Disney Princesses Meet the 21st Century Teen

Tried to do a quick list of the names of Disney Princesses WITHOUT searching for them on the Internet . Thought I could do it but I failed. Was able to draw at least ten from memory , listed below. After that I started going … UM … the one with red curly hair ??? ... and … Uuuummm … the two sisters in the “Frozen” animated flick … uuuhh … ???

1. Snow White 
2. Cinderella 
3. Sleeping Beauty 
4. Mulan 
5. Ariel 
6. Anastasia 
7. Rapunzel 
8. Tiana 
9. Pochahantas 
10. Jasmine

Times have sure changed from when I was a little girl. Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty - they were the ones that were role models. Each one of them ended up with the handsome prince, who took them to a beautiful castle home, and lived happily after. 

My youngest daughter is a budding teen, having just turned age 14 last week. Asked her the other day if she had a favorite Disney princess. 

Without skipping a beat, she passionately blurts out: “Anastasia, cause she don't need nobody to do nothing for her; and Tiana too, cause she worked!”

Oooookkkkayyy. Let me back away slowly from my little 21st century girl. :)

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[ RE: 21st Century Girl - Willow Smith ~ ~ Link if YT video does not load: https://youtu.be/w5h8MU59Zro ]



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{ P.S. Yes Willow Smith and my daughter are both the same age. But don't be jumping on me about Willow Smith and her wild behavior! I ain't Willow Smith momma and daddy. I'm just sharing a link to her video. }


Wiki List of Disney Princesses
- http://disneyprincess.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Disney_Princesses

Mother Jones | Are Disney Princesses Evil?
- - http://www.motherjones.com/media/2011/01/peggy-orenstein-cinderella-ate-my-daughter


[ Content first appeared on Bubblews, Mar 17, 2015.  That site shut down. ]

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Parenting Tips: Your 7th Grader Will Survive Adolescence and Beyond!

Enjoy your childhood.
It sure doesn’t last very long.

(Dear Parent:  As you read this, pretend you're the adolescent.  If you put yourself in you're pre-teen's 'shoes' you can understand them better.)

Is it Diary or DIE-ary?  Surviving adolescence takes determination to get through it and it helps if you have something wholesome and productive to keep yourself occupied while the time passes. Also, having a great community library with computers nearby where you live is a definite plus.

glitter-graphics.com

Surviving adulthood? Hmmmm?
Guess that’s why there are so many reality TV shows.

This story (or journal entry) is a blend of fiction and non-fiction and was actually inspired by two people: one known and one unknown. The gifted singer, songwriter, and musician, Sinead O’Connor is "the known". Her biography is very touching. The unknown person (the adolescent who keeps a DIE-ary) will come to be known if they’re determined enough to continue on their path to success, as an artist/illustrator.

It used to be my DIE-ary. But that was in 7th grade.

7th grade was the worst year of my life, in terms of emotions; my best year in terms of grades. I didn’t smile very much that year. Even my younger sister’s stupid antics couldn’t make me laugh.

In fact, one would describe me as overly quiet and shy. If one were asked, that is. But one was never asked. Because if one had been asked, one would have also noticed that not only was I overly quiet and shy, but I was also extremely irritable. Of course, I didn’t blow up at anybody or anything. No outward display of emotion of rage or hysteria. Just that internalized keep-it-to-yourself type of irritation. No point hurting someone’s feelings if they’re not the source of your irritation. Right?

At school, I was somewhat known; known as that recluse who sat in the back, in the corner, always drawing during the lesson, never paying attention, but still managing to get A+. My Math teacher tried to get me to talk for a whole year. My English teacher became obsessed with my artwork. My History teacher wondered how I could be drawing during the lessons and still get A+ on the tests. I didn’t cheat. I couldn’t! As I said: I sat in the back, in a corner and no one was around me. Had my teacher never heard of multitasking? My Science teacher wasn’t curious about me because I did have one friend in that class. Guess that meant I wasn’t weird or maladjusted and in need of counseling.

