Barbie

It's happened at last. Basia has caught the Barbie fever. We made it almost 5 1/2 years before she joined the other millions of girls that dreams of Barbies, Barbie clothes, Barbie accessories, and Barbie vehicles.


I really don't have much against Barbie. I just did not choose to set up my daughter to be a "princess" from the start. She still has not watched most Disney princess movies, and she could not tell you the difference between Ariel and Belle. We avoided that shockingly pink isle in most department stores as long as we could. I have been to so many birthday parties where every gift was a Barbie or princess of some sort--starting at the age of 2. I wanted her to have bigger dreams for herself for as long as possible, to know that there is more to being a girl than being lovely.

Instead I encouraged Basia's love of all things career-oriented. She went through a phase of loving big construction vehicles, and construction sites are still a fascination of hers. She stops dead in her tracks when she is lucky enough to see a fire fighter buying fruit at Walmart. She checks out books from the library about Mae Jemison, an African-American astronaut who is Basia's hero. When she sees an ambulance, she wonders how much it costs and how old she will have to be before she can have one of her own. She has been a great chef-in-training since her toddler days. Her play life has been full of adventure and imaginary friends since she was tiny--she had two imaginary cats (Molly and Lulu) before she turned two.

I never told her she couldn't have Barbies or love princesses, but I did not choose to surround her in that environment before she was old enough to decide for herself.

Just so you know that I'm not sexist against all things girly (well, I suppose I am a bit), I did a similar thing with Brishen. He still doesn't own toy guns or action figures. He's never watched Power Rangers or Pokeman or any of those rated PG13 superhero movies. Just like Basia, he had doctor kits and blocks of all sorts and cars and toy food and puzzles and lacing kits and trains. He was about Basia's age when he fell in love with the little Legos (he had loved the big preschool type for years), and he been obsessed ever since.

I realized a few months ago that Basia was growing up and deciding to be a little more girly like some of her friends. One of my first signs was when she insisted on bringing a purse to a basketball game instead of one of her many beloved backpacks.

She asked for a Barbie for Christmas a couple months ago, and there was one in her stocking along with a lovely dress. She didn't really play with it until a couple weeks ago, and now she's hooked. She bought a Barbie Jeep and another Barbie outfit. She is wondering how she can get a job so that she can afford more Barbies and Barbie things. I'm stepping back and letting her choose her own obsession, even if it's all about evening wear and looking pretty (where, exactly, do you find career wear for Barbie???--not at our stores).

I know why she likes her Barbie. It's like playing with an adult. Baby dolls just aren't the same. She's ready for more grown up adventures, and Barbie seems to be the best companion. My sisters and I played with Barbies for years, and we all turned out to be smart, strong women, and I know that Basia will, too. I'm still glad that we avoided THAT isle for long enough to give her a taste of life on the other side of girliness.