Self-sufficient, smart, daring, brave and bold–would you be okay if these were the adjectives that described your daughter?

Do you want to teach her how to overcome trials and tribulations, and that she can be triumphant over big AND small obstacles?

Then why do Princesses get so much flack?

Recently I’ve read a few posts that have just made my skin crawl with their animosity towards Disney, or the word “princess” in general. I am an Eighties Babe and I remember well the sing-along-songs like, “Tale as Old as Time….” that I hummed, all the while I was playing tractors and getting muddy with my older brother. I played dress-up for hours and there is a home video of me at two-years old exclaiming, “I’m GARGEOUS!” Should my parents have panicked that their toddler displayed some self-confidence, that I felt ‘pretty’ in pink tutus or high heeled shoes? I watched Beauty and the Beast on repeat. I found strength in Belle’s free-thinking character, her bravery that was nothing short of admirable, her courage that ultimately restored the Beast’s kingdom. I loved Disney princesses and WARNING: I still turned out okay.

Last Saturday we had morning cartoons on. I was cleaning up dishes and the kids were quietly playing with toys on the living room floor. The TV volume was turned down low, but suddenly I heard upbeat music bursting from the speakers. I tiptoed to where they stood; my son and daughter were swaying back and forth and exclaimed, “Ooohhhh I like this one!” Before my eyes played a collection of Disney Princess movies, and the narrator saying: “For every girl who dreams BIG, there’s a Princess out there…” Across the screen rolled Rapunzel from Tangled and a young girl climbing a rope, Merida from Brave and a young girl shooting a bow and arrow, along with many other real-life Princess comparisons. The Script’s “You Can Be the Greatest” playing in the background made me tear up as I watched not only my daughter, but my son dance to the promise: “Be believers, be leaders, be astronauts, be champions…”

It ended and my toddlers clapped. My son went back to his Lego tower and my daughter continued to twirl around: “Dream big, Princess,” I laughed. A Princess isn’t weak! She doesn’t have to be a damsel in distress. She isn’t flighty or stupid. The word doesn’t have to be stereotyped with pink fluff and someone who stares at herself in a mirror all day long. It may have been a while since you’ve watched any Princess movies, maybe you haven’t seen any of them at all. Here’s a refresher:

Cinderella: she was treated like crud by a cruel and unloving stepmother. Her stepsisters were, um.. well, there’s a word for girls like that–YET, she maintained a seriously upbeat demeanor and spent her days choosing joy over sorrow.

Belle: you know I love her! She walks through town with her nose in a book and could care less about the fact that she is deemed ‘the prettiest girl in town.’ She has a love and adoration for her hardworking father, she is smart, witty and displays act after act of courage and bravery. She sacrifices her life to save her dad’s and because she never judged a book by its cover, she was able to fall in love with the man trapped under the Beast’s body.

Anna: my new favorite, was born into royalty, but this didn’t confine her to shallowness or arrogance. She sets out on a dangerous mission to save her sister and displays nothing but courage. She portrays an optimistic and determined mindset. At first she was desperate to be loved, but as the story continues, she matures and slowly began to understand how the world worked. I think Elsa is probably viewed as the main ‘Princess’ in this movie but Anna is by far the heroine.

Merida: first, holy awesome hair! But seriously, aside from beautiful, flaming locks, she has mad archery skills and is a headstrong teen with a royal upbringing. She is admired for her willpower, her sense of wild and she is a gal who independently problem solves. The plot does not involve a romantic love interest and while some may disagree, I think Merida is a teenager that twenty-first century girls can learn from.

Reese is a two-year old who excitedly shrieks when she sees a frilly dress. She is obsessed with her light pink, ballerina outfit and will grab it off the hanger in her closet, bring it to us pleading, “Put it on?? Put it on me, PLEASE?!” She sings Rachel Platten’s Fight Song on repeat. When I hear her little voice saying, “My power’s turned on, starting right now I’ll BE strong! I’ve got my fight songgggggg…” I hear the voice of a child who is being raised to believe she can choose the path ahead of her. She can wear the glass slipper but it doesn’t have to define who she is as a woman. She can be quiet or chatty, extroverted or meek. She can climb mountains on weekends or choose a desk job with average hours; heck, she can do both! She can dance or play softball, ride horses or raise pigs. She can love princesses and drive a race car.

Is there any cheesiness in most of the fairy tales we read or watch? Of course! But there is also some strength and dignity. And if these old (and new) favorites have taught me to do anything at all, it was to dream–and that is one attribute I pray never fades away.

To my children, I will be with you every SINGLE step of the way. When you fall, when you rise, when you laugh and when you cry. It’ll take you a while to figure out what you’ve been called to in this life and you’ll realize your Mama is still trying to figure it out, even as I age. But I promise– YOU being YOU is the most beautiful story that will ever be told in the pages of my book.

After you’ve read this, PLEASE click this link and watch the commercial that I refer to above: Dream Big Princess

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Check out our new Keepsake Companion Journal that pairs with our So God Made a Mother book!

Order Now
So God Made a Mother's Story Keepsake Journal

Ashley Glass

Ashley is a blogger + photographer living in Kentucky with her husband of seven years and two toddlers. When she's not writing, snapping photos or chasing the kids around, you can find her baking something sweet while chugging re-heated coffee.

