What a Girl Wants

This story is close to my heart. I've talked before about the duality of princesses and the struggle I've had with Disney and the role models it's presenting to my children.

And I've talked before about how I fret about trying it instill a sense of self-fulfillment vs. being "made complete only by a prince who sweeps me off my feet and saves me from certain misery if left to my own devices".

And I've mentioned many times the concerns I have about the mega-exploitative vermin that I believe Disney to be.

But the truth is this: little girls love frilly dresses and tiaras. They feel emboldened, beautiful and special when they lift their imagination to delve into the world of a princess. They begin to form their own sense of worth by modeling the happiness they see in a fantasy world.

My girls, in particular, LOVE princesses. They love playing with the princess dolls, watching the princess movies, dressing up like the princesses for Halloween or a rainy day...and it doesn't matter to me that they do. I gave in long ago, and we've enjoyed countless hours of princess-filled days ever since. In fact, now I'm sad to see that they're beginning to grow out of it.

So, like, whatever.

The long and the short of it is that it's up to me to ensure that my children understand the fantasy vs. the reality. I've been known to edit the storylines (a lot, actually) to do that. We just have to balance whatever princess messages they're getting with those of strong, independent, self-confident women and give them plenty of those models.

And if they want to pretend they're Cinderella for an afternoon, I'm all for it.

I've been known to daydream about having a princess's life every now and then myself.

Shake Your Booty

It's long been theorized that men are the "hunter/gatherers" while women take on the nuturer/caregiver roles in society. Neanderthal gender roles. Basic instinct. Genetic predisposition. blah blah.

But right in the face of all of that academic and historic dribble, I beg to differ. In fact, I've got scientifically solid (albeit anecdotal) evidence to the contrary.

You see, women, not men, search out their prized possessions like prey, exploring possibilities from store to store/catalogue to catalogue/web site to web site in a provocative and ruthless way, exercising all means of savvy and ploy in order to secure the very best for themselves. We will research, browse, gossip and supershop for an object with the scrutiny and tenacity of the fiercest lioness.

Then, we hold up this juicy prize for the entire pack to drool over before explaining--quite reflexively--that we were able to conquer the much desired, tenderest of beast for a mere drip of blood (i.e. ten bucks! on clearance!).

Anyone who has ever sat down to a table full of women and witnessed the spontaneous mutual admiration exchanges over the new shirt/haircut/shoes, followed by the inevitable declaration of where/when/how much, knows exactly what I'm talking about.

It's known as the "Target. $12! Theory of Evolution."

Don't believe me? Test it out....pay a compliment...just one compliment...to a woman on something she's wearing/carrying/walking in, and I guarantee she will immediately respond by thanking you and providing exacting details about where she bought it, how much it cost and the circumstances under which she was able to achieve such foraging excellence.

This knee-jerk reaction no doubt has its roots in the modern woman's constant battle with feelings of worth and the guilt associated with spending money on something for herself, rather than on her offspring.

That's crap, of course. We are worth it.

And we shouldn't feel the need to apologize (or rationalize dollar for dollar) for it. But it's a defense mechanism that has nonetheless nestled its way into the very fabric of our lives.

We do hunt and gather, baby. Those male types got nothin' on us when there's a red dot sale at Loehmann's.

It's just that we simply have to find a way to stop ourselves from constantly rationalizing the booty.

Is There Something I Should Know

This is a great list of somewhat obvious but nevertheless valuable, popular books put out over the last 25 years or so.

I'm embarassed to say that I'm still "planning to get to that" on many. It's a decent motivation to keep chipping away....after I indulge my Jennifer Weiner appetite, of course.

There are a lot of holes here, but for the pure sake of cocktail party conversation, I should really know a little something about each of these.

Seasons in the Sun

As if we needed something else to depress the hell out of my family, we've gone from flip-flops to snow boots over the past 4 days.

I realize much of the country is having a similiarly weather-confused spring, but Michigan is just freaking ridiculous. Within one day, we will have 3 seasons...routinely.

What's a girl to do as she debates her outfit for the day? I'm literally bouncing between closets and layers and fabrics as if flying from coast to coast on vacation. Except, without the benefit of gaining airline miles. Or strawberry colodas, even.

In other news, I've now killed the 2nd of two iPod shuffles by premature ejectulation. Workouts are exponentially more difficult if I can't have my Jet or Killers tunes raging in the background. I haven't given up all hope, but the technical issues are a supreme buzz kill.

Kids in America

This is American culture.

You've just got to be proud.

More than 80,000 people paid money to see this (at Ford Field, where the Lions play, which means this was a record-breaker for attendance).

I feel there is so much to say about this, but perhaps it best speaks for itself.