To Be A Princess
My 2yr old pulled this book out of the bookshelf, pointed to the picture on the cover and said "Mama?"
"No, that's not me." I told her, although there was a time when I desperately wanted it to be.
I remember the day well. My mom is British and so a Royal Wedding was a big event for our family. We got up really early, sat on the couch in our pyjamas and watched every single minute of wedding coverage.
I loved all of the pomp and ceremony. The Brits are good at that! All of the footmen and carriages, I loved it all!
And then the moment everyone had been waiting for, when Lady Diana(as she was then) emerged from her carriage, surrounded by a sea of silk and ruffles. Oh, her dress was beautiful!
Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral
Some day I wanted horse drawn carriages, processions, oodles of bridesmaids, trumpets and men lining the way as I walked up to the church(cathedral!) door to marry my prince. (My 2 brothers joked that they could be my footmen!)
And there he would be, my very own prince, dapper and dashing, ready to sweep me away!
How lucky she was, I thought, to marry a prince!
I knew my chances at marrying into royalty were pretty slim. Not only did I not live too far away, but none were around my age.
It wasn't until I was older that I realized that royal life wasn't all it was cracked up to be. I'm sure it is quite stressful, all of those royal duties, a daily life that is controlled by others and never having private time alone. I can't imagine having to be in front of cameras all of the time. Not to mention the press trying to capture a picture of you looking your worst or stirring up a scandal.
Sadly Princess Diana's fairy tale ended even before her tragic death. I always felt sorry for her. I guess that's why I kept that little book about her wedding.
Well, you might be asking, did I get my fairy tale wedding?
I didn't have horse drawn carriages, but I had my good friends at my side. I had a beautiful dress. I would still choose the same one today even though styles have changed. One of my brothers did give me away and there was a trumpet playing for the recessional.
My prince, oh he was dashing alright!
Even more importantly, he continues to sweep me off my feet today.
Am I living the fairy tale?
It's not exactly as I expected. I did have my own reality check as the kids began to arrive and bills needed to be paid etc.
There is no one hiding in the bushes waiting to take my picture, but there are 6 sets of eyes watching me every day and how I react to life.
And with every scraped knee, every decorated birthday cake, every new Lego creation and every time my sweet baby reaches up to my face with his hands;
there is no place I'd rather be than at home with my kids and a husband who would go to bat for me.
I know that I am part of a bigger fairy tale and it will never end. One day the Prince of Peace will return for His bride and there will be a Royal Wedding like no other!
"No, that's not me." I told her, although there was a time when I desperately wanted it to be.
I remember the day well. My mom is British and so a Royal Wedding was a big event for our family. We got up really early, sat on the couch in our pyjamas and watched every single minute of wedding coverage.
I loved all of the pomp and ceremony. The Brits are good at that! All of the footmen and carriages, I loved it all!
And then the moment everyone had been waiting for, when Lady Diana(as she was then) emerged from her carriage, surrounded by a sea of silk and ruffles. Oh, her dress was beautiful!
Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral
Some day I wanted horse drawn carriages, processions, oodles of bridesmaids, trumpets and men lining the way as I walked up to the church(cathedral!) door to marry my prince. (My 2 brothers joked that they could be my footmen!)
And there he would be, my very own prince, dapper and dashing, ready to sweep me away!
How lucky she was, I thought, to marry a prince!
I knew my chances at marrying into royalty were pretty slim. Not only did I not live too far away, but none were around my age.
It wasn't until I was older that I realized that royal life wasn't all it was cracked up to be. I'm sure it is quite stressful, all of those royal duties, a daily life that is controlled by others and never having private time alone. I can't imagine having to be in front of cameras all of the time. Not to mention the press trying to capture a picture of you looking your worst or stirring up a scandal.
Sadly Princess Diana's fairy tale ended even before her tragic death. I always felt sorry for her. I guess that's why I kept that little book about her wedding.
Well, you might be asking, did I get my fairy tale wedding?
I didn't have horse drawn carriages, but I had my good friends at my side. I had a beautiful dress. I would still choose the same one today even though styles have changed. One of my brothers did give me away and there was a trumpet playing for the recessional.
My prince, oh he was dashing alright!
Even more importantly, he continues to sweep me off my feet today.
Am I living the fairy tale?
It's not exactly as I expected. I did have my own reality check as the kids began to arrive and bills needed to be paid etc.
There is no one hiding in the bushes waiting to take my picture, but there are 6 sets of eyes watching me every day and how I react to life.
And with every scraped knee, every decorated birthday cake, every new Lego creation and every time my sweet baby reaches up to my face with his hands;
there is no place I'd rather be than at home with my kids and a husband who would go to bat for me.
I know that I am part of a bigger fairy tale and it will never end. One day the Prince of Peace will return for His bride and there will be a Royal Wedding like no other!
