Parenting A Princess
- Author Rachelle Salinger
- Published August 17, 2010
- Word count 555
When a daughter is born, it feels like the most precious gift you can imagine has just been given to you. Her delicate little hands, her tiny arms and legs, her scrunched up face looking up at you can inspire feelings of complete bliss - and utter panic at the same time. Above all else though you will probably intuitively know that while parenting her is not always going to be easy, there is no denying that this little bundle of joy is now and forever your little princess.
And beginning almost immediately, she is showered with baby gifts worthy of a princess’s favor. Nowadays, with all the hype about princess products, she’s likely to wind up with princess baby bottles, princess baby blankets, princess hair clips, and almost anything princess you can think of, in different shades of pink.
While most of us think nothing of this phenomenon (some of us even think it’s adorable), some would argue that this so-called "princess parenting" is detrimental to a child. Some people actually believe that parents who allow their daughters to enjoy a "princess pretend-world" might actually be raising narcissistic little divas, and that these girls might grow up expecting the world to revolve around them!
Regardless of how you or anyone else feels, the "princess industry" has been booming continuously in the past few years. Retailers are cashing in on the hype, offering a whole range of products for girls with princess references. In truth, it is hard to find a little girl without at least one princess outfit complete with matching sparkly shoes and hair accessories.
Perhaps this is because mothers who were lavished with princess baby gifts when they were young, managed to grow up as sensible, responsible, successful women, and want the same kind of experience for their own daughters. Or perhaps it’s the exact opposite: mothers who grew up less privileged want their own daughters to have the kind of fun that they missed.
Whatever the reason, most mothers agree that all this royal role-playing is about giving their daughters confidence in themselves, realizing their value as unique individuals, and celebrating femininity. Or, at the very least, this is what they hope to achieve. "So what if I put a little princess hair clip on my baby? It just means that I see her as the fairest of them all. I want her to know how special she is inside and out. Hopefully, when she grows up, she’ll never feel otherwise."
Naturally, guidance and moderation are key. There is merit in conservative parenting, lest we spoil our children rotten (although blaming narcissistic tendencies on glittery hair accessories would be stretching it!) In the end, it’s the parents who are in a unique position of influence, and we should always be mindful that it’s as easy to condescend to a child as it is to nurture her ego.
Personally, I don’t think indulging in a few princess baby gifts is such a terrible thing. All the frilly dresses and fancy hair accessories don’t magically transform a child into a self-absorbed, self-obsessed diva. However, we parents can accomplish that if we are not careful to allow fantasy and reality to play equally important roles in the care of our child’s sense of self.
Rachelle writes for No Slippy Hair Clippy, purveyor of the finest (and first!) non-clip hair accessories for girls of all ages. These award-winning products are designed and manufactured in the United States using only the highest quality materials, featuring the finest craftsmanship and offering fun and unique styles.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Introducing Numbers and Letters to Young Children
- When Is It Safe to Take Newborns Outside?
- How Discussing Asperger's Syndrome with My Child Improved His Growth and Empowerment
- The Impact of Maternal Narcissism: Healing Wounds from Childhood
- Parenting Made Easier: 10 Practical Tips and Life Hacks
- What Is Play Based Learning
- 6 Ways to Actively Engage in Your Child's Learning Journey
- Mindful Parenting: Cultivating Emotional Intelligence In Children
- Tears in the operating room: A father’s tale of hope and courage.
- Tonies – Meet The Parenting Hack!
- How to Safely Clean and Maintain Wooden Toys
- Ways to Enjoy Quality Time with Your Family
- "How do I get a loved one in treatment?" A Guide to Supporting Their Journey to Recovery.
- Parenting Influence on the Child’s Mental Health
- The importance of multivitamins in pregnancy
- The many benefits of reading with children at bedtime
- TIME MANAGEMENT FOR BUSY PARENTS
- Could Using a Professional Sleep Trainer Help You and Your Child?
- 23 WISE WORDS FROM A FATHER TO A SON ABOUT MARRIAGE
- Firsthand Experience of Shopping Secondhand For Babies
- Mom: How to Break Out of Your Cell Phone Addiction
- Protect Your Children, Family and Yourself
- Why Arts and Crafts are Important for Kids
- How does a newborn baby recognize their mother?
- Journaling Every day Can Only Be Good For You!
- Choosing the Right Parenting Product to Discipline Your Child
- "COMPARISON BETWEEN CHILDREN" - A true 'CURSE' to our society now-a-days.
- What Are the Signs That Your Teen Is Into Porn?
- Your Toddler is Not Your Enemy
- My Father, My Mother, and More