to come??
Oh yes, the perfect combination is a princess who can save herself!
Love it! Up next- Peanut, the Princess Paleontologist
We got about 6 different princess dresses in the dress-up bucket. I even bough most of ‘em, ’cause there’s nothing easier than being a princess or a fairy (the dresses are very similar, but shorter) at the last minute at Halloween. My girls are 6 now, and they are mostly past the princess phase. And the dress-up phase, now that I think about it. Hmmm. Maybe that bucket of costumes will quietly disappear……
i have two boys, but have watched many friends with little girls endure this phase.
i seem to remember a book called “the paper bag princess” (found it on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Paper-Princess-Classic-Munsch/dp/0920236162/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337353015&sr=1-1) that was a princess kicking some dragon butt, you know, nicely. 
good luck, mama! maybe your girl would be interested in a super hero cape on top of the Cinderella dress.
Love this! I have two girls and can totally relate. My oldest is moving out of her princess phase (just turned 6) while my youngest is just getting started. You should check out the book, Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein and the Positive Princess Project (just google it!) Both of these have really helped me understand the princess craze and have given me some really good ideas. Good luck! It definitely won’t last forever