Cinderella

Cinderella” is one of my favorite princess movies, I loved the idea
of a fairy godmother and of course the talking mice.  I always wished
that I had my own talking mice, but alas real life is never as
entertaining as the movies.

I could go into a whole tirade about how Disney princess movies have
created unrealistic expectations for young girls, but it’s been done.
Besides, I’ll always a place in my heart for Disney princess movies.

“Cinderella” is a movie that tells us the story of a girl who spends
her days cleaning the house for her evil stepmother and sisters, but
is invited to the ball only to find her very own prince charming.
It’s very charming and magical, especially with the talking mice who
know how to sew.  However, if you read the original story by the
Brothers Grimm it’s not nearly as charming.  Disney is notorious for
taking what are typically dark fairy tales and making them happy,
colorful, and perfect for children.

The Brothers Grimm tell the same story that Disney does but slightly
darker.  When the prince brings the lost slipper to Cinderella’s house
both evil stepsisters cut off a part of their foot to make it work,
but before they can get too far a bird points out the blood in the
shoe to the prince and he turns the carriage around to take them back.
He does this with both sisters but when Cinderella tries on the shoe,
it’s a perfect fit and they ride off into the sunset.

Often girls are in their own Cinderella story but instead of playing
the part of Cinderella, they’re one of the evil stepsisters.

Too often girls are more than willing to cut off a part of themselves
to make a relationship work.  Fortunately, it’s rarely as drastic as
the stepsisters.  However, it’s not uncommon for a girl to change her
interests in order to keep the guy she hopes will be her prince
charming.  It could be as simple as pretending to be interested in his
favorite sports team, or love his favorite restaurant even if she
hates it.  Unfortunately it can be a much more major part of herself
that she’s willing to lose in order to keep her prince.  Too many
girls have severed or at the very least damaged relationships with her
friends and family just because the guy she is with doesn’t approve.

The problem is these girls act like the stepsisters, but their prince
doesn’t want a stepsister he wants Cinderella.

I’m just as guilty of acting like a stepsister as anyone.  I’ve never
done anything as drastic as severe relationships with my friends or
family, but I have tried to be something I wasn’t in hopes that I
could finally be seen as Cinderella.  I wanted so desperately for the
shoe to fit I was willing to cut off a toe.

Looking back on these past relationships or almost relationships, I am
able to see where I changed part of who I was trying to make things
work.  Maybe I liked sushi, suspense novels, bad emo music, or even
Frisbee golf.  The point is when I look back the one time I allowed
myself to just be me, was when I finally found myself playing the part
of Cinderella.

When I met my husband I didn’t have to pretend.  I was just me, and it
worked.  The shoe actually fit without losing a toe.

Every girl wants to have a Cinderella ending, but to have the
Cinderella ending it’s important not to act like the evil stepsister.