Some (certainly not all) single (and even some married) women I have talked to seem to seriously and strongly hold to the notion or desire that this (or some) idealized man is just over the next hill, even while recognizing that they have to get on with life.
Is this strictly a western notion? Why does the Prince Charming mythos persist well into this age of female empowerment? What is so attractive about it for women? Is it some aspect of attaining personal and emotional “completeness” with a perfect mate?
Hm, it depends on what you mean by Prince Charming. I would rather be alone than be with someone I do not love. I haven’t loved any of the men I’ve attempted to date, so I haven’t married them (or even stayed with them for that long).
I suppose I am this way because my parents have an extremely happy marriage. They have been married almost 37 years, and my dad still introduces my mom as his bride and my mom gets dreamy-eyed when she talks about my dad to other people. I have a pretty good idea of what love looks like, and I feel like it’s worth the wait. I am living my life to the fullest, having a great time, and feeling very fulfilled. I have advanced degrees, a good job, and a nice plan for the future. I’m not waiting for Prince Charming, per se, but definitely for one of the few people in this world who will make my heart go all oobley goobley.
I think a lot of kids never really think through what empowerment means. Thus some fall for the Prince Charming mythos and expect the world to come to them, while others wiggle their thonged bottoms in the air as if freak dancing is emancipating.
It might take a few generations of good female role models to help balance things a bit, but even then, kids will be kids.
I hope he comes soon, cause I’m tired of kissing frogs.
I think early on in my “lovelife career”, I searched for this mythical guy. I realized early on that he wasn’t going to be all things to me, as I surely wasn’t going to be all things to him.
Sometimes I find a “hit”, a guy who fits a lot (but not all) of the categories, and I pretty much stick with them. Does that make sense?
I don’t believe Prince Charming is around the corner. I think you fall in love with someone, and they either turn into Prince Charming or they revert back to a frog.
I’ve been with my SO for 9 years off and on. When I first met him, I thought, damn, I am SO in LOVE with this guy. There have also been several times when I thought, good lord, what do I see in him. But when we decided to make this a serious, full-time relationship, he changed. He does all the sweet things, like hold my hand while we ride down the road, or open doors for me. He knows what I consider to be sweet, and he does these things.
So, no, Prince Charming ain’t gonna ride up on his horse. But when you fall in love with someone, they’ve always got the potential Prince in them. (Jeez, that sounds corny. But it’s true, IMHO.)
I know a girl who waited for prince charming but wound up marrying the frog instead. So know she stays in the marriage, making the best of it because of the child she wound up with when he got her drunk and knocked her up, which was why she married him in the first place.
Both my sister and aunt are/were looking for Price Charming. I dislike the idea. Waiting years of your life looking for an idea that probably won’t materialize, instead of looking for the best hit, as someone else said.
I believe there is more than one person in this world with whom you could have a happy and succesful marriage. Limiting the possibilities just looking for Mr. Perfect or Prince Charming seems stupid for me.
Shrew, my parents also have a good marriage. I’ve seen their ups and downs, how they get angry and reconcile, how they get all dopey when they talk about each other. I know a marriage is not all happiness, all perfection. I do not expect that in a person.
I can’t tell whether you’re agreeing with me or scolding me. I don’t expect anyone to be perfect. My father was abusive (not anymore), loud, and very hard to live with. He has control issues left over from being an abused child and a rebellious teen. My mother is a lifetime smoker, emotionally distant, and a workaholic. They aren’t perfect, but they love each other all the same. I’m far from perfect, and I don’t expect a man to be perfect, but if we can love each other, imperfections and all, kookoocachoo for us.
I can say that not all single females are. I certainly was not, and I would be the first the say (with himself the second) that DeathLlama is not a Prince Charming nor a knight in shining armor. He is a man, a wonderful, wonderful man, and I love that far more.
My sister, OTOH, is another story. 5 months after filing for divorce, she tells me (in justifying her newfound “love”) that she “always hoped she would have the fairy tale,” and that she’d resigned herself that it wouldn’t happen before 30. But now she was hoping maybe it could happen before she was 40! (She’s 34, for the record)
This, she says after saying she always wanted this mythical “fairy tale” love, you know, the one I have with my fiance (now hubby). I about choked. What I have, I explained, was wonderful and more than I’d ever imagined–but it was also very real, and very much the product of hard work. Those words fell on deaf ears, but whatever.
Sorry, I was neither scolding or agreeing with you. Just saying that I also came from a family with happily married parents, but it doesn’t make me wait or expect someone nearly perfect. You are not looking for Prince Charming either, I realize that after reading your post. Basically saying I have a similar opinion to yours. I apologize for the misunderstanding.
it’s all about the “molding.” You find someone who has good potential (that would be your “clay”) and proceed to mold them into your Prince Charming. Of course, you must be willing to be molded a little yourself…
