Tuesday, August 19, 2008

A Passion for Princesses

Punkin's birthday is the 30th, but we're having her party for her school friends this Saturday. Her real birthday falls on the same day as the first Georgia football game and I hold no illusions that any parents with tickets would rather come to Punkin's party than to watch the #1 ranked (see how I snuck that in there?) Georgia Bulldogs. Also, traffic on game days is an absolute nightmare near my mom's house, which is where we're having the party.

Several weeks ago I asked Punkin what kind of party she wanted. Why, a Princess Party of course! I briefly tempted her with a Hello Kitty party, but after a couple of days she was back to wanting the princesses.

So, we're having a princess party. I've only invited the little girls from her class, which Mr. Daddy thought was an outrage. There are only about two little boys in the class and they're not even at an age where feelings will be hurt if someone's not invited. Plus, now I don't have to come up with boy activities at a princess party.

The girls were all asked to wear their princess dresses. I told the moms that I have a couple extra just in case they haven't given in to the princess onslaught yet. For the activity, the girls are going to make foam tiaras and decorate them with sparklies and gew-gaws and what not.
And also foam magic wands. Then we'll have cake and ice cream and that will be it. I hope it will be enough. Who knew it was going to be so difficult to plan children's birthday parties. And that there would be so much pressure!!

But the whole princess mania started me thinking. Is this ALL Punkin will ever be interested in? She doesn't seem to be interested really in anything else. Bubba has SO many interests and it seems that Punkin doesn't really have any. And have I forced the princesses on her? My mom said that she's still too young and that when Bubba was her age he didn't have as many interests as he does now. Which is true, as far as I can remember. I know he loved trains then and we encouraged that fascination in lots of ways. And really, is that any more stereotypical than Punkin's love for princesses. Boys = trains. Girls = princesses. I don't know. I just hope that Punkin doesn't get sucked in completely. I hope that she develops other interests. Bubba wants to be an archaeologist. I hope Punkin wants to be one too. Or whatever.

I just don't want her to be limited by her pink sparkly dress.

12 comments:

AndreAnna said...

I think little girls get fixated on one thing and immerse themselves in it. They will eventually move on and have other things.

Right now it's Dora and Princess.

And Walter the Farting Dog.

Seriously.

AndreAnna said...

oh and Mermaids. She's obsessed with Mermaids. weird.

Fannie said...

Pfft..we had our fair share of princess parties and my girls went to the debate and robotics teams.

1blueshi1 said...

Girl, she's gonna get out there and conquer the world in that pink sparkly dress!

Unknown said...

Yeah, princess mania may last a while, but she'll get interested in other things too. Birdie still loves princess stuff, but she also wants to be a doctor...or a ballerina...or a scientist...or a teacher...

Anonymous said...

Breathe. Relax. (Drink!) Even mad scientists have to own some killer evening wear. :)

for a different kind of girl said...

I'm not sure if you've said prior how long the party will last, and I didn't see it in the post, but if you have gift opening in that frame, too, I'd say it sounds like you have a great time lined up, and that it will be absolutely enough.

My boys are 11 (as of yesterday..sigh) and 6, and right now, they are both freaks about wrestling. But, in the wake of that rests a fixation on Star Wars, the Titanic, Legos, action figures of all sorts, and a variety of other things.

Now, if I could just get them to wear the pink polo shirts I have for them....ha!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx said...

My niece, almost 6, is really into princesses, castles and unicorns. She even made a crown for my dog! But the other night watching the Olympics, no matter what event was on t.v., she'd said "I can do much better than that."

Angie McCullagh said...

She'll branch out! My little girl is totally into dressing and undressing her dolls. I have to believe she'll expand her horizons one day.

Esme said...

My little Four wants to wear her princess dresses all the time. She also wants to wear her new karate gi all the time. So she ties her little orange belt over her pink spangly frou-frou dress and practices "X low block" in little plastic princess shoes.

Kids get hooked on so many different things... don't worry, the princess phase will pass!

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't worry. I think girls are taught and given princess treatment and it sticks for a while. Like the Disney bit.

Wineplz said...

I haven't met a girl who didn't want to be a princess at some point in their lives.

and honestly, she will just be the prettiest, sparkliest, ge-gawist archaeologist or anthropologist or other fabulous 'ologist. :D