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If You Go to Disneyland with Erin…

Posted on 09/29/2011 by Backpacking Dad

…there are no lines. You might wait to go on It’s a Small World for five minutes, but then the ride will break down and the cast members will hand you a front-of-the-line pass for any ride in the park…

…the characters will line up to meet you, and escort you to your destination…

…you will always be part of the show…

 

…you will make a new friend who will like you so much that within five minutes she will give you a princess dress.

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Sometimes I am staggered at the way Erin sits in the world, a center of gleeful gravity attracting everything else to her. It happens everywhere, but it seems to be especially evident when we go to Disneyland. I can’t wait to see what happens next time.

*********************************************************

Erin has been obsessed with “The Little Mermaid” for a couple of months now. Ariel is probably the Disney princess I like the least, for a whole host of reasons, and I worry that she’s become a role model for Erin. On this last trip to Disneyland, Erin finally met Ariel, face-to-face.

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And what does my Little-Mermaid-obsessed daughter have to say to Ariel when she meets her?

“You needed to listen to your daddy.”

I swear to god, that’s what she said. I didn’t prompt her one bit. I was reluctant to even allow another tendril of Little Mermaidness into Erin’s life, fearing its influence. I underestimated my own impact on my daughter’s character.

Ariel replied, “But he was trying to keep me from my one-true-love, Prince Eric!” I cringed. Was Erin about to succumb to her heroine’s cheerful demeanor? Would she nod enthusiastically, and agree that yes, that was really the most important thing?

Erin thought about Ariel’s response for a little while, then insisted, “Yeah, but you needed to listen to your daddy.”

Dad 1. Little Mermaid 0.

10 thoughts on “If You Go to Disneyland with Erin…”

  1. karen says:
    09/30/2011 at 5:08 AM

    Obviously, Dads have more influence on a young girl than Princesses. If only all Dads knew that message.

    1. Backpacking Dad says:
      09/30/2011 at 9:47 PM

      Hear hear.

  2. CandiRae says:
    09/30/2011 at 5:28 AM

    How precious!!! Out of the mouths of babes and let’s hope ten years from now,your daughter will listen to you!

    1. Backpacking Dad says:
      09/30/2011 at 9:47 PM

      Doubt it.

  3. Annie P. says:
    09/30/2011 at 10:06 AM

    I LOVE the Ariel story–LOVE it!! It put a huge smile on my face! My 3 year old is obsessed with Ariel too and I would be THRILLED to hear her mutter such wise advice to the mermaid. You are teaching her well. Good job dad!

    1. Backpacking Dad says:
      09/30/2011 at 9:47 PM

      I hope so.

  4. Josette at Halushki says:
    09/30/2011 at 11:48 AM

    Good girl!

    My middle child is one of those magical children. Plus, she has blonde hair, blue eyes, and dimples. She’s in 5th grade and widely popular.

    Sometimes – as a person who was not wildly popular and a bit shy as a child – I send my middle child on missions to use her magical powers for good: “Go sit with the 3rd grader on the bus who is being bullied” or “The kid in gym class who is picked last – you need to pick her first.”

    It’s a responsibility being magical. Sometimes, you even have to let Disney Princesses know that they need to shape up. ;-)

    1. Backpacking Dad says:
      09/30/2011 at 9:47 PM

      We’re pretty screwed when they’re in high school, though.

  5. Jen says:
    10/02/2011 at 7:55 PM

    That is fabulous.

    1. Backpacking Dad says:
      10/03/2011 at 10:45 AM

      No you are!

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