tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637299678197896762.post8633587769249796269..comments2023-09-24T09:08:50.636-07:00Comments on Finding What I Am Looking For: To Princess or Not to Princess...pippasmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386184818117314750noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637299678197896762.post-66042632424375568002011-02-18T03:38:52.995-08:002011-02-18T03:38:52.995-08:00I hate the Disney storybooks... our library has a ...I hate the Disney storybooks... our library has a copy of Cinderella (how Pk found it in the fiction section since we are always in the picture book section) and she always wants to take it out. She can tell you that "mummy doesn't like that one". I will have to check out your link, that would be great to see!pippasmumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07386184818117314750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637299678197896762.post-14074972809546820292011-02-17T22:01:36.268-08:002011-02-17T22:01:36.268-08:00I am honestly grossed out by the Disney marketing ...I am honestly grossed out by the Disney marketing machine, too, and resist it heartily, knowing that it's way out there and that she has/will have some of it despite my opinions. My thoughts? <br /><br />- there will be people who buy it for your kid, no matter you opinion. i don't ban it or throw it out, but I'm certainly not buying into it myself. Instead, I buy other fun girly stuff, dressup clothes that are princessy without being branded, etc. <br /><br />- I have given her the movie and doll of Mulan this year, though, who is not so princessy, and is a pretty tough little lady - she's her favourite anyhow, which is heartening, but took some wandering through the pinker regions of princessdom to get there<br /><br />- I refuse to read the Disney versions of fairy tales, which are of poor quality anyhow, so I tell her my own versions, edited and editorialized to offset the parts of those stories that annoy me - not only the princess' focus on appearance, but also the instant love with the prince thing which, ugh. (Mine always get to know each other and enjoy each other's company and EVENTUALLY get married down the road. I know, I'm an idiot.)<br /><br />- Luckily, most princess stories have some scary adversaries in them, so Ppie is not prepared to watch all the way through all the time. <br /><br />- I also like to give other options, so her imaginary play and dressup bin includes a bit of princessy stuff, but also cowboy, contractor, firefighter, ballerina, pirate, animals, etc. outfits and a host of tools for cooking, doctoring, building, and so on, too. Princesses can be *one* option among many, and yes, it will be the focus for a while, but once she's done with being three, it will calm back down. It's age-appropriate, much as it makes a more broad-minded mom's heart quail. <br /><br />- read some different princess stories! Here's some ideas: http://kittenpiespicks.blogspot.com/2008/06/princesses-with-less-pink.htmlkittenpiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05215443551546036909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637299678197896762.post-13519346850051338132011-02-16T12:22:57.308-08:002011-02-16T12:22:57.308-08:00I think that for us, Disney represents something, ...I think that for us, Disney represents something, a kind of mass-marketing to children that we just aren't into. If we were going to spend that kind of money on a trip, there are other things that appeal to us more. I don't know why I have this prejudice (actually, if you knew my father, you probably would know why - to him, Disney represents the evils of the capitalist world in terms of a lack of compassion - how can we spend so much on needless luxury when so much of the world is starving). I am not as extreme as Dad and I can see the fun in letting go for a bit but for some reason, a giant amusement park just doesn't do it for me. I will admit, though, to be surprised when I spoke to friends who just got back as to how much more there is to it than rides...pippasmumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07386184818117314750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637299678197896762.post-22633419137008768932011-02-16T11:39:28.629-08:002011-02-16T11:39:28.629-08:00I'm not against going to Disney some day - I w...I'm not against going to Disney some day - I went twice and loved it. But I was in middle school and high school and my memories of it are clear. I think it's a waste of money to take such young kids. I would much prefer to spend that kind of money and show my girls the world - take them to meet a Compassion child we sponsor and do something meaningful. I have no doubt my girls would love Disney - it's just not the way I want to raise them.Jill Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919221814694982320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637299678197896762.post-17590639063092791032011-02-16T08:35:10.362-08:002011-02-16T08:35:10.362-08:00Thanks, Jill. I value your opinion and I hoped yo...Thanks, Jill. I value your opinion and I hoped you would chime in. I've wondered about the Gigi stuff.<br /><br />One reason I know that I have married the right man is that when it was raised in the extended family that we should do a big family trip to Disney in Florida, I thought he was going to be sick. Poor Pk will be missing out on what seems, at least around here, to be the trip to Disney that is essential to childhood.pippasmumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07386184818117314750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637299678197896762.post-58999186774760815482011-02-16T07:31:38.110-08:002011-02-16T07:31:38.110-08:00Well I'm not sure I've put as much thought...Well I'm not sure I've put as much thought into it as you have, but we have the same struggle here with our youngest. We have decided to allow them in moderation. Kayleigh has a collection of "dolls" (the small ones you can buy in check out lines) and dress-up dresses. We also have some books we found at Goodwill. And honestly, those are her favorite books and her most prized possessions and she plays with them daily. Yesterday both girls built "forts" in their room for their toys. Sydney used science books and dinosaurs....Kayleigh used princess books and princesses. Sometimes I look at the princesses and books and wonder why I bought them in the first place, but I see that Kay loves them and plays with them and it seems innocent at this point.<br /><br />We have drawn the line at Disney themed bedding, backpacks, pajamas, etc. I don't even like for her to wear shirts that say "princess". <br /><br />To balance out the Disney monster we have other "Christian" princess things...."A Little Princess in the Making" by Emilie Barnes is a wonderful book about manners. We have a couple of the Gigi dvds (by Sheila Walsh), but I'm not a big fan. I find Gigi to be whiny.<br /><br />We have also watched most of the Disney movies with her, but don't own any so she can't watch them over and over. We fast forward through the scary parts.<br /><br />So far our girls don't know Disney World exists and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible. We certainly aren't going to spend thousands of dollars any time soon to meet the princesses!Jill Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919221814694982320noreply@blogger.com