Let's be real for a moment. Since birth, most of us girls have been raised on good old-fashioned happily-ever-afters and fairytales. As we grow older, we realize those pretty fantasies laid out in those story books are far from real life. But no matter how much we wish otherwise, we all fall victim to the appeal of that romantic cliché: finding your "Prince Charming." Present in almost every fairytale, "Prince Charming" is an archetypal character that has been reanimated for centuries in literature across cultures. Although the "Prince Charming" ideal seems like an unfair and unrealistic expectation for men, the abstract idea of a "Prince Charming" is a lovely idea. Whether you're a girl whose "Prince Charming" is another princess—or a guy who's actually seeking their happily ever after with another guy, the idea of "Prince Charming" exists in all forms and is very attainable—and here are a few signs that you've inevitably found him (or her)!
1. He treats you like a princess...when you deserve it.
When you fail a test and you need someone to cheer you up, or you can't fit into that dress you bought a few years ago, he's always there to boost your confidence and help you crush your insecurities and those inevitable moments of anxiety that come with being a human being.
But of course, he doesn't always treat you like a princess. And he shouldn't. He knows that his purpose as your significant other is not only to boost your ego. He keeps it real when he needs to. He doesn't coddle you when you have an unnecessary breakdown about the girl in his Snapchat story—he brings you back to reality when you get a little caught up in your emotions. But it's because he loves you that he doesn't spoil you.
2. He respects your body.
Unlike the Prince Charming who kissed Sleeping Beauty while she was asleep (there's a little wonderful something called consent), your "Prince Charming" knows the boundaries of your body and respects them. Whenever you're with him, the butterflies in your stomach are from exhilarated nerves rather than fear. He knows that you hate those stretch marks on your thighs and the way your teeth are crooked, but when you're with him he does a wonderful job at making those insecurities magically disappear into thin air.
3. He prefers you in sweats and ponytails rather than dresses and tiaras.
If you're still his princess when you wake up in the morning with gunk in your eyes and matted hair, you know it's real. And that's the way it should be. A true Prince Charming will always appreciate when you take the time to look wonderful for him, but doesn't care when your prickly legs that you haven't shaved in several weeks rub against him in bed.
4. He values your intelligence.
Your knight in shining armor will never deny that you are royalty to him—but will vehemently deny that you fit the stereotypical absent-minded mold of a princess with all looks and no brains. A Prince Charming would never just see you as a convenient collection of the standard stock "princess" features. If he's a true gentleman, your mind, spirit, and soul will enrapture him more than your looks ever could. He'll enjoy listening to you think aloud almost as much as he'll love gazing at you.
5. He's not afraid to be himself with you.
Your true white knight will never be afraid to show his vulnerable side to you. If he's your real prince, he won't be scared to admit that he's not always going to be able to slay the dragon for you. What makes him your "Prince Charming" is that he feels as if he is under no obligation to fulfill that role for you—rather, he is just himself, flaws and all, just like you.
6. You can't picture your happily ever after without him.
You know he's the one when you find yourself daydreaming about your future, and you automatically envision him in it. It's second nature for you to picture the rest of your life with your "Prince Charming," and you cannot wait for the day that you get to rule your kingdom together.
