The pink generation

It is all pink in my house. Having two girls it is no wonder and I often look in their wardrobes and wonder what I have created. "But pink is pretty mum, and blue is for boys" I hear my eldest daughter say but is it any wonder these days from what is ingrained in them from so young.

There are fairy outfits everywhere you turn, high heels, play makeup..the list is endless.  There is a whole new generation of 'fairy princesses' coming through the ranks and that in itself is a scary thought!

I was determined not to have a 'pink' girl when Ella was little, so I dressed her in anything but, but that has gone out the window and its all I buy. The thing is that I would rather buy clothes that I know she is going to wear rather than chance it with ones that will collect dust.

I cannot remember being so 'girly' when I was little, in fact in was a bit of a tomboy chasing my older brother around so this is all new to me.  My mother says pink was not really an option so I did not know any better.

Recently I read a book 'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' and the author Peggy Orenstein talks about princessmania and the long term negative impact it may have with the girly girl image emphasis on beauty. It was interesting to read that the Disney Princess range was not launched until 2003 and that's when the whole marketing of 'pink' and 'pretty' began. It is now a multi billion dollar business.

I dont mind my kids dressing up as princesses or fairies, and I have given in to the fact that Ella loves pink...for now. It is better than black and innocent enough. As long as I set limits and they know they don't have to dress up in costumes to be 'beautiful' is the best thing I can do.

How about you? Do you remember dressing up as a little girl in pink?  On the flipside is there a 'blue' generation coming through?