Cinderella

A fairy tale. A dream for most young girls. The gold standard for romance in my view. What is it about this tale from centuries ago that touches women and makes us little girls whenever we think of the story?

The story of a girl who is gentle and kind and good, but ill treated by her stepmother and stepsisters. Who slaves away in a kitchen and scullery inspite of being incredibly beautiful and gifted. Do we find empathy with this character, as women who go through life performing so many chores and duties, many of which may not be for ourselves, but for the people in our lives: parents, siblings, husbands/partners, children, friends, groups...the deeds that go unthanked so very often.

And whose vindication comes in the form of a fairy godmother, who gives her the opportunity , with magic, to go to the ball and meet the prince. Don't we all want a little magic, a little escape when we can all be beautiful, wearing a glamorous outfit, and attending a fabulous event? It is the ultimate dream, to be the belle of the ball, to be the person who hushes up the floor as she enters the room...and across the floor stands Prince Charming.

Prince Charming- the embodiment of the ultimate romantic dream- a man who has everything laid out for him: power, wealth, the kingdom itself, but who wants to marry for love. Who refuses to settle for anything less.. Handsome, heroic and chivalrous: the stuff of a young girl's dreams. He has eyes for her and her only, he hangs on to her words and wants to spend the rest of his life with her, without doubt or misgivings or excuses and with respect. Commitment, right away: WOW! (No wonder it is a fairy tale... :D)

The two meet and fall in love and it is indeed magic, isn't it? But the fairy's magic is time bound, and will disappear at midnight. And when the clock strikes the hour, Cinderella flees and the moment of love is gone. And the wonderful, romantic end: where the prince searches for the girl, across the land, and finds her. Vindication.

In the story, there are all the elements: that of being the underdog and neglected one in a family, but of beating the odds and finding love. Which girl would not want that to be part of their story? It's the ultimate unattainable dream, and yet we dream the dream and see it shatter all our lives. And in varying degrees we learn that it is a dream that we will never have, but we still have the dream tucked away in the corner of our heart, and we never stop it from existing somewhere and creating the dissonance.

I watched my daughter lean her chin on her round little palm and watch the song "A dream is a wish you heart makes..." from the Cinderella movie made by Disney...and as I saw her look enraptured to see the drama unfolding on screen I wondered if another dream was taking root in her young mind, one that would reach out into the future and touch her life by setting expectations.

She even looks at pictures of bridal gowns and calls them Cinderella! What appeals to her? She doesn't know the meaning of love, or romance or dissapointment yet, but she still loves the concept of Cinderella. Another little girl, another dream..

Maybe her dream will come true, and maybe it won't. I cannot know what her future will hold. But as her mother, I wish her less disappointments, less heartbreak and more love. For she is my Cinderella. She is the closest I have come to a dream come true..