Kate Middleton will turn into a princess Friday.
For little girls across America, she’s living the dream.
A familiar one.
Youngsters have bonded with tiara-wearers for generations. But today — with entire aisles of big- box stores devoted to princess bling, with princess-themed parties and movies — the path from commoner to coronation has become a routine fantasy.
For them, princess is a way of life.
“They dress up as princesses on a daily basis when they get back from school,” said Donna Coker, a Highlands Ranch mother with two princess-loving girls: Lauren, 7, and Kelsey, 3. “My husband calls them ‘My lady.’ ”
Does she appreciate that her daughters are modeling something akin to “The Real Housewives of Windsor” rather than successful, career gals who make it on their own?
“I try to ground them,” she says. “It’s not always happily ever after. It’s just for fun.”
The contemporary craze for queens-in-waiting finds roots in
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Author: Mile High Mamas
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My nieces, ages 4 and 6, are totally into the princess thing. Their parents have turned that into a teaching tool, making it clear that being a princess brings responsibilities and expectations, and it’s not all about the tiara or the dress. For example, when they’re starting to be rude or otherwise misbehave, my brother will say, “Is that how a princess behaves?” They’ll say no and (usually) immediately adjust their behavior. It really is helping them learn good manners.