Fairy Tale Endings

by Kami Cornwall

I recently received a post from a friend that said, "Snow White lived with seven men. Jasmine was in a forbidden relationship with a homeless boy. Little Red Riding Hood didn’t listen to her mother. Pinocchio was a liar. Robin Hood was a thief. Tarzan walked around without any clothes on. Sleeping Beauty married the first person she kissed. Cinderella lied and snuck out at night to attend a party. These are the stories our parents raised us with & then they complain our generation is messed up?!"

It got me thinking about the virtues that were in those stories and how we all want that "happily ever after." If you haven't seen the play "Into the Woods" you really ought to rent it (watch it now on Netflix!) because it illustrates an important point; what happens after Cinderella marries the prince? Do they always get along? Do these princes who pursue ladies in distress eventually get bored of domestic life and long for the chase again? Who really lives without any further stresses or problems in life?

Today I cleaned the bathrooms, made beds, vacuumed the house, did the dishes, the laundry, the cooking, paid bills, and still managed to have some down time with my boys. When I was done with the big work, however, I thought, "There! I'm done. Happily ever after!" But then reality slapped me upside the head. I'm just going to have to do it all over again sooner than I think. It's never done - nor should it be. When my house is perpetually clean it means I don't have anyone living here and I would be a very lonely person. Not happily ever after at all. So today I'm appreciating the fact that I'm enjoying the story and not trying to create some fantastic finale. I do the mundane things so I can perpetuate good health in my family, a warm roof over their heads, and peace in the home.

Here's to the "happily ever afters" in our lives!