funforkids

     There are so many young women who envision the happily ever after as depicted in those beloved Disney fairy tales. Which one did you identify with? Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty? Many women planning their wedding choose to follow the Cinderella theme, the glass slipper, the horse drawn coach, the full ball gown, everything depicting a true princess. I too had the fairytale visions of life and the happily everafter; the glass slippers, the handsome stud (I mean prince), and the way we’d ride off on his well-groomed steed. I am happy to say, I did have my dream wedding; my very hansome prince made our wedding day and our honeymoon trip to Aruba very magical. Everything was wonderful; I loved my dress, I loved our bridal party, I got married in the same church I have loyally attended since childhood, our reception hall was a gorgeous, picturesque establishment and the food was abundant, elaborate, and delicious; we really did have the fairy tale I had dreamed about.

     We settled into a fixer upper which at times felt like a nightmare rather than a dream come true, where we still live today. It is small, but it is home to myself, my prince and our two boys ages 5 and 3. I have what I always wanted, the house, the husband, the kids, my health, God’s grace–the fairytale. Like many women though, (and men as well–I am sure) sometimes I forget that I do have a wonderful life and that everything is a blessing. I have to remember this when I am having a mommy-meltdown-moment–As hard as it is, I have to remember that this was my dream and this is what I prayed for. Somewhere down the line I, like millions of other women, traded in my glass slippers for fuzzy ones. I traded my lovely wedding up-do for greasy, once in awhile washed hair that is usually up in a pony tail or beneath a baseball cap. I traded my gown in for the everyday jeans and sensible shirt that I won’t really care if it gets cheese doodle on or, in a worst case scenario, vomit.

      Somewhere down the line my prince turned into the belching, grunting, ogre named Shrek and I into the fair, green, not so gorgeous Fiona. My children are a combination of all seven dwarves: Sleepy, Dopey, Doc, Bashful, Sneezy, Happy, and especially Grumpy, yep they are all here. I even have a few of my own new names for my dwarves at times such as: vommity, boogery, bratty, freshy, know it all, and Stingey. Happily there are many positive dwarves living in my home too like: Kissy, Huggy, Ticklish, Lovey, Baby, Funny, Joy, and Blessing. Guess what- this too is my fairytale. It may not have been the vision I had when I was younger, but it makes me happy to be a mom.

     Ah the fairy tale, the princess lifestyle, how sweet it all seemed. No mortgage payments, no car bills, no real job, the ability to sleep forever (a favorite of mine). Those ladies had it all–in the end. Come to think of it though, I should have been prepared for the dicey stuff, we all should have been prepared. I should have realized that to achieve that fairytale ending, the princesses had to overcome extreme obstacles, the wicked step mothers, stepsisters, fire breathing dragons, the poison apples, scrubbing the floors on hands and knees, waiting on others as if you are the house maid, the seven dwarves each with their own lil unique personality, It was all there. Why didn’t I see it? Maybe I blocked it out, who knows. Perhaps these tales do actually teach us a lesson or two afterall. Perhaps we are meant to learn that we are stronger than we realize and that we are meant to pick ourselves up in times of trial and to endure all with great self pride and worth. For when we do overcome the obstacles, both big and small, it makes the victory even more magical. So I say to all of the mommys out there who are suffering from Cinderella Syndrome (which is what I call the desire to have that fairytale come true) sit back and enjoy the symptoms. Your fairytale has come true mommy, your fairytale has come true.

     God Bless all the mommys and daddys out there who deal with the mundane, the crying, the bills, the not so wonderful stuff and keep going for the sake of their children. You will be blessed and your reward is great in the eyes of God. Your children do appreciate you and love you although they may not know how to show it. They will learn how to appreciate you on a higher level just as you have learned to appreciate yours. Hang in there and may you be a blessing and a role model to others. Send this to anyone you think needs to be reminded that life is a dream come true.