The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 8

[tinknme]

Sorry to hear about your leg, hope it feels better soon

While walking in Target today, I felt a little pop in my calf along with a stabbing pain. It literally took my breath away, and the friend that I was with thought that I had choked on my gum at first. I can't walk on it without pain, but it doesn't really hurt when I'm not walking. It doesn't give out or buckle, it just hurts. I am icing it now and keeping it elevated. At what point to I have to call the doctor? I am almost never sick or injured and all of a sudden three things in a row! Plus this isn't good for getting exercise!

 

[kc10family]

Here is an article that was in our local paper today. Science has now proven it's okay to be a princess!!!!

Bowing to the princesses


The princess is jumping on her bed, excited to receive commoners in her royal chamber.

She plops down after a few moments to graciously answer questions about her reign, starting with, "What is it that princesses do, exactly?"

Monet Cook, who is 3, answers with a wordless demonstration. She stands tall, head up, eyes sparkling, and gently smooths the pale-blue tulle outer skirt of her gown before she executes a perfect twirl.

Monet is a proud citizen of Princess Nation, the growing number of little girls who dream of balls and tiaras and scoop up the smartly marketed accoutrements of royal life.

Many parents wonder at their daughters' frilly fantasy life in an era when girls are told they can grow up to be everything and anything, from firefighter and soldier to secretary of state.

What's an egalitarian-minded parent to do: welcome the princess to the playroom, or dethrone her? Will girls who play princess grow up thinking all they need are the right glass slippers and gown as they wait to be rescued by a dashing prince?

Experts say parents don't have to raise the drawbridge to fend off the princess invasion. In fact, princess play can be empowering for little girls, especially if parents adopt a few strategies to guard against the damsels in distress who may try to sneak in.

Lenore Tate, Monet's faithful mother-in-waiting, has a doctorate in psychology, which may give her insights that make her happy to play along with her daughter's regal desires.

"I'm embracing it. First of all, they're little girls; I think it's OK for them to fantasize about all these things," she says. "I don't think it's going to turn our daughters into some kind of a dependent, helpless role. It's OK to be a lady and to wear a gown, as well as to play lacrosse."



Monet's bedroom in Natomas, Calif., is her own magic kingdom. The walls are painted "princess pink" and adorned with Disney princess stickers, and her closets are filled with enough gowns and crowns to outfit a dozen princesses.

"What's up with these princesses?" says Tate. "I don't know, but someone's making a lot of money."

Once upon a time, in 2001, Disney brought together its animated heroines and created a sisterhood of princesses. Among them are Ariel (aka the Little Mermaid), Jasmine, Pocahontas, Belle (a commoner made regal by her kindness to the Beast) and Mulan, along with the classic girls: Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.

Together, they sell billions of dollars' worth of products.

Last Halloween, princesses took over the holiday: 3.8 million kids planned to dress up as princesses, outranking all other characters for kids (and more than double the number of witches, who came in second), according to the National Retail Federation. The number of princesses had more than doubled from the year before.

For many generations, parents have lived happily ever after with a princess in the house.

"It's as pervasive as it was when little girls played Cleopatra in ancient Egypt," says Wendy Allen, a psychotherapist in the Santa Barbara, Calif., area who has taught human development at the graduate level.

Playing princess is developmentally appropriate for girls of about 3 or 4, she says. It's not usually a passive, rescue-me game but can actually help the very young to develop the ego and confidence they need to take care of themselves as they grow older.

"I think there is power in the princess games; there's a lot of 'Servant, get me this; Servant, get me that,'" she says. "I always tell parents not to worry."

Most children grow out of their tiaras, but there are some women who never abdicate.

"There are so many beautiful wives of rich men who live here, who don't have to work, who really have gotten a lot of good things handed to them because of how they look," Allen says. "That's great work if you can get it, but there are things you don't learn about without having to pull yourself up by your bootstraps."

Parents should recognize the dark side of the princess game, with its focus on beauty, says Susan Shapiro Barash, a professor of gender studies at Marymount Manhattan College in New York.

The problem with the princess game is that it can grow up into often ferocious and covert competition among women, says Barash, who wrote "Tripping the Prom Queen: The Truth About Women and Rivalry" (St. Martin's Press, $22.95, 274 pages).

"Men compete for what they do, but women compete for who they are, and when you compete for who you are, then the competition is endless," Barash says. "Women need to learn how to compete in healthy ways."

Parents might consider adding their own happily-empowered-ever-after epilogues to the princess stories their daughters love, says Mary-Lou Galician, head of media analysis and criticism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in Tempe.

Galician says she doesn't think much of the Disney princesses, save one: "I do like Mulan; she empowers herself."

Consider, in contrast, Cinderella. She lives with an abusive stepmother and stepsisters, and she just makes nice. Such a passive heroine awaiting rescue by a prince is not much of a role model.

The antidote--no fairy godmother required--is talking with your kids. For Cinderella's tale, Galician suggests parents could start a conversation with something along these lines: "If something happened to Mommy and Daddy, and you were being locked up in a cellar, what are some other things you could do, besides waiting around for a fairy godmother?"

In Monet's castle, Lenore Tate knows how to make the most of her time with the princess who rules her heart.

