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Maryan
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| Posted: Feb 13 2008 at 11:45am | IP Logged
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...WHAT is the deeper meaning to the Princess and the Pea??
I read it to my boys last night. After I read the title they groaned, but I pressed on... thinking fairy tales always have good morals...
But I had a short memory and couldn't remember the moral to this one. And as I read... I couldn't find it.
I walked away from this book explaining to the boys why we don't complain about being uncomfortable to our hosts instead of complaining like the Princess did...
What moral or insight was I supposed to find??? To be a complaining primadonna doesn't seem a worthwhile lesson...
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Matilda
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| Posted: Feb 13 2008 at 1:10pm | IP Logged
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I always thought it had to do with not judging people based on their outward appearances or never judge a book by it's cover. Wasn't she a mess when she arrived and the queen was doubtful about her claim to be a princess? I laughed when I saw your last line because that is what I always thought too even as a child... how very rude she was to her hosts!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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Maryan
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| Posted: Feb 13 2008 at 1:21pm | IP Logged
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Ahhh!!! The lightbulb is going on!
I was so stuck on her rudeness... that I couldn't see anything else?
I thought surely the moral isn't to be rude and have sensitive sleeping habits??? 
I'm not sure if it makes the "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover" point well enough for it to be a favorite fairy tale in this house!!
Thanks Matilda... I was truly at a loss... and we're about to discuss "what we read yesterday" at snacktime now. Now we can at least have a worthwhile discussion! 
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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JennGM
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| Posted: Feb 13 2008 at 1:42pm | IP Logged
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Besides not judging from the outside, I thought it also meant that a person's character is not just skin deep -- being a princess isn't just a title, but her whole being. This could be taken further, as being a saint isn't just on the outside, but must encompass the whole being. The pea was her "test of strength" in a way.
Too farfetched? I think it's hard to see through a boy's eyes. I didn't think she was terribly rude when her hosts ask how did she sleep. She apologized that she was unlike herself because she didn't sleep well. Of course there are many different versions.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Maryan
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| Posted: Feb 13 2008 at 2:41pm | IP Logged
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Well... it must be genetic -- they didn't get the point either.
I asked them what do you think was a lesson learned? And they all were stumped.
Finally: John Paul doubtfully said: "You don't need to marry a fine Princess?"
I laughed and said... "Well, it turns out she was a Princess."
So again, doubtfully, he said: "Okay...so, then you do?"
Jenn - I like your points, I got them too late. I think you're right about different versions because I do feel at some point I read a more "apologetic version," but not this one.
All things considered, with so many good fairy tales, I think this might move to the end of the list for my house of boys. I should have taken the hint with the groaning!!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Feb 13 2008 at 3:41pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Maryan, I needed a good laugh!!!
This is one fairy tale I never got either.
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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MaryM
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| Posted: Feb 14 2008 at 3:12am | IP Logged
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One approach I have found very interesting and fun for us it to seek out those different variations for fairy tales or folk tales like Jenn mentioned. The kids enjoy seeing the story told in different ways and comparing them. Some are basically similar, some are spoofs on the real story and some are just told from a different perspective or characters changed in time/place. I like seeing the variations in illustrations, too. Officially we have done it with Cinderella, Gingerbread Boy, Little Red Hen, Three Little Pigs, but we definitely have read other books of various stories.
Specifically for the Princess and the Pea, your boys might like The Cowboy and the Black-eyed Pea which is a western tale with a boy in the main role or The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-Be which is the story told from the point of view of the pea. Silly but fun.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Maryan
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| Posted: Feb 14 2008 at 8:07am | IP Logged
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Oh fun Mary -- neat idea!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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msclavel
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| Posted: Feb 15 2008 at 7:25am | IP Logged
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My daughter wrote her own version about a biker looking for a suitable wife.In her version the proper wife for a biker does not feel or complain about the pea under the seat of the motorcycle.
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Maryan
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Maryan
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