The connection of the discredited witch and the princess who embraces cross dressing lies in their shared defiance of societal expectations and the breaking of gender norms. Despite being discredited and condemned by society, the witch questions the traditional roles assigned to women and seeks to challenge and subvert them. On the other hand, the princess, who is expected to conform to the stereotypical image of femininity, defies these expectations by embracing cross dressing and adopting a more masculine appearance. Both characters serve as symbols of rebellion against the limited and restrictive gender roles imposed by society, highlighting the importance of self-expression and the right to be who one truly is. Their connection shows that they are united in their rejection of societal norms and their refusal to be bound by them. In doing so, they become powerful figures who challenge the status quo and inspire others to question and challenge gender stereotypes.
Love, in itself, is not necessarily enough; it is not a universal remedy. It is the false ideal of love, which Morrison calls "romantic love," which gives love the power to transform and make perfect both the beloved and life: the forever-after love of fairy tales, movies, and popular fiction. Moveover, the quality and consequences of love are determined by the character of the lover. Claudia continues with a statement which I regard as a profound truth,
When a baby is struggling to roll from back to tummy, try comforting with gentle words of encouragement before intervening and interrupting their process. Initially the sisters, in their innocence and belief in themselves and their power to affect events, blamed themselves for the failure of the marigolds, the death of Pecola s baby, and her descent into madness.
In doing so, they become powerful figures who challenge the status quo and inspire others to question and challenge gender stereotypes..
The Parenting Magic Word (10 Ways To Use It)
Magda Gerber extolled the power of a single word that is fundamental to her child care philosophy. This word reflects a core belief in our babies’ natural abilities, respects their unique developmental timetable, fulfills their need to experience mastery, be a creative problem solver and to express feelings (even those that are hard for us to witness). The word is a simple, practical tool for understanding babies, providing love, attention and trust for humans of all ages.
The word is wait. And here’s how it works…
1. Wait for development of an infant or toddler’s motor skills, toilet learning, language and other preschool learning skills. Notice children’s satisfaction, comfort and self-pride when they are able to show you what they are ready to do, rather than the other way around. As Magda Gerber often said, “readiness is when they do it.” Ready babies do it better (Hmmm… a bumper sticker?), and they own their achievement completely, relish it, and build self-confidence to last a lifetime.
2. Wait before interrupting and give babies the opportunity to continue what they are doing, learn more about what interests them, develop longer attention spans and become independent self-learners. When we wait while a newborn gazes at the ceiling and allow him or her to continue their train of thought, they are encouraged not only to keep thinking, but to keep trusting their instincts. Refraining from interrupting whenever possible gives our children the message that we value their chosen activities (and therefore them).
3. Wait for problem solving and allow a child the resilience-building struggle and frustration that usually precedes accomplishment. Wait to see first what a child is capable of doing on his or her own.
When a baby is struggling to roll from back to tummy, try comforting with gentle words of encouragement before intervening and interrupting their process. Then if frustration mounts, pick them up and give them a break rather than turning them over and ‘fixing’ them. This encourages our babies to try, try again and eventually succeed, rather than believe themselves incapable and expect others to do it for them. This holds true for the development of motor skills, struggles with toys, puzzles and equipment, even self-soothing abilities like finding their thumb rather than giving them a pacifier.
(For more examples of the value of waiting for children to solve problems, please read A Jar Not Opened and A The Powerful Gift of “I Did It”.)
4. Wait for discovery rather than showing a child her new toy and how it works. When you teach a child something, you take away forever his chance of discovering it for himself. –Jean Piaget
5. Wait and observe to see what the child is really doing before jumping to conclusions. A baby reaching towards a toy might be satisfied to be stretching his or her arm and fingers, not expecting to accomplish a task. A toddler looking through a sliding glass door might be practicing standing or enjoying the view and not necessarily eager to go outside.
6. Wait for conflict resolution and give babies the opportunity to solve problems with their peers, which they usually do quite readily if we can remain calm and patient. And what may look like conflict to an adult is often just “playing together” through an infant or toddler’s eyes.
7. Wait for readiness before introducing new activities and children can be active participants, embrace experiences more eagerly and confidently, comprehend and learn far more. It’s hard to wait to share our own exciting childhood experiences (like shows, theme parks or dance classes) with our children, but sooner is almost never better, and our patience always pays off. (I explain this in much more detail in Toddler Readiness – The Beauty of Waiting and Please Don’t Take The Babies.)
8. Wait for a better understanding of what babies need when they cry. When we follow the impulse most of us have to quell our children’s tears as quickly as possible, we can end up projecting and assuming needs rather than truly understanding what our child is communicating. This is the basis of my argument in Attachment Parenting Debate – For Crying Out Loud and the realization shared by a parent in A Toddler’s Need To Cry (One Parent’s Lesson).
9. Wait for feelings to be expressed so that our children can fully process them. Our child’s cries can stir up our own deeply suppressed emotions; make us impatient, annoyed, uneasy, and even angry or fearful. But children need our non-judgmental acceptance of their feelings and our encouragement to allow them to run their course.
10. Wait for ideas from children before offering suggestions of our own. This encourages them to be patient thinkers and brainstormers. Countless times I’ve experienced the miracle of waiting before giving my brilliant two cents while children play, or providing play ideas when children seem bored. Biting my tongue for a few minutes, maybe saying some encouraging words to a toddler like, “It’s hard to know what to do sometimes, but you are creative, I know you’ll think of something” is usually all that it takes for the child to come up with an idea. And it’s bound to be more imaginative, interesting and appropriate than anything I could have thought of. Best of all, the child receives spectacular affirmations: 1) I am a creative thinker and problem solver; 2) I can bear discomfort, struggle and frustration; 3) Boredom is just the time and space between ideas… (And sometimes, the wellspring of genius.)
Instincts may tell us that waiting is uncaring, unhelpful and confidence-shaking — until the results are proven to us. Sitting back patiently and observing often feels counterintuitive, so even if we know and appreciate the magic that can happen when we “wait”, it usually involves a conscious effort. But it’s worth it.
Do you find it challenging to wait? Do you have a magic word of your own? No need to wait to share your thoughts…
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Reviews for "The Witch's Destiny and the Princess's Liberation: An Unexpected Connection"
- Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with this book. The connection between the discredited witch and the princess who embraces cross-dressing felt forced and unnatural. The storyline lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any of them and found myself uninterested in their journey. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Michael - 1 out of 5 stars - I struggled to finish this book. The premise of a discredited witch and a cross-dressing princess seemed intriguing, but the execution was poor. The writing was amateurish and the story lacked coherence. The characters were bland and lacked depth. I found myself rolling my eyes at the predictability of the plot twists. I would advise others to skip this one and find something more engaging to read.
- Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell short. The connection between the discredited witch and the princess who embraces cross-dressing felt forced and contrived. The characters were underdeveloped and I couldn't relate to any of them. The pacing was slow, dragging the story along. Overall, I found the book to be unremarkable and forgettable. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and well-crafted story.