"While we're flipping the pages of her princess books, we'll talk about safety issues and self-esteem issues," she says. Snow White, for instance, could have avoided that poisoned apple.

"The seven dwarves were her best friends, and they said, 'Don't talk to strangers, and don't eat anything anyone gives you, and don't open the door.' She listened, but she didn't follow their advice and she got in trouble," Tate says.

She also reminds her daughter of the ways a princess needs to fulfill her destiny on her own before the royal wedding or coronation.

The message she returns to, time and again: "You won't be rescued; you will be equipped and empowered."

Thank you for sharing. I found it interesting.
Side note, I lived in Natomas for a while before I met Mark.

 

[lmartin2711]

Why? Wasn't there a feature where Zac pledges his love to you?

Amy

Amy!!!! The Donald Duck in you just pops in and out doesn't it!!!

 

[lmartin2711]

Good Night to everyone. Talk to ya in the morning.

Lynn

 

[babytrees]

Why? Wasn't there a feature where Zac pledges his love to you?

Amy

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Happy Birthday Jonathon!

Kate-i actually didnt watch AI tonight since i was watching the country awards, but if i were to vote i guess i would pick taylor--chris was my favorite so im not worrying about voting tonight! I saw carrie underwood start crying-very sweet!
although my favorite is keith urban!

 

[kc10family]

Off to put the girls in bed. A little PD please that Bethie doesn’t get up as many times as she did last night. After about 2 a.m. I just put her in bed with me. WOW it is time for a Monster drink . I need to make it a few more hours.

 

[tinknme]

Ok you both look like you are loving this ride, I would be looking like the guy in front of you

 

[julia & nicks mom]

damn Amy - you figured me out!!!!!

Actually - the dance along version is not on it - there was only the dance moves to Bop to the Top -

and we deleted our dance along last week!! I hope someday they replay it on TV!!!

 

[tinknme]

Happy 18th birthday to your ds! I think he looks just like you

Well, my oldest turned 18 today!!

 

[my3princes]

Hello, all! Well, the doctor concluded that I was having an allergic reaction to the Bactrim and told me to make sure that I wasn't prescribed sulfa drugs in the future. He called in a prescription for Cipro. The UTI symptoms are basically gone, my mouth is clearing up, and no more GI problems. Now I have a new problem that I'm hoping some of you medical types can reassure me about. While walking in Target today, I felt a little pop in my calf along with a stabbing pain. It literally took my breath away, and the friend that I was with thought that I had choked on my gum at first. I can't walk on it without pain, but it doesn't really hurt when I'm not walking. It doesn't give out or buckle, it just hurts. I am icing it now and keeping it elevated. At what point to I have to call the doctor? I am almost never sick or injured and all of a sudden three things in a row! Plus this isn't good for getting exercise!

Amy--Alyssa is adorable! I'm glad that Libby is better. I'm glad that a couple of people saw the house, and I definitely think that the realtor upset the cat.

Kate, Tammi, and Kristin--keep the stories and photos coming! I love to hear all about the trip.

Marti, Paul, and Matthew--WELCOME BACK (I think it's today)! I want to hear all about your trip, too. May is my favorite time to go to WDW.

I won't be able to go to DL or WDW in 2007 unless I win the lottery. I'll live vicariously through those that are able to go.

Paula--are you sure that you don't need an SSP confidante? I promise I can keep a secret!

Denise--that is so sweet of the church members to have a prayer shawl for Rees. Add our prayers into it! And a little , too. I hope that you get relief from your sinus infection very quickly.

to all those that need it!

Beth

Beth it could be a tendon issue. I've heard they can make a loud pop when they snap. You might want to get it looked at. Hopefully it is nothing serious.

Deb

 

[tink2020]

Well, considering that I recorded it on our DVR in January and still haven't watched it, no...

Amy

Yeah, we're in the same boat

 

[tinknme]

Thanks! Looks like I will miss it.

The marathon starts on Saturday the 6th.

 

[tinknme]

Paula I hope Bethie is feeling better & you both can get some rest No monster drinks for you

Off to put the girls in bed. A little PD please that Bethie doesn’t get up as many times as she did last night. After about 2 a.m. I just put her in bed with me. WOW it is time for a Monster drink . I need to make it a few more hours.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I need to take better notes.

Paula hope Bethie does better tonight and that its nothing too serious.

Beth, get thee to a doctor.

No I did not buy high school musical, not my type of show.

 

[my3princes]

Happy birthday Jonathan.
Denise we will always be here for you.

Deb

 

[babytrees]

Paula-

Hope Bethie feels better soon so you can enjoy your DH and the party!!

Don't forget to take pic's of yourself so I can see the oxymoron: hot military chick!!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Paula​

THANKS FOR THE PIXIE DUST!!!​

I realized I have not given you a proper thank you for the pillowcases!!!!!!! We loved them and it was so nice of you to think of us!!!! We were all excited to get them and then when I got home my kids LOVED them too!!!!

I think you are on the verge of getting a new royal title!!!!

 

[UP Disney]

Kate, I sent you two pm's while you were gone. The most recent one of them is important to make sure you see by tomorrow so wanted to let you know about it.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

No I did not buy high school musical, not my type of show.

and I thought we were friends!!!!!!!!!