I remember being pregnant, registering in a baby store, and going ballistic when I saw a princess potty complete with bejeweled flusher.  Boys had multiple options varying from empowering superheroes to strong handymen.  I stood there fuming in disbelief as I noted with horror little girls had only ONE option.  And that option was all sparkly and pink and vapid.  I resolved to find my little one a regular potty; one that didn’t make a statement.  Grinding my teeth, I looked at all the pink tulle tutus and enormous bows and vowed my child would be strong and feminine without being insipid.  Cut to several years later.  For the sake of my own mental wellness, I gave in and let her start watching a little television.  Cookie Monster had to eat carrots now and she was too young for old school Scooby Doo.  Just the sound of Dora the Explorer’s voice made me want to murder someone and don’t even get me started on the rest of “girls'” cartoons versus “boys’.”  My favorite Hollywood actress Geena Davis said:

“We’re showing kids a world that is very scantily populated with women and female characters.  They should see female characters taking up half the planet, which we do.”

Blessedly, we found we both love “Paw Patrol” and the “Octonauts.”  There is still not enough female representation, but at least the ones they show are smart and capable.  Then I heard about “Sophia the First” and I was prepared to dislike it and dismiss it without giving it a chance.  As it has happened so many times already in her young life, my little one taught me a lesson.  The series turned out to be wonderful.  It emphasizes thoughtfulness, kindness, sincerity, and other values I wish for my little girl to have.  OK, it also didn’t hurt that she has a magic amulet that lets her speak with animals!  That is SERIOUSLY my dream “super power!”  Now they have a spin off we also love even more called “Elena of Avalor.”  The princess is a little more mature but the core values are even stronger, in my opinion.  She can fence, she is inclusive, she is respectful, and she even has flying jaguars.  With the added mythical mesoamerican themes I was hooked.  I am not ashamed to say I watch cartoons with my daughter … but only the ones I can tolerate.  I have fond memories of watching “The Three Stooges” with Daddy but Mama absolutely could not stand them.  Anyway, I always knew Pocahontas was strong because she really lived.  I have adored Belle for her love of books, Mulan for her fighting spirit, and Ariel the mermaid because she was so passionate she risked her life to gain true love.  (I never said I wasn’t a hopeless romantic.)  This generation is a far cry from the first “princess” cartoon my mother grew up with; Snow White.  She had a gentle spirit and it was sweet that all the forest animals loved her, but I think society has progressed to embrace and even desire stronger females now.  And so, when my little one wanted to decorate my arm with her princess stickers I asked her to take this picture afterward.  Rather than be embarrassed, I was actually proud to wear them.  I have repeatedly told my little one good ALWAYS prevails over evil — and it really does.  And there is nothing wrong with hoping to find true love.  I have also learned that wanting to be a princess is not absolutely, horribly unredemptive.  Now I am actually glad to be “stuck with princesses.”