I really enjoy art. Anime art. That’s my specialty. I draw all kinds of characters and give them complex names and personalities. I have lots and lots of sketches in my bedroom. My art went downhill for a while. At least, I thought I did. People would say the drawings were good. But they weren’t the way I wanted them to be. Most of my drawings during my 7th-grade year looked like kids my age who were about to burst into tears. Nevertheless, at the age of 14, I set up an email address, created a business card, a website, and started trying to sell some of my art. My mom and dad had no idea. Hey! My report card had As; and they never heard any major complaints from me or my teachers. Very seldom did I go to parties or other social events. The library was my place to hang out. Besides, my parents were sort of dealing with “the others”. 5 sisters, 5 brothers, plus me equal 11. Yeah. There were 10 “others”. Go figure how I could have possibly gotten overlooked.

Eh! I made it through 7th grade. My remaining school years went by in a flash. Now I’m pursuing my career in art full-time. Man! The competition out there is fierce! Sure seems like it was a lot easier to sell my art to my friends when I was in 7th grade.

Oh well. Can’t turn back the clock!!

The Best Self-Help Tool Ever Invented

I am older now and though life is still filled with unnecessary drama, it can be turned on and off like a water faucet. For me, most of the time, it’s turned off. The best self-help tool God ever invented was an ON/OFF switch in the human brain.



* * * NOTE: Content previously appeared on BlogJob.com

The Master Guide to Drawing Anime:How to Draw Original Characters from Simple Templates

Mastering Manga with Mark Crilley:30 drawing lessons from the creator of Akiko

Surviving Adolescence:Learning to Like Yourself and Make Wise Decisions

Heed Dr. Dobson's Advice on Parenting

Dr. James Dobson is a well-known psychologist who specializes in advice on parenting.

Focus on the Family, his non-profit ministry provide counseling and resources on marriage, parenting and other family matters; and he has also authored several books on these topics.

Dr. James Dobson is a well-known psychologist and the founder of Focus on the Family, a non-profit ministry that supplies advice and resources on marriage, parenting and other family matters. He describes two types of children: the compliant child - an obedient child that heeds good advice and follows a path to peace; versus the defiant child - who is the exact opposite. He says most children are "in between" those two extremes.

English: James Dobson. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Having given birth to eleven children - all living - all raised except for one - I can state unequivocally that Dr. Dobson is correct. Most children are between the two extremes. However, if you happen to get one that is wholly defiant - my advice is ... PRAY!! Pray you survive them until they reach the age of eighteen and then ... send them on their way!

You see children must realize that one day if they live, they will be the same age as mommy and daddy. If they have children of their own, mommy and daddy will no longer have to explain why the "rules" were so flipping ludicrous!! There are many who claim to have programs that work if you happen to be raising a difficult and trying child. Some of them will even offer you their programs free of charge. Quite frankly, everybody has to wade through those muddy murky waters on their own. What may work for your family could cause chaos and mayhem in another person's home. So tread very cautiously.

I can tell you that as a young parent, reading the Dobson books was extremely helpful. Many who might not be of the Christian persuasion probably steer clear of his writings. But the advice he offers is very generic and can be applied regardless of one's religious beliefs or nationality or ethnicity.

As I stated earlier, my babies are all full grown now, with only one remaining. In five more years, she'll be stepping out on her own. Five years? That's half a blink of eye. Really it is. My oldest child has already passed the over the hill mark. Back in my day, "over the hill" used to be age 30. It seems like it was just yesterday when we were teaching him how to walk. Though the memories are sweet, of a truth, my husband and I look forward to the "empty nest years" with great anticipation.

But getting to my point: If you are a new parent, and mommy and daddy are no available for you to ask them about the "rules", pick up a book by Dr. Dobson. No doubt you can find one or more at your local library or even a church library. If not, his books are available for purchase online.

Content first published at Writedge.com, Mar 22, 2014