The One About Glitter, Dreams, and the Little Mermaid
We were doing something that we’ve done dozens of times - Alexis and I were cuddled up on the couch watching The Little Mermaid. It is and has always been her favorite Disney movie, but for some reason, we hadn’t watched it together in probably a year or so.
Still, I should have figured it out sooner.
As Alexis focused on the action happening on the screen, occasionally reciting lines of the movie along with the characters, I sat focused on Alexis. She is the kid who has never met a shiny thing she didn’t want to own. She marvels at the world every time she turns a corner. She walks through life swishing her tail and singing a song. She has her own voice, her own way of viewing the world, and she’s going to follow her heart no matter what anybody says.
Sound familiar?
I should have realized it years ago. After all, the writing was on the GIANT MIRRORED WALL.
Ariel. Ariel is and has always been Alexis’ favorite Disney Princess. Ariel. Alexis. Ariel = Alexis.
Is there a correlation between your favorite Disney Princess and your personality? I can’t say for sure, but at least in the case of Alexis, HOOBOY, IS THERE EVER.
(An aside, my favorite Disney Princess is Jasmine. You know, the stubborn, independent cat lover. Ummm … yeah.)
There is one glaring difference between The Little Mermaid and Alexis’ life, however. While King Triton was busy trying to force Ariel to live her life the way he wanted her to live it, I’m all FOLLOW THAT PATH, GIRL! I don’t need Alexis to run away and give her voice to an evil sea witch for me to figure out that she’s a very different person from me. Her happiness is dependent on her finding her voice and following her dreams.
Alexis and I may never agree on the value of sparkly things, the importance of pompoms, or the joy to be found in singing a song all day long, but she knows I love her all the same. Glitter and all.
The Little Mermaid will be available for the first time on Blu-ray Combo Pack and HD Digital October 1st. To celebrate, Disney and BlogHer are offering you a chance to win $50 Visa Gift Card and a Little Mermaid Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack. To enter to win, just tell me in the comments below: How do you encourage your children to follow their dreams?
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: ""#SweepstakesEntry""; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post"
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 9/9/13 - 10/15/13.
Be sure to visit the Disney's Little Mermaid page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Monday, September 9, 2013
Reader Comments (176)
Tweet-
https://twitter.com/maxfate/status/390117937740148736
By supporting and encouraging them in whatever they want to do
https://twitter.com/tlcfromtn/status/390129735792984064
I encourage our children to follow their dreams by helping them believe that anything is truly possible. They can do whatever it is that they choose to do in life.
Give them gifts that spur their creativity and individuality and then support whatever comes of it!
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/390144106933923840
We encourage our daughter by encouraging her to explore and pursue her interests. We are always there showing an interest in her endeavors.
Tweet - https://twitter.com/willitara/status/390155199110590465
I let them know it's OK to be just who they are.
I let them know that there will be ups and downs but if you keep your goal in site, anything is possible.
michelletucker at baconnation dot net
tweeted: https://twitter.com/iiiyadirf/status/390163641435049984
michelletucker at baconnation dot net
I encourage them to go for what they believe in
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/390169631278641152
I try to find out what they enjoy doing and we keep doing that. I tell them they can be anything they want to be and being happy is the most important thing.
I tell my kids to do whatever makes them happy.
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/390190100472033280
I plan on unschooling, letting them learn what they like and focus on their passions instead of forcing them to do things they aren't interested in
I'm always doing my best to schedule in sports/activities they really want to take part in.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/lexbaylor27/status/390204890061869056
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/bargainelf/statuses/390210295118835712
I don't have children but keeping a positive attitude always helps a ton
https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/390254316595855360
I have always loved Ariel, but Cinderella was always my favorite. :) I don't really identify her. I just played her in a school production (Rodger and Hammerstein's).
I let them know anything is possible if they believe in it and that I believe in them and will always be behind them.
I encourage my children to always follow their dreams by always letting them know im behind them, helping them research what their interested in and pushing them to realize their full potential.
I teach them and support them.