The King's Princess

Having watched Princess Diaries, King Philippe -the father of Princess Mia- wrote a letter for her daughter's 16th birthday when she was only an infant. Eventually, King Philippe died and Princess Mia received that letter when she was 16. Upon reading the letter, her decisions in life changed. With just a paper and few words from her father, everything in Princess Mia's life changed. How is that?

An article, entitled How fathers influence daughters, came across as I was browsing the internet. It talks about how can a father mold his daughter. It discusses the stage by stage impact of the king to his little princess. This article also gives philosophies on how fathers should handle their relationship with their daughters.

Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick quoted what associate professor of philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University Michael Austin said, "How Dad approaches life will serve as an example for his daughter to build off of in her own life, even if she chooses a different view of the world."

Fathers, including mothers, are the very first living examples in a daughter's life. Knowing that they were already there even before she was born, gives the daughter an idea of her identity. And that idea will be formed according to what she sees from her parents especially from her father.

The stage by stage of a daughter's growth with her father was also listed by Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick. These are the following:

Dads and daughters: From infant to toddler

This tells how this stage is very crucial for a daughter's life that the father shouldn't miss. I agree with what the author emphasized because according to what I heard before, this is the very first relationship that a child will have. Every "first things" she did were the most powerful memories she will ever have. If she experienced love at first, then it will be alive in her. But because of a father's absence at first, she will most likely to carry bitterness.

   

Fathers and daughters: From tween to teen

Patience must be practiced by the father at this stage of his daughter. As the daughter experiences a lot of changes from physical to emotional aspects, she surely has irritations and her mind is getting to know more of the things around her. And as she is growing with more people, ideas and things, the father must guard on her daughter more. Not just to guard, but also to become a best friend to her.

From this article, it can be implied that the father has the biggest role in his daughter's fairy tale. Princess Mia's changed of decisions was a result of her father's love. Growing up with no father, she had a "not so good life." But when she realized something good about her father, she tends to follow what her father was according to what she felt in her father's letter.