Women's liberation and modern society have changed this expectation and modern authors have reflected that change in stories, movies and television. Now the Princess is just as likely to save herself without the Prince's assistance or even go one further and save the Prince.
As we grow up, we put all our hope in meeting Prince Charming, our Knight in Shining Armor (Sigh). Well, I believe we have all been lied to. I'm not saying there can't be a "happily ever after". I'm not saying that the Princess doesn't need a Knight once in awhile. We can't always be strong. I'm saying that the first "Knight in Shining Armor" in a girl's life should not be cast as the Prince. What I'm saying is they got the wrong guy as the first Knight.
You see I've had the privilege of knowing many a Knight in my life and I'm sure you have too if you really think about it. They often go by the name "King of the Realm" or Dad.
When I think back in life, I believed the Fairytale. I believed in it so strongly that I never realized I already had a Knight in my life. Once when I was 15, five drunk girls ganged up on me while I was babysitting. It was my first time working for this woman and her regular babysitter showed up with her friends to get drunk and get dolled up for a dance. As things escalated and got out of control, I managed to lock them out of the house just long enough to call my dad on the phone. We lived right around the block. Dad came blazing in ready to take on all comers and soon he had me safely home. I know there were other incidents in life when Dad stepped up to the roll of Knight too.
My generation saw a peak in divorce rates and for awhile it seemed that almost all children were placed with their mothers to be raised while only seeing their fathers a few days a month. Thankfully that trend is starting to even out with equal custody. This didn't stop my husband from fulfilling his roll as Knight though. For example, when our very independent daughter needed financial aid in college, my husband is the one who stepped up and said we would help her.
My brother followed in Dad's footsteps with his own daughters, giving them a place to live with their children when they had no money and no place to go.
Dad is gone now, but I still have a Knight in my life - he just happens to also be my Prince Charming. So think about it. Who are the Knights in your life?
