The Little Mermaid

After an exciting sisters movie afternoon last weekend, in which the girls watched Disney's "Cinderella" with the living room lights off and bowls of popcorn in their lap, Julia has been itching to recreate the movie adventure. Today's choice: "The Little Mermaid." She has been eagerly awaiting the chance to show this movie to her sister, partly because Madeleine loves Ariel, but primarily because Madeleine assumes that every single Disney princess love interest is named Prince Eric. For example:


MADELEINE: Mommy, look! Rapunzel! Mommy, Rapunzel gonna hit Prince Eric with that! Yeah, she's gonna do TIME OUT! We don't hit! We do NICE!

At any rate, since Julia is always quick to correct Madeleine's misnomers, she was more than ready to set her sister straight on which prince is the real Prince Eric. ("Will the real Prince Eric please stand up, please stand up, please stand up...") So it was that the girls settled in with popcorn and "The Little Mermaid" this afternoon after Madeleine woke up from nap. Madeleine loved her first viewing of the film, at least, that is, until the end. After Ursula was defeated and Ariel and Eric were forced to (very temporarily) separate as Ariel, once again a mermaid, returned to the sea, Madeleine became unexpectedly distressed. "Mommy! It's breakin' my HEART!" she exclaimed from her position by the arm of the couch. As I ran into the room to see what was wrong, she lamented, "Poor Prince Eric!"


Madeleine viewing "The Little Mermaid" with broken heart.

Now, for someone capable of expressing such empathy, you would think she would be a little more remorseful when it comes to understanding nice behavior.

15 minutes later...
ME: Okay, Madeleine, we're going to the Y, so let's get on the potty and then get your shoes on!
MADELEINE: (whining) Noooooo! I want to COLOOOOOOR!
ME: You can color at the Y. Come on, let's get on the potty! (lifting her up and putting her on the toilet.)
MADELEINE: (staring at me with stubborn anger, whacking her hand towards her face to smack herself, then catching herself and instead giving her head two gentle pats, all while glaring at me.)
ME: Be gentle, Madeleine.
MADELEINE: Mommy, I just HIT you!
ME: Do we hit?
MADELEINE: Yes.
ME: No, I mean, is it okay to hit?
MADELEINE: Yes.
ME: No. Where do you go if you hit?
MADELEINE: Um, do nice.

I must point out that my usual question at that point in the conversation is "What do we do instead?" I guess she was on autopilot...

ME: Yes, we need to do nice, but where do you go if you hit?
MADELEINE: Um, the Y!

I guess she used up all her kindness of heart for Prince Eric.