There’s nothing like a classic fairytale romance to inspire a real life love and one man used Disney’s Sleeping Beauty to propose to his girlfriend in the most epic way.
Filmmaker Lee Loechler decided he would use his girlfriend’s love of Sleeping Beauty to pull off an incredible and unexpected proposal. Loechler worked with an animator for six months to edit himself and his girlfriend, Dr. Sthuthi David, into the classic Disney film.
When the new cut was completed he rented out a movie theater and even invited some of their family and friends to join in the audience and witness the big moment. They were all in on the surprise and David didn’t suspect a thing, believing that they were all simply going to the movies to watch a special screening of her favorite film.
The proposal moment doesn’t come until close to the end of the film, so it was a suspenseful wait for Loechler, according to an interview with Insider. As the prince comes to wake Aurora from her magical slumber, the new scenes begin to play out and David catches on to what’s happening. “Big public proposals can be sweet, but I could never imagine putting someone on the spot like that if you’re not 100% sure they will say yes,” he told Insider.
Luckily the story has a happy ending and David gladly accepted his proposal. Although he hilariously prepared for the alternative answer, so watch the video all the way to the end, it’s totally worth it.
I’m not a big fan of babies. Now I know that’s not going to be a popular opinion, but there it is. Are babies adorable, tiny miracles that smell like heaven? Sure, of course they are. But do I want one living in my home? Not particularly. It may alarm you to know that I have two children of my own, who were in fact babies at one point, and I didn’t love it. Babies made me tired (so very very tired), anxious and bored all at the same time. Like I said, I’m just not a fan.
Two weeks after my first child was born I wrote these two questions in my diary; “What if this was all a mistake?” and “What if I’m a terrible mom?” Two weeks in and I was frustrated with myself for not feeling better sooner, for not being head over heels in love with my baby. At the time I didn’t realize I was simply not a fan of babies. I worried that I was truly not cut out to be a mother.
Pretty soon after I wrote those questions, I realized I did, in fact, love my baby. But like him? That was still to be determined. I mean, sure he was objectively the cutest baby ever, and yes he was basically a genius, but hanging out with him 12 hours a day and then a few more hours every night was kind of a drag. And then to make it worse, I of course, felt horribly guilty about feeling this way. And it didn’t matter how many times little old ladies cornered me in the produce aisle and lectured me about enjoying every minute, because soon my baby would grow up and I would be so so sad, I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t enjoy every minute, because I was just trying to enjoy a few minutes, every once in a while, on a good day.
Right before my son turned one, he started walking. People had been warning me for months; oh don’t rush it! Once he goes mobile you’ll have to chase him everywhere! So imagine my surprise when both my son and myself were infinitely happier when he started walking. He could go where he wanted to go! Yes, I had to follow him, but he could go! I no longer had to walk around holding him, pointing to crap, hoping I would eventually guess what he wanted! It was awesome. I loved it.
Eventually, I forgot enough about babies to get pregnant again, and 26 months and one week after my first baby was born, I had my second. My journal entries after my daughter was born were decidedly more upbeat than after my son, but I do remember telling everyone I would much rather spend time with a toddler over a newborn (I know, another controversial opinion). Here’s the thing about toddlers, they are terrible of course, that’s how they got that adorable nickname, but they are also hilarious. And they can (sort of, some of the time) tell you what they want. Do they scream it at you because you gave them the blue bowl when they clearly wanted the red? Sure. But now you know! I really don’t appreciate the guessing games babies play. I mean really, what do you need?!
So here’s the good news, lest you complete this story believing I am a terrible mother who hates her children; the older my kids get the more I like them! It’s crazy, I know, but it’s true. Right now they are five and three, and I am really diggin it. They are still adorably tiny and cute, but I don’t feel like I may break them just trying to get a damn shirt over their heads. They tell jokes (they don’t make any sense at all, but they tell them)! They can pump on the swings, and use the bathroom by themselves 75% of the time, and they still let me kiss and hug and snuggle them almost as much as I want. It’s a win, win people!
So what’s my point with all this? I guess it’s this, first of all, don’t let old people bully you at the grocery store, and secondly, don’t be afraid of the next stage in your kids’ lives. I mean, should you wish away your kids’ childhoods? No, probably not (unless you just really really hate this part, because the next part might be much better!). Should you try and soak up the precious minutes you have with your kids while they are little? Of course! But if your kid is in a stage right now that you are really not into, don’t feel guilty about not loving every second of it. Life is full of seasons, right? So maybe the next one will be the best yet.
As for my questions, do I have any answers yet? Well as far as whether or not I am a terrible mother, only time will tell. I imagine my children will work that out with a therapist someday, so I’ll have to get back to you. But as for wondering if this was all a mistake, I can confidently answer with a resounding no.
I am a freelance writer and a stay at home mom to my two kids. I love to do art projects with my kids and force them to play outside as much as possible. I am currently working on writing a novel in 40-minute bursts during naptime.
I am feeling self-conscious about my upcoming bike trip across America with my 15-year-old son. It is such a luxury and privilege to be able to just take off and step out of the rat race like this that I am a bit embarrassed.
It is not lost on me that I am a middle-income, white woman who has grown up with a lot of support and opportunity. I feel guilty doing something as self-serving as this bike adventure. Where do I get off thinking that I can get away with something so fun?
Perhaps, these thoughts come from the Midwesterner in me. My family hails from Minnesota and I fight a chemical in my blood that demands that we should all be a little bit miserable in order to earn our keep in this world. We are also supposed to praise frugality, hard work and keep a low profile so as not to draw attention to ourselves. This trip does not match these sentiments.
To add to these feelings of guilt, my husband Twain and I have fallen into all the financial traps that our society has set for us and I am choosing to ignore them. We have taken on tremendous school loans which we may never pay off fully, maxed out a home equity line and done the credit card dance throughout our adult lives. We live paycheck to paycheck and rarely buy new clothing or gear. We have three kids in college and often need to bail them out by helping them with rent and other expenses. We don’t have health insurance.
We decided to take a gamble this year because it felt like throwing money away and our coverage was terrible anyway. We drive a 2008 mini-van that has sliding doors on either side that get stuck open routinely. It is a big joke to watch our children and their friends struggle to slam the door closed only to have it spring back open again and again. We grocery shop at Trader Joe’s because it is the cheapest thing going. I don’t have a retirement account. Money is a constant stress. It causes a lot of conflict.
Yet, when we do get money do we save it? Do we pay down our debt? No. We impulsively spend it on travel. It seems that every time we get a little windfall we impulsively spend it on an adventure. They are low budget adventures to be sure, but they are still frivolous and seemingly irresponsible given the state of our finances. But this impulsivity has allowed us to do amazing things.
We have followed the Oregon Trail and ridden in covered wagons. We have walked on Glaciers in Iceland. We have explored Mammoth Cave and hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. We have snorkeled in tropical waters and hung out with Capuchin monkeys. We have camped on beaches and forests and canoed down remote rivers. These trips define our family and the way in which we engage with the world around us. I wouldn’t take away a second of them no matter the cost.
So this bike trip? Totally financially irresponsible. Our money would be better spent paying off loans, saving for retirement or buying health insurance. But how insufferably boring! When Oakley and I leave, it will be necessary for me to close my private practice counseling business. My income will come to a crashing halt. We will defer our student loans and Twain (bless his heart) will keep working, but the trip will cost a lot in terms of gear, camping fees and other necessities. It is completely reckless and will add to our financial stress considerably.
But to not go would be worse. We hear about tragedies on a global scale every day and I also hear them on a personal scale through my counseling work. I am often overwhelmed by the state of the world and by the sadness that many people I know carry, such as depression and suicidal ideation, the crushing cycle of poverty, drug addiction and failing families. When I become overwhelmed everything seems gray. I get tired and worn and lose my spark. At these times I feel I have nothing left to offer. Then I feel bad about myself and become unmotivated. It is a sad state of affairs. I know it happens to everybody.
If I don’t have a spark and if Oakley loses his spark, what good are we? I want to be a positive force in the world and I want him to be one, too. The only way I know how to keep our sparks bright is to get out of the gray of the city. To get out off our screens and into the outdoors. To engage with others and nature. To stop worrying about ferry schedules and shopping lists. To stop rushing and getting lost in the lists of my life.
Adventuring in the outdoors is how I remember where I fit and what I am a part of. This is why, no matter how selfish it seems, this trip is a good thing. Yes, it is totally self-serving but, I am hoping, it will allow us to have more to give, by filling us up.
My role model is Frederick the mouse in Leo Lionni’s children’s book, Frederick. Frederick spends his days collecting beautiful images and feelings throughout the summer days to have something to share with the other mice during the dark winter months:
“And how about the Colors Frederick?” they asked anxiously.
“Close your eyes again,” Frederick said.
And when he told them of the blue periwinkles and the red poppies the yellow wheat and the green leaves of the berry bush, they saw the colors as clearly as if they had been painted on their minds.
I may never pay off my loans. I may never make the big changes that I would like to see in the world, but I think I can rationalize this expedition by believing that if we stay completely alive and awake we are adding something good to the world. At least believing us helps quell the scolding Midwesterner in me.
Beginning in August 2019, my son Oakley and I will cycle across America over the course of three months. Oakley is a spirited 15-year-old boy who has always struggled to fit into the confines of mainstream culture. I am Leah, his mother—and we are ready for adventure.
For our December 2018 Spoke Writing Challenge, we asked you to tell us your best stories about making holiday memories. We loved all the sweet traditions and awesome stories our Spoke Contributors shared with us.
Here are the three winning Spoke posts from this fun challenge, which garnered each winning writer a sweet $100 prize. Interested in getting in on our Spoke Writing Challenges? Sign up to become a Spoke Contributor if you haven’t already and check your inbox for our next Spoke Writing Challenge, dropping soon!
Dear Parents: Give Yourself Permission for the Holidays
It’s that time of year. You know that I’m talking about.
The holidays. The stress. The presents and movies and so much wrapping. Reaching for that Christmas magic. Clinging to those moments that become memories with your kids…and you’re mentally preparing yourself for all the extra that comes with this season.
Earlier this year, my 10-year-old caught me trying to slip a buck under her pillow while grabbing her tooth, way the heck under her pillow, in the pre-dawn hours when I thought she was still asleep. She kept my secret with the understanding if she told her little brother, the cash-for-teeth deal was over.
Armed with this knowledge, she quickly figured out not only is Mommy the Tooth Fairy, I am also the laundry fairy, the dishes fairy, the cleaning fairy (I actually had my kids—and maybe even my husband—believing in these domestic goddess fairies), the Easter Bunny and so on. You know what’s next: Santa.
There’s a lot of pressure these days to give our kids the perfect holiday filled with memories that will last a lifetime. We have so many traditions now, it’s hard to get them all done each year. Instead of making candy, we bake and decorate cookies. We still put up our tree, but it has a lot more ornaments, lights, ribbon and tinsel than it used to. My daughter was always scared of Santa, so we only have two pictures of her with him and she’s 11 years old.
Thanks to everyone who shared their awesome stories with our Spoke Contributor Network! Learn more about joining Spoke here—and we’ll see you for the next Spoke Writing Challenge.
Does your super tyke insist on wearing a cape wherever he goes? While that might spell annoyance when you’re trying to get him dressed for a fancy occasion, that superhero costume might actually have some real benefits. A recent study revealed that kids who dress up in costumes work harder and concentrate more on tasks. Keep reading more to find out just how super your little hero can be.
Researchers designed an experiment to find out how to keep kids focused on work when surrounded by distractions, like technology. Using a group of four and six year olds, the study asked the kids to complete a computer task for ten minutes. They were told if they got bored, there was an iPad close by they were welcome to use.
The 180 kids were also divided into three groups. The first group was instructed to think about their feelings as they worked and ask themselves, “Am I working hard?” The second group were told to ask themselves in the third person, “Is Alice working hard?” for example, if the child’s name is Alice. The third group was asked to imagine themselves as a character they loved, like a princess or superhero and they were given costumes to dress up in as that character.
It might not come as a big shock that the kids spent only 37 percent of those ten minutes in their work task and 63 percent playing on the iPad. What is interesting, however, is that the researchers found that the kids who were dressed up in costume stayed on the work task longer than the kids in the other two groups.
It’s unclear exactly why the costumed kids worked harder, but one possible explanation was that the kids identified with the character’s traits and tried to imitate those special skills and powers, resulting in more perseverance in handling the assignment. In other words, if kids wear a costume long enough, they might start believing they can do anything they set their minds to. Not a bad result for the extra time it takes to keep that cape clean.
Do your kids love to dress up in costumes all the time? Share your thoughts on the study in the comments.
You make it a point to encourage your kids to reach for their dreams. Get a little help from the new FOX series, Pitch premiering Thursday September 22nd at 9/8c on FOX. This new series follows Ginny Baker as she becomes the first female pitcher in MLB.
We recently spoke to five parents around the web who detailed their take on FOX’s new drama. Read on to hear from these parents and why they think Pitch will inspire your own kids to follow their hopes and dreams.
1. You Now Have a New Female Role Model
We can probably count on one hand the number of female women of color role models who we’d love our kids to idolize. Good news: this new show adds one more to the pack. Ginny is strong and determined. Click here to read one mom’s take on how this young female athlete protagonist is reason enough to tune into Pitch.
2. It’s All About Believing in Your Kids
If there’s one golden rule of parenting you aspire to fulfill daily it’s to always believe in your kids. According to one mom we spoke to, Pitch exemplifies this and will inspire you to say, “yes you can”, no matter what your child’s dreams are. Read more from this mom and how the new show inspires her to be a better mother.
3. Let’s Break Some Gender Stereotypes
Gone are the days barbies are for girls and trucks are for boys. One dad we spoke to wrote that he would never tell his boys what to play with if it’s not geared towards their gender. Find out more about this dad’s take on Pitch and how it relates to his approach to parenting.
4. Not Just About Sports
Sure, the show follows a rising female athlete, but if sports really isn’t your jam, you’ll still find Pitch inspiring and relatable. In fact, one mom thinks Ginny represents all parents who step up to the mound of parenthood. Hear more from her by clicking here.
5. You’ll Relate to Ginny as a Mom
Now that you’re a parent, your mom goggles are on 24/7. According to one mom, Pitch and the challenges Ginny faces are incredibly relatable to some of the hurdles mothers face daily. Read on to find out how your life as a mom isn’t so far off from Pitch‘s protagonist.
Curious about this new show? Watch the trailer below:
Whether before night-night or for daytime downtime, story time can really make your kid’s day. And thanks to the great authors and illustrators that live right here in Chicago, it can be a delight for you, too. Get to know some local talents that have a way with words and pictures. Flip through our album to discover their latest books to add to your library.
“Uni the Unicorn” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
The dish: Chances are your family is already familiar with Amy Krouse Rosenthal: This New York Times best-selling author and Chicago resident has more than 20 children’s under her belt, including her newest title, "Uni The Unicorn." Though it was just released, the book is already receiving crazy accolades and love. It tells the story of Uni, the only unicorn who believes -- despite what other unicorns say -- that little girls are real. So if your kids are keen on imagination and believing in the unthinkable (and you’re looking to build a savvy and curious small thinker) add this title to your list.
Buy it locally: at Heritage Littles, 2868 N. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview (773-242-9008 or heritagelittles.com).
What is your favorite children’s book? Let us know in the Comments!
