I swear I have an elf for a daughter.
Not a Lord of the Rings elf, eternal and wise and effervescent.
But a St. Patty’s day, leprechaun-ish, causing no end of mischief kind of elf.
I mean, look at her ears.
It used to be that whenever Julianna screamed, Alex got yelled at. I would always find him taking something away from her, pinning her down, grinding her face into the carpet—you know. Typical sibling stuff. But these days, it’s more likely to be Julianna screaming because she’s trying to take something from Alex, and Alex won’t give in. Or because her empty stroller got hung up on a power cord, and she’s mad.
Saturday morning, I nursed Nicholas, rested him on my shoulder, and went down the hall to the little ones’ bedroom to put him to bed. And found myself facing a locked door. No, I didn’t say “closed,” I said “locked.” With my three-year-old on the other side, pulling cloth diapers out of drawers.
Three days before Julianna started school, we went to Target to buy a backpack. When Christian saw what we brought home, he looked at me askance. “But you can’t stand Tinkerbell,” he said.
“I know,” I said, “but it was Tinkerbell or Disney Princesses, and I can’t stand them either. I let her pick. And anyway,” I said, “look at this face.”
“Tinkerbell is cute as a button and a real pain in the you-know what. She’s charming, she’s a flirt, she has an attitude problem, she’s a diva, and she likes to get people in trouble. I mean…it’s kind of appropriate, don’t you think?”
Kathleen M. Basi 
Ha! I love your summary of Tinkerbell! I was just talking to my husband last night about how I hate the princesses and how I wondered if we’d be able to avoid them at all if we have a daughter… This followed a conversation with a friend who was telling me that her six-year-old daughter was ‘boy crazy.’ We talked about TV/books/movies and realized that from a very early age girls are taught all about meeting their prince and falling in love, whereas all the shows my son watches are based on situations rather than relationships. I’m sure we’re not the first to figure this out, but we were fascinated nonetheless!
She sounds like a bundle of beautiful stress.
I teach flute to a teenager whose family doesn’t watch Disney princess movies for that reason. I don’t object to the movies–just the marketing campaign. Did you know they even make Disney Princess TVs? I have sworn that no child of mine will ever wear what I call an “attitude” piece of clothing–you know, the ones that say, “I’m the center of the universe.” “Absolutely perfect.” And as a title, “Princess” is top of that list.
It can all be handled with moderation, though. Girls will be girls and they are going to like what comes naturally to them. Emma thinks that Disney Princesses are the same as Barbies and could care less what movie they are from. She just likes the sparkles and frills. I’m certain I hate Barbies more than Disney princesses, but as long as it’s healthy play and we aren’t fixated on brands or inappropriate behaviors I’m fine with it.
I agree about the attitude clothes, though…I especially hate “Princess” and the ones with stuff written on the butt. Seriously. Why would I want someone looking at my daughter’s butt?
Yeah, it can be done moderately, and I’m sure we’ll go that route…for now, I’m just putting it off as long as possible.
Actually, she really likes to play Batman with her brother, too.
Can they come play Batman with Alex so I don’t have to? 🙂
They play some weird “Batman goes to the petshop” version. Whatever…as long as their not fighting and I don’t have to do it 🙂
lol yes and she certainly does love it to doesn’t she. WE love tinkerbell here.
Your little elf is a whole lot of ADORABLE.
Thanks for commenting on my post today!
Ain’t she, though? 🙂