Who other than my 3 year old would claim that title? I am not gloating when I say this, let’s just say I have come to terms with her obsession towards pink and princess. With the hope that it’s a passing phase and there is light at the end of the tunnel.


The day before yesterday, we had stopped at the traffic light waiting for the green signal. There was a truck in front of us carrying shovels, buckets, rakes and such kinds. Seemed like the shovel was not fastened to anything, and I spoke out loud what a disaster it would be if that shovel would fall out while the truck was moving at high speed.
Which triggered this conversation :

D: Mumma, why are you scolding that truck uncle?
Me: hmm.. Not scolding betu, I was just saying that uncle needs to tie the shovel to the truck, otherwise it can fall out of the truck and hurt someone.
D: Oh. Why that uncle has lot of shovel’s in his truck?
Me: Maybe he is a gardener.
D: Gar-de-ner?
Me: Gardener is one who keeps the garden clean, plants flowers, mowe’s the lawn…
D: I want to be a gardener.
Me: That’s very nice. Hey, we could get some plants in the evening?
D: No. Maybe I want to be princess.

Ah! There it comes again! Not once has she defaulted on wanting to be a princess when she grows up. Many a times, I have attempted to probe her further as to what intrigues her. More than her fascination towards anything pink and princess, her reasoning behind the likeness is what gives me chills. Pretty dress, Pretty crown, PRETTY hair and P.R.E.T.T.Y? necklace!!

D is one of those kids who won’t accept anything for an answer and would in fact get frustrated if not convinced. The other day she asked me to slide with her in the park. I told her this park play structure is for kids. To which, she asks where it says so. Matter of fact I read aloud the wordings on the board, 5 To 12 years only! Thankfully, there were kid like stencils next the message. Am not sure she understood I am older than a 12 year old, but the kid’s drawing’s convinced her anyways. She justifies to herself saying, Mommy cannot slide because mommy is too heavy and the slide will break.

Coming back to the conversation we were having, UTBT’s post on princess flashed and I thought I had something to say. You know, this blog addiction does serve some purpose after all.


I continue, D, the princess you see in these books are pretend princess. Like the red uncle in The Incredibles story. Like Boo and the Monster. She says Oh! And I continue.
D, long long time ago there used to be kings and queens and princess. Not like pretend disneyland princess. But real Aunty’s and Uncle’s like mumma and paapa. There was this one Aunty, Jhaansi Rani Lakshmi Bai, who fought… She cuts me off and says I don’t like Raani, yucky Raani.
It wasn’t the right time for the introduction, I guessed. However, that does not imply I give up easily. I continue. The disney pretend princess are in books and TV only, D. [Thanking God we don't live in the UK]. Now-a-days, we have President’s and Prime Minister’s. You remember, mummy told you about Bush Uncle and Manmohan Singh Uncle? The president of America and the prime minister of India? You could become the President when you grow up? Right?
She sure did not like it a bit and gives a very clear and definitive answer. No, that’s not funny. I don’t want to be president. I don’t like George Bush, I don’t like Manmohan Singh. I want to be princess only. P.R.E.T.T.Y P.I.N.K Princess.

She frowns and goes silent for few minutes and then comes up with a brilliant answer to meet both ends.
Mumma, I can be Kanpur princess, but. Yes mumma? Right?

Seeing the tension on her little innocent face, I did give up at this point. Though this is something I will definitely bring back in due course of time.


Coming to the more concerning pretty part, I think it is more than a necessity to FEEL pretty and beautiful. It changes the body language, the confidence with which you carry yourself and boosts self esteem. The trick is to persuade a three year old that she is pretty and beautiful, irrespective of skin color, no matter what she is wearing and how her hair is done. To intelligently put forward the fine line between feeling pretty and looking pretty. Not just with herself, but also with others around. To respect others for what they are, just the way they are. In many cases, with confidence, also comes arrogance. I would be one very sad mother if I raised an arrogant child. I don’t want her to be all saintly, but not over confident to the extent of carrying the burden of arrogance with it. Not to digress.

Reminds me of this book - The Ugly Pumpkin we read long back. This book is about a pumpkin that keeps thinking his ugliness is the cause for not being picked up, finally realises he is a gourd and not a pumpkin. And that he wasn’t really ugly, he just did not fit in to the pumpkin’s specification.

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