Romance = Disney.

 
My childhood was centered around Disney Princess movies.

As a result, I grew up with a fantastical notion of romance and how I was going to be swept off my feet by my Prince Charming, who would kiss me to life again, or turn from a Beast into an awkward-looking man-thing, or kiss me so I could speak again and be human forever and not half-fish, or take me on a carpet ride with his precious pet monkey, or who would appreciate me in drag but ignore me as a woman until I got down to business and defeated the Huns.

[Side anecdote: When I was about four years old, I got really sad one day because I thought my mommy was going to die like all the princesses' mommies died. I told my mom that all mommies died. And I got sad. I mean, think about it! Belle doesn't have a mom, Snow White and Cinderella have stepmothers, Ariel doesn't have a mom, Jasmine doesn't have a mom, Nemo's mom dies...you can see where a small child would get this impression! Why do Disney story writers kill off all the moms? Do they think the audience will be more sympathetic to the heroines if they don't have a mom? Or do they think that the father's influence is the only one needed? But I digress.]

Now, don't get me wrong, I love Disney as much as the next person...like, I watch Disney movies to this day...all the time. But why does Disney continue to endeavor to give us unrealistic expectations on who we will find as a life partner? Maybe this contributes to why so many women of our generation are holding out for that ever-elusive "Mr. Right."

Lori Gottlieb, author of "Marry Him!," makes the case for settling for "Mr. Good Enough." This was a very interesting article to me. I've grown up hearing things like, "Find the person who God says is meant for you!" and, "Don't settle for anything less than you deserve!" I don't agree with her position. I believe that God has a special person for me, and that I'm meant to be with that person for a lifetime.

I believe and trust God's plan for me so much that I won't have to settle - I'll know.