I struggle with supporting Kenzie's love of princesses. How do I do that and also teach her about self-worth and diversity when here's what I see from Disney...the three hallmark princesses are Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty--each is very petite, white, and a victim waiting for a prince to rescue them. Decades later Disney gave us a hint of diversity with Ariel (a red head), Belle (a brunette) and Jasmine (wow, an Arab). These three girls have to change to find love. Ariel must swap her mermaid fin for legs to get Prince Eric; Belle lives with a “Beast” who she believes she can change by just staying with him and Jasmine must nearly surrender her throne for the love of poor Aladdin-until Genie changes him to a prince instead. I guess there's also Mulan (who has to dress up as a boy and represent all of Asia) and Pocahontas (a Native American), but they're more obscure. Thankfully, Kenzie likes Dora, who at least speaks Spanish and is just a "regular girl."

Ok, so enough of my political rant. So, what's Kenzie's birthday cake? ...a pink-faced, blonde haired, thin-waisted mermaid to fit in with the mermaid-themed party!

How do I reconcile that? Primarily, because it's her birthday and she loves them. We talk a lot about differences and personal strength, and this doesn't negate that. Her fantasy world has lost "Deedee"--now it's everything mermaid. She lives in a half-world where water and dirt co-exist with her fin and scales: "I can't go down the slide because my fin is too slimy," or "Mason, watch it, you almost stepped on my fin."

Second, it's a different kind of diversity: just because Ariel was a mermaid doesn't mean that all mermaids are weak. Actually, as Kenzie, Krista and Mianna have proved, Mermaids can take the boys on the playground.

That's what I'm going with anyway. I think I would have a harder time explaining to her why she has a cake of muscles and brains. Hey, there's an idea...maybe when she turns five.