Our Kids Need Us as Much as We Need Them

In: Kids, Motherhood
Little boy sitting on bench with dog nearby, color photo

During a moment of sadness last week, my lively and joyful toddler voluntarily sat with me on the couch, holding hands and snuggling for a good hour. This brought comfort and happiness to the situation. At that moment, I realized sometimes our kids need us, sometimes we need them, and sometimes we need each other at the same time. Kids need us. From the moment they enter the world, infants express their needs through tiny (or loud) cries. Toddlers need lots of cuddling as their brains try to comprehend black, white, and all the colors of the expanding world around...

Keep Reading

Your Kids Don’t Need More Things, They Need More You

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood
Mother and young girl smiling together at home

He reached for my hand and then looked up. His sweet smile and lingering gaze flooded my weary heart with much-needed peace. “Thank you for taking me to the library, Mommy! It’s like we’re on a date! I like it when it’s just the two of us.” We entered the library, hand in hand, and headed toward the LEGO table. As I began gathering books nearby, I was surprised to feel my son’s arms around me. He gave me a quick squeeze and a kiss with an “I love you, Mommy” before returning to his LEGO—three separate times. My typically...

Keep Reading

This Time In the Passenger Seat is Precious

In: Kids, Motherhood, Teen
Teen driver with parent in passenger seat

When you’re parenting preteens and teens, it sometimes feels like you are an unpaid Uber driver. It can be a thankless job. During busy seasons, I spend 80 percent of my evenings driving, parking, dropping off, picking up, sitting in traffic, running errands, waiting in drive-thru lines. I say things like buckle your seat belt, turn that music down a little bit, take your trash inside, stop yelling—we are in the car, keep your hands to yourself, don’t make me turn this car around, get your feet off the back of the seat, this car is not a trash can,...

Keep Reading

So God Made My Daughter a Wrestler

In: Kids, Motherhood
Young female wrestler wearing mouth guard and wrestling singlet

God made my girl a wrestler. Gosh, those are words I would never have thought I would say or be so insanely proud to share with you. But I am. I know with 100 percent certainty and overwhelming pride that God made my girl a wrestler. But it’s been a journey. Probably one that started in the spring of 2010 when I was pregnant with my first baby and having the 20-week anatomy ultrasound. I remember hearing the word “girl” and squealing. I was over the moon excited—all I could think about were hair bows and cute outfits. And so...

Keep Reading

A Big Family Can Mean Big Feelings

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood
Family with many kids holding hands on beach

I’m a mother of six. Some are biological, and some are adopted. I homeschool most of them. I’m a “trauma momma” with my own mental health struggles. My husband and I together are raising children who have their own mental illnesses and special needs. Not all of them, but many of them. I battle thoughts of anxiety and OCD daily. I exercise, eat decently, take meds and supplements, yet I still have to go to battle. The new year has started slow and steady. Our younger kids who are going to public school are doing great in their classes and...

Keep Reading

You May Be a Big Brother, but You’ll Always Be My Baby

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother with young son, color photo

It seems like yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital. Back then, we were new parents, clueless but full of love—a love that words can hardly explain. I can vividly recall holding you in my arms, rocking you in the cutest nursery, and singing sweet lullabies, just like yesterday. I can picture those times when you were teeny-tiny, doing tummy time, and how proud I was of you for lifting your head. And oh, the happiness on your face when “Baby Shark” played over and over—that song always made you smile! We made sure to capture your growth...

Keep Reading

“It Looks and Tastes Like Candy.” Mom Shares Warning about THC Gummies All Parents Need to Hear

In: Kids, Living, Teen
Hand holding bottle of THC gummies

What Aimee Larsen first thought was a stomach bug turned out to be something much more terrifying for her young son. Her 9-year-old woke up one day last week seeming “lethargic, barely able to stand or speak,” his mom shared in a Facebook post. At first, she assumed he had a virus, but something about his behavior just didn’t seem right. She called an ambulance and asked her older sons if their brother might have gotten into something, like cough syrup or another over-the-counter medicine. Their answer? “Yeah, THC gummies.” THC gummies are an edible form of cannabis that contain...

Keep Reading

Dear Daughter as You Grow into Yourself

In: Kids, Motherhood, Tween
Girl in hat and dress-up clothes, color photo

My daughter, I watched you stand in front of the mirror, turning your body left and right. Your skirt was too big and your top on backward. Your bright blue eyeshadow reached your eyebrows and bold red blush went up to your ears. You didn’t care. I watched you marvel at your body, feeling completely at ease in your skin. You turned and admired yourself with pride. You don’t see imperfections. You don’t see things you are lacking. You see goodness. You see strength. RELATED: Daughter, When You Look in the Mirror, This is What I Hope You See I’m...

Keep Reading

My Child with Special Needs Made His Own Way in His Own Time

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother holding child's hand walking across street

I want to tell you the story of a little boy who came to live with me when he was three years old. Some of you may find this story familiar in your own life. Your little boy or girl may have grown inside you and shares your DNA or maybe they came into your life much older than three. This little boy, this special child, my precious gift has special needs. Just five short years ago, he was a bit mean and angry, he said few understandable words, and there was a lot about this world he didn’t understand. Unless...

Keep Reading

Organized Sports Aren’t Everything

In: Kids, Motherhood
Young girl with Alpaca, color photo

Today I watched my little girl walk an alpaca. His name is Captain. Captain is her favorite. He’s my favorite too. I met his owner on Instagram of all places. She thought I was in college; I thought she was a middle-aged woman. Turns out, she is in high school, and I am a middle-aged woman. This random meeting led to a blessing. We call it “llama lessons.” We take llama lessons every other week. It’s an hour away on the cutest hobby farm. Our “teacher” is Flora, who boards her llamas at the alpaca farm. She wants to teach...

Keep Reading