After Happily Ever After

I wanted to share some great images shot by Dina Goldstein. She calls them Fallen Princesses . They’re about a more realistic images of the Disney Princesses so popular these days. Right now my older daughter is obsessed with princesses, and has told us that they can’t make mistakes, and never get dirty. It’s a little disturbing. At the same time I remember a time when I was obsessed with princesses, in a way I connect it with a deep need to have an example to look up to. A hero, or in this case a hera that can do what they can’t.

I just keep sneaking in the occasional dirty princess or retelling of the tales, somewhere between Disney smarmy and Grimm doom. I really liked my latest retelling of Snow White. When Snow White is kicked out of the castle, she runs into the woods where she takes a job with 7 little men for room and board. And when the Wicked Step Mother comes after her with evil spells, the King, her daddy finds out, divorces the Wicked Step Mother, and comes after Snow White. When he sees her in her glass box, he picks her up and his tears thaw her and bring her back to life. I got a sniffle out of that one.

My favorite book for young girls who like princesses is _Princess Smartypants about a princess who likes her draconian pets better than princes and mucking stables in overalls better than fancy dresses. Honestly, I don’t really worry about it too much, she still loves her superman sheets too.