Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen

As the Internet seethes with stories of Britney Spears losing her mind, losing control, and losing custody of her kids, it reminds me of a more personal parenting defeat I've suffered recently. 'Twas the final battle in a war waged over four long years -- began by my younger, more energetic, self-righteous self, who, much like the chart-topping, schoolgirl-outfit-wearing, virginity-declaring Spears of yore, was fond of making dubious yet plausible statements of personal infallibility. I was pure of heart. I was a rock. I was the center of the universe, 'round which the planets did spin.

It was this version of myself that knew, for a fact, that Disney, and their band of weak-minded, romance-hungry princess characters were, more or less, evil. I believed, in all seriousness, that by refusing to acknowledge the existence of these spineless saps, that I could somehow hold back the tidal wave of sexism in pop culture, and keep it from my daughter.

And let's be clear. I still hate that Cinderella (who's pretty, because she's good) just sits there and takes it from her nasty step-sisters (who are ugly, because they're bad), waiting around for magic to sweep her off her feet and into the arms of some hunky dude who will solve all her problems and make her life complete. Just shut up and look pretty and you'll win -- with a man! Hooray! No more problems!

Continued at ParentDish.