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This summer, Chloe Jane turned five years old.  She wanted a Princess Party, but was very specific about which princesses she wanted on her “castle cake.”  She wanted Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty and Tiana on the cake.  Four of the princesses were not a problem, but Publix had no willingness to add Tiana to the mix.  The only way they could put her on the cake was to charge me for the Tiana kit used to decorate the Tiana-specific birthday cake and then add the figurine to the enchanted castle.  I had a brief discussion with the two African American women in the bakery about the topic.  I asked them if they thought it was fair that I could get just about any darn white princess on the cake but I had to pay extra to get the only African American princess added.  Why was she being excluded?  How come she has not yet been integrated into the all white enchanted castle cake?  Are the cakes separate, but equal?  They offered me a free black fairy.  I said, “A black fairy?  You’re offering me a black fairy!  Who wants a black fairy?  A fairy is not a princess.”  My daughter wants Tiana.  Tiana is a princess.  She is not going to accept some anonymous black tinkerbell rip-off in lieu of Tiana.  The African American baker was quick with a response though.  She said, “It’s not because Tiana is black; it’s because she is a new princess and she hasn’t yet proven herself like the others on the cake.”  I told her okay whatever helps you sleep at night but go ahead and add the Tiana kit to my bill.

The party was actually a Princesses and Knights party because two of her male friends from pre-school were also coming.  In her invitation, Ruth had asked the guests to come dressed as knights and princesses and most guests who attended came in proper medieval attire.  Ruth had some fun games and crafts for the kids.  They decorated crowns and shields, they played pass the poison apple, and hunted for dragon eggs.  Mimi painted the faces of the princesses and Grandma read Sleeping Beauty to the kids.

Although there were numerous princesses at the party, the difference made by the two boys who came was considerable.  Unlike the girls, who remained relatively calm and interested in the activities of the party, the boys were all over the place and more interested in everything but the party.  Moments after they arrived, the two boys chased each other up the spiral staircase (which was never part of the plan) and began throwing items over the balcony to the main floor.  They turned the bathtub water on in the master bedroom which was equipped with pillows and blankets as a play area for Tommy.  They found a battery operated toy that moved on wheels and made it tumble down the stairs.  They tried to dislodge the birdfeeder from its stand.  All I was thinking is how stressful it was having these two boys running around the party for only two hours.  What is it going to be like when Tommy is their age running around the house wreaking similar havoc all day every day?  I shuddered at the thought.

Chloe Jane seemed to genuinely enjoy her Princess Party.  Holly, the Heinzmans, Raines Watkins, and the Fifes were also guests and Chloe Jane appreciated them being there.

Chloe Jane dressed up as a Princess for her party and wore a crown she decorated to make her feel more like royalty.  But her efforts to become a Princess for a day had little effect on me because, to me, she’s never stopped being one.