Pretty Pretty Princess

Sofia the First

Princesses, or Princesas, as Addie Jo knows them, have captured the imagination and hearts of little girls for ages.  I remember growing up with BOTH a love of being active by playing sports in the yard AND a love of all things princess related (I'm not sure if She-Ra was a typical princess back in the 80s, but I emulated her and believed that I literally turned into her one Christmas morning when I put on the She-Ra outfit I got from Santa).

Then, the next winter, we were fortunate enough to go to Disney World when I was 6.  After years of watching home videos from that trip, I was reminded that I did actually enjoy so many other parts of the park, but the most vivid magical memory I have was meeting Cinderella and seeing her outside the castle.  I took it soooooo seriously, as the home video shows, ;) but I probably walked on air for the rest of the vacation, believing I had met a REAL princess!

Cinderella Doll from Addie's friend, Libby

Sitting with Cinderella

Then, of course, I loved the the rest of the princesses that came out in the 90s - Ariel, Belle, Pocohantas, and Mulan, along with the original 3 - Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora.  Even though I was probably too old to watch the movies, since I was in high school for some of their releases, I had younger sisters who I could watch them with.  And I loved it!  (ps - I wasn't such a girlie-girl, like it might seem, and actually lived for the competitive high school games I had trained all summer and season for - me competitive?! yea, yea...).  Even though it was silly, my sisters and mom and I would always talk about their dresses and hair and debate which one we liked the best.  But there was something so magical in them that yet somehow seemed attainable to us.

Then, this past December, Addie got one of her 3 bad colds she's had this winter while we were 7 hours away visiting Bill's family in Michigan.  She was so miserable that she couldn't do much, other than let us "hear about it" in the car - poor thing.  So LUCKILY the Disney Junior app had Sofia the First streaming for her to watch on my phone.  She was used to watching Casa de Mickey Mouse, as Bill calls it, before her morning nap with bottle routine, BUT this show was on a whole other level for her!  We couldn't believe how much she loved (and still loves) it and how she was so transfixed that she didn't move or make a sound for the hour long movie (we let her watch it twice both there and back - we were desperate)! 

Addie Jo opening princesses for the castle she got for Christmas

All the princesses must fit in the same spot!

So pleased with herself!

Little People Princess Palace Link

So why is it that most young girls (errr, and not so young) are SO into princesses things?  It comes down to something I don't think about a lot, but have been reminded of recently by my sister Janet and the team at Verily - that all women desire Beauty.  

It's something we all are naturally drawn to, whether we are conscious of it or not.  Of course beautiful things like dresses, make-up, hairstyles, nails, jewelry, shoes, and bags come to mind - who doesn't "oooo" and "aaaa" over a bride on her wedding day?  But then most of us are even more drawn to beautiful people who posses virtue, honesty, modesty, grace, and kindness (all of the things Princess Sofia has).  Even thinking about the princesses I grew up with like Cinderella and Belle - they seemed so beautiful to me because they stood out from the rest of the characters in their stories.  It is because of their kindness to others and willingness to do the right thing that is so appealing to all ages - and even attainable.

So even though I definitely won't win mom of the year for letting my then 11 month old and now almost 13 month old watch that much Sofia, I do hope she someday emulates the good qualities of a princess... even if she decides to spend most of her time on the court.

*Disclaimer - I am in no way "endorsing" all things Disney Channel OR iPhone, for that matter * ;)