You know that girl who is like, oddly obsessed with engagement commercials? Do you know the one who cries at literally every single rom-com ending (even though we all know how it ends)? Yeah, that’s me. I was a self-declared hopeless romantic before I could even spell Nicholas Sparks. I love romance, cheesey over-the-top gestures, and happy ever after. I believe in true love, soulmates and all the cheesey endings that pessismists just love to hate.
If you haven’t guessed by now, that makes me an absolute sucker for Disney movies. Princes, princesses, and outrageously convenient meetings ending with grand weddings are basically my crack. Although I still hold out a little hope that my life ends up just like their happily ever afters, I only have one thing to say to Prince Charming now:
Screw you, Prince Charming.
Surprised? Don’t be. I may be a sucker for unrealistic love tales, but I also have to wake up every morning and face reality just like everyone else. I love the idea of Prince Charming, of a handsome prince finding his way to me and sweeping me off my feet. Unfortunately, that ain’t gonna happen, but thanks to Disney and other pop culture, I spent way too much of life convinced that it was. I’m not dumb, I understand that movies are movies, but when you spend most of your young life being bombarded by images of fairy-tale romance, it starts to make you wonder, why not me?
I’ve dated a few guys (some closer to Prince Charming than others) and I’ve spent way too much of that time being disappointed that they weren’t everything I ever dreamed of. Sure, they held doors, they smiled, and they aren’t the worst people on Earth by far, so I should my count my blessings, right? Wrong. This idea of Prince Charming had me convinced (and I know I’m not alone here) that the only person worth dating, was someone who was perfect. So…imagine my surprise when I realized that he doesn’t exist. Yes, I’m young, and yes, I still have plenty of my life left to fall in love, but that isn’t the point. I don’t need another half, and I certaintly don’t need to find him at 19, but I don’t want to waste my time thinking there is something wrong with me because I’m not finding someone who will literally die for me.
I understand the importance of modeling happy ever after for kids, because otherwise we would be raising a generation of pessimists…but just maybe, we could consider giving Prince Charming a few flaws, because honestly, we have enough crazy standards to live up to, that I don’t think we need to add “perfect significant other” to the list. Maybe he doesn’t have perfect hair, but he has a crooked smile that makes you laugh. Maybe he doesn’t have an expansive kingdom, but he always buys you flowers when he has a few extra dollars. Or maybe, she’s a Princess Charming who still rocks a cape. Whatever makes your heart sing, I think it’s time that Prince Charming got an update and a huge dose of reality.
