The Cinderella Syndrome: For Princesses Living in a Kingdom of One

By Crystal V. Quintero

For years people would give Crystal looks of pity because she was not in a relationship, married, or had children. She found herself constantly having to apologize for her single status. This caused her to create the blog "The Cinderella Syndrome" to vent her frustration, which inspired her to write this book. Are you waiