Dora, My Daughter’s “Shero” Is Ten Years Old And Going On… 15

I must confess - there are times I hate Dora with a passion because she dominates my household. My daughter has virtually every toy with the Dora’s countenance on it and my wife and I have had to say know to our daughter’s growing benign addiction to all these Dora. Honestly, tell me that if you are parents that you haven’t said secretly: if I hear that Dora theme song one time, I am going to "blow chunks" or worse? But, I made sacrifices... doing for my daughter what I swore I wouldn’t do - spoiling her, and in my case, giving in to my daughter’s coveting all things Dora. My feelings for Dora might be ambivalent, but I am giving her props for turning ten years old and bringing such joy to my daughter’s life.

According to the Washington Post, Dora is ten years old and the truth is my daughter reminded me yesterday, as if the cartoon “shero” was a member of the family. The truth is I have thank Dora for teaching my daughter basic geography and sometimes substituting for my being parent by keeping my daughter busy while I am doing something else. Dora has occupied my daughter’s time… taking her on adventures through the TV show or the many books, which disproportionately take up my library space. Dora has taught my daughter about some animals I didn’t even knew about and introduced her to the fact that there are some things that little girls can do as well the little boys.  

In looking at Dora, I like the fact that she is Latina and this fact is not focused on… to give fodder for the dividers and the advocates of America’s growing balkanization. Dora is just a little girl, who happens to be a Latina and loves adventures like all little girls. I thank the creators and the producers of Dora, who have assisted us in the raising of our daughter, in instilling in her a sense of adventure, curiosity, humor, and an urge to read. Moreover, I thank Dora for assisting me in my early bonding with my daughter, although I reluctantly read some of the stories over and over again. From the Verily Prime family, happy birthday, Dora. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/13/AR2010081306131.html