Cinderella’s stepmother
Posted on July 20th, 2007 by minutechaser
For millions of kids in the world, Cinderella’s wicked stepmother was probably the first stepmother they’d ever encountered in their lives.
The impression of a woman who schemes and bullies her stepdaughter into an unbearable life laden with all work and no play runs deep. Luckily it’s an impression that pales with time and is, sooner or later, replaced by reality.
I remember my children’s first encounter with a real life stepmother, the wife of a family friend. They were strangely quiet when she was in the room. Their eyes followed her every move, in stealth mode, of course.
On the way home, they confessed that they’d been afraid of her.
“But why?” I asked, “she’s a nice lady.”
“But she’s a stepmother.”
“So?”
“So she’s wicked!”
HaHa… That’s great!
I used to think that way too
From the innocent mouths of babes…
It’s amazing how fairytales can shape our lives so drastically! I have a friend who won’t read them to her children… I tend to agree that they can foster some unhealthy attitudes!
Those set notions refuse to leave us.
The first stepmother I knew was the second wife of one of my uncles who was a real mother to his children whose mother had walked out on them. So Cinderella made no sense to me. It all depends on your first influences.
Ingrained notions sometimes take a long time to get rid of. Nice reminder.
I am constantly amazed but what the kids retain and how they categorize people. It’s all black and white, good and evil for them.
@Bryan
I suppose we all did.
@Rob
I’m just glad she didn’t hear it.
@Regina
Oh no!
@gautami
.
Takes time
@Crafty
Totally!
@Paul
@patois
They’re cute that way as long as people understand it to be just a phase.
Isn’t that funny? Certainly true — “stepfather” doesn’t quite carry the same significance. I guess we have to blame it on fairy tales…