Misunderstood

The Guppy says that Cinderella is her favorite princess.

I feel like every time I mention that the girls love Cinderella, I get comments on how bad that story is. How it teaches girls to be docile and wait for a man to rescue them. Maybe. But I don't see the harm in believing in true love. And we balance it out with stories about other true heroines.

I always wonder about the step-sisters. What's their side to the story? Sure, they were cruel to Cinderella, but had they learned anything else growing up? Where is their father, did he die too? What was it like for them to grow up with such a bitter, lonely mother? Knowing that for them, their only escape to a better life was by capturing a man's heart?

It seems Cinderella was not the only victim in the story. The step-sisters were so desperate to make the shoe fit, they cut off their fricking heels. They willingly disfigured themselves for a chance to escape.

They must have been feeling pretty trapped, too.

For me, Cinderella is an reminder to look closer at people, and to see where they are coming from. A reminder to try to be more compassionate and understanding.

And that's why we like Cinderella so much.

Misunderstood