Have You Given Your Daughter "The Cinderella Syndrome?"

Is your daughter your "Princess?"  When you tuck her into bed at night, do you equate her to Cinderella and tell her fairy tales about the handsome, charming prince who will ride in on a big white horse and sweep her away to a distant castle, where he will wed her and worship her until eternity as they become the King and Queen of the faraway land?  Did you ever suggest that she will grow up to live in a little white house with a weathered picket fence and will stay at home and raise her two children while her husband goes off to work each morning to support their family?  Sure, those stories reflect parents' dreams for their babies, but have you given any thought to the unintentional damage those fairy tales may be doing to your daughter by creating potentially unrealistic expectations? 

I speak from a position of authority regarding what I call "The Cinderella Syndrome," which occurs when well-meaning parents set up unrealistic expectations for their daughters.  My parents tried to do everything right: They worked hard, taught me right from wrong, imparted strong moral values, and showered my brothers and me with love and all of the material possessions their income could provide. Unfortunately, from my earliest memories, I always knew I was the "Princess." My "loyal subjects" included not just my parents, but also my grandparents who lived across the street and cherished their only granddaughter. All that attention does wonders for a young lady's ego but also sets her up for a rude awakening later in life, when she ceases to be the Princess and becomes just another belle at the ball, looking for a ride home from whatever pumpkin coach happens past.