The Royal Wedding got me thinking about love and princesses and “happily ever after.” Meghan Markle is certainly a different kind of princess (or technically duchess), right? True confession: Before her engagement, I knew absolutely nothing about Meghan Markle. I still don’t, really. However, the adjectives I have read or heard spoken about her are what interest me. This new duchess has been described as someone who is a leader. She has been referred to as brave, driven, fun, interesting, talented, and philanthropic. Of course, she happens to be beautiful and fashionable, but if she and Harry are going to achieve their happily ever after, it won’t be because they are good-looking or wear nice clothes. It’ll be because of WHO they are as human beings.
So, as you raise your little princes and princesses, remember to compliment them on the qualities that matter, not what they look like or what they are wearing. Here are some alternatives to beautiful or handsome:
- Intelligent
- Creative
- Curious
- Trustworthy
- Loyal
- Funny
- Unique
- Intelligent
- Brave
- Resilient
- Sensitive
- Happy
- Honest
- Kind
- Caring
Feel free to add to the list and hang it on your fridge as a reminder. What you focus on will become what is important to your children. Let them know that if they want to achieve their dreams and their own kind of happily ever after, it will have everything to do with how they conduct themselves as people, not simply how they look.