It’s not an exaggeration when I say that I don’t think I’ve ever admired another human being more than I admire this little girl:
According to Today.com, the Holly Springs School of Dance in North Carolina recently treated its little band of whirling dervishes to a fun day of dressing up like princesses for “Princess Day.” And while the term “princess” means different things to different people, there are some general costume themes you’d typically expect to see at such an occasion: namely frilly tutus, tiaras, sequins, and maybe throw in a wing or two. Oh, and anything “Frozen” related.
Little did the dance teachers know that they had a true artist in their midst. In the innovative spirit of a Gen Z-er, 5-year-old Ainsley dared to be different and actively chose to wear something a little more original than the run-of-the-mill taffeta skirts. Although it may not have been the most practical choice for a dance class, her hot dog suit made a statement: she was there to have fun…and to soundly squash her competition.
Needless to say, Ainsley’s wardrobe choice is breaking the Internet. People are coming out of the woodwork to express their very genuine awe at such a little upstart and have affectionately established the hashtag “#hotdogprincess” to encourage other girls to not be afraid of being themselves:
The coolest part about this story — and Ainsley, specifically — is that she actively chose to be different. We’ve already discussed before how early bullying actually starts nowadays (as early as first grade for many children), and how devastating those effects can be on children’s development. But this kid literally gave none of the franks about what her peers might say or how they might respond; she wasn’t afraid of kids laughing at her or thinking she was weird. She wanted to be original and by gosh, she did it.
How do we raise our kids to be their own versions of the #hotdogprincess? How do we teach our kids to be fearless and confident? What do you do with your kids, and what do you say to them, to help them be comfortable and secure in themselves?
