Barbie and Prince Charming

     I was cooking dinner the other night and watching my daughter S, play with her barbies. I know full well that this phase of her childhood is about to end, and it saddens me some. Ken, a.k.a Prince Charming, was sitting in the Jeep waiting for Barbie, and S has Ken tell Barbie, who is in the house getting dressed. Trying on outfit, after outfit and oblivious to the fact that she is keeping Ken waiting in the car.
    I asked her why Ken doesn't just get out of the car and wait in the house, and she replies, "Quite frankly Mom, she doesn't think it will hurt him to make him wait in the car." OK. So I continue cooking my meal and hear Barbie enter the car.
      It got me thinking, we (women) do like to make men wait in the car. Why is that? Is it because we want them to think that by leaving them there, we are somehow in control of the situation and you will only enter our home, IF we think you are worthy enough to? Or is it that are quite simply afraid to let them in, to let them see our personal space? Perhaps the house is just a mess and we don't want them to see it.
     Either way, maybe we should at least allow them to wait on the couch.
     Eventually Barbie came down and they went on their date. The Under the Table Restaurant was their choice of place for dinner and then he dropped Barbie off and she went home. After awhile I hear her get on the phone and Barbie is gossiping to a friend about her Prince Charming.
    Barbie: "He is so hot"
    Barbie's friend: "I thought you would like him. He is so hot."
    Barbie: "He is my Prince Charming, you know. We are going to get married, have 2 children and live happily ever after."
     It is nice to know that even after the divorce her father and I went through, S, still believes in Prince Charming and Happily Ever After. I am glad that thus far, we have not damaged our children on the idea of love.    
     Dating after divorce sucks, and dating with children is even harder, but someday we just have to realize that you have two choices: 1. Sit at home night after night by yourself once the kids are in bed, or 2. Get off the couch, go out and dare to have fun. The reality is, we all get hurt, but it does not have to be the end of life as you know it. Grieve, cry, dust yourself off, and move on. It is as simple and as complicated as that.