Can I be honest for two seconds?  Or maybe five minutes…or maybe 15 if you’re a really slower reader.

I mean, maybe I’m weird.  But I’ve never been too crazy on the whole Prince Charming idea.  Number one…because what’s so special about a guy who carries a sword and shield and rides a horse that magically never poops?  Number two…because the idea of prince charming seems too easy.  The dude just pops out of the womb a prince and never has to work for anything his whole life.  He’s got nothing to worry about other than finding the perfect princess with big eyes, long hair, and full lips.

Nah man, Prince charming is overrated and annoying.  I mean, trust me.  I love Disney movies and Thumbelina and stuff but I guess I just don’t like the idea that translates over into the real world.

I feel like from the time we’re little, girls get this starry eyed, light headed dream of finding the perfect guy later in life.  He’ll come in riding on a white horse wearing tall boots and the equivalent of tights…and just swoop us up.  Carrying us away from all our troubles, everything that was holding us down and back in life, and take us into a fairy tale, where from then on nothing will ever be bad because his perfectness will make everything alright.  From the time we find him, we’ll never have to be the damsel in distress again.  We’ll get our happily ever after…………Yes..SO realistic.

I have problems with this way of dreaming for two reasons:

1.  The perfect guy doesn’t, and will never exist.
2. I think, girls need to lace up their own boots, get on their own horse and go get what they want rather than waiting around in a forest or tower or castle or…ocean, hoping that someday their prince will come.

Do I sound depressing yet?  Pessimistic?  Like a downer?  Well chill for two more seconds cause I’m not done. OK??

Instead of dreaming for a prince who isn’t really out there, girls need to start dreaming and searching for the Superheroes in the world.

Yes.  You read that correctly.  MUCH more realistic…no but really, it is.  Hang on.

Here is why every girl should want a Superhero in her life:

Because they aren’t born with everything handed to them.  Nope, most of them were born normal.  MOST of them were bullied and grew up the outcast because they were different.  They grow up struggling and unsure about things.  And all…yeah, all of them have some kind of life changing moment that brings them into the person they were finally meant to be.

But…they are still so, so far from perfect.  They get cocky and arrogant, prideful, they have drinking problems, they have anger issues, they struggle with their identities…with who they want to be, they’re afraid of bats, they have hard relationships with their dads, they experience the loss of loved ones, and they’re broken.  But they overcome it and through all that, they still end up being a leader, a strong and confident person that in the rise of a crisis, people look to them for wisdom and guidance.  They become the kind of person that others hope to be friends with.

However…That guy, that damaged, hard working, leader of a man isn’t gonna notice those other people…because he’s going to catch a glimpse of a girl he likes one day, he’s going to see you.  And instead of pulling on his tights and running around trying to find a horse to impress you with, he’ll use his real charm, his personality and under stated confidence to win you over.

Here’s where it gets good though…you..that girl, are going to impress him EQUALLY as much as he charms you.   Wanna know why?  Because you aren’t that lame princess waiting around for him to show up, always playing the role of the damsel in distress.

No, you’re the Lois Lane of the story, the Jane Foster, the Pepper Pots, the Gwen Stacy.  You’re smart, and witty, and quick to defend yourself and others.  You’re successful and know how to make a name for yourself.  You’re the kind of girl who goes after what she wants with a vengeance, and of course…of course you’re going to get in over your head and get in trouble because at some point, even though you can stand on your own two feet, you are going to end up the damsel in distress.  It’s just what girls go.  You’re gonna need to let your Superhero rescue you, to sweep you up into his strong arms and carry you away from the things that are hurting you.

But the best part about this…the crazy part…is that there isn’t a happily ever after.  There never will be.  Because life is always hard and villains are around every corner.  You’re going to do life together though.  With his leadership and strength, he’ll guide you through the city full of upside down cars and fallen buildings.  And sometimes, when he gets hurt or broken, when he doubts himself or just ends up weakened by kryptonite, he’ll have YOU.

YOU’LL have to talk him through it.  Let him know that he’s a hero and you and others believe in him.  You’ll have to cheer him on, pushing him to be better, to believe in himself.  Pushing him to move, even if it’s slow, even if it’s painful, away from the kryptonite threatening to keep him from taking you both forward.  It’s a partnership…but I mean, not a totally equal one because…let’s face it…you’ll most likely never be as muscly and you’ll most likely never have a butt chin like him…but it’s a story of mutual dependence where you both come out stronger and TOGETHER on the other side of a non-happily ever after.

Now, which one sounds better?  I think I’m partial to the superhero thing.  I actually like to think that I’ve found mine already.  My older sister has found hers, but I wish MORE girls would look for this.  I want my younger sister, my future daughters, my nieces, my granddaughters even…to dream of Superheroes instead of Prince Charming.

And um…That’s all.