As I sat in the dim light of my daughter’s room, my arm awkwardly draped over the bedrail while she drifted off to sleep, my thoughts began to wander. (Yes, we’re those parents. We’ve made our share of mistakes. Now that she’s three, she can’t sleep unless she’s squeezing one of our hands like it’s some kind of toddler challenge. If we have a second child, I’m just going to put them in their room with a blanket and a water bottle, wish them luck, and bolt!) This led me to think about Goldilocks—seriously, who does she think she is?
Mama Bear likely spends her Saturday morning working hard in the kitchen, preparing breakfast while Papa and Baby Bear are busy making a mess with toys. When the porridge is too hot, Mama has to take them for a stroll in the woods to cool it down. And that’s when Goldilocks shows up.
Is she some wild child? Not at all! She’s depicted in every storybook as a picture-perfect girl with lovely ringlets, perfectly styled, and an outfit that looks like it belongs in a designer catalog. Where are her parents, you ask? Probably on some extravagant vacation while the nanny scrolls through her phone, contemplating her life choices. Meanwhile, Goldilocks wanders into the woods and decides, “This cozy cottage? Mine now.” Talk about a case of entitlement!
Goldilocks clearly didn’t receive the memo on one of life’s fundamental rules: never enter a stranger’s home. But in she goes, spotting porridge on the table, and digs in. Seriously? Who sees a bowl of porridge and can’t resist it? This isn’t a gourmet meal; it’s porridge! She takes a bite from each bowl until she finds one that is “just right” for her royal taste—how rude!
Then she trashes the living room, starting with Papa Bear’s chair. She declares it too hard, moves on to Mama Bear’s chair, and complains it’s too soft. Finally, she finds Baby Bear’s chair, which she promptly breaks. Talk about a whirlwind of destruction!
Next, she heads upstairs, worn out from her rampage, and decides it’s nap time. She tries out Papa Bear’s bed, recoiling in disgust, then Mama’s bed, which is too soft for her liking. But Baby Bear’s bed? Now that’s just right! Because nothing kicks back your REM cycle like napping in a baby bear’s bed deep in the woods.
When the Bear family returns, Mama Bear is already frazzled, and discovering the mess Goldilocks left behind is the last straw. Breakfast is ruined, their furniture is damaged, and then they find an intruder in their home. Goldilocks wakes up and bolts out, leaving behind chaos and zero consequences for her actions. Meanwhile, the Bear family—especially Mama Bear—has to deal with the aftermath of her terrible choices.
Imagine a better ending: the Bear family walks into the bedroom, finds Goldilocks, and decides to teach her a lesson. It serves multiple purposes:
- It illustrates the circle of life. (Sure, bears don’t typically eat people, but they do protect their territory!)
- It imparts valuable lessons for kids: don’t enter strange homes, respect other people’s belongings, and if your mom serves you food, just be grateful instead of complaining.
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Summary
Goldilocks is a classic tale that raises important questions about boundaries and respect for others. Her actions—entering a stranger’s home, sampling their food, and ruining their property—highlight a lack of accountability. A more satisfying ending could involve the Bear family confronting her, teaching valuable life lessons in the process.