Nine-Year-Old Princess Elisabeth Of Belgium Should Be Your Daughter’s Role Model
Princess Elisabeth took to the podium in a very age appropriate dress, welcoming her guests with the following opening — in Dutch:
”Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very happy that I can give my name to this new children’s hospital today. Together with you, I hope that many children will find help here. I know they can count on your daily commitment. The Princess Elisabeth Children’s Hospital now gets a special place in my heart.”
This was the little princess’s first speech and she was no doubt assisted by adults in her presentation. But in a culture where little girls are constantly being told that they aren’t smart enough to do basic math, are only valued if they’re skinny, and in some places in the world, considered worthless burdens on their families, girls like Princess Elisabeth rarely get mentioned. While all of the aforementioned issues are always important topics for discussion, it’s worth taking note of a young girl who isn’t in the news for an eating disorder but rather for being smart, eloquent, and poised.
(photo: wsj.com and examiner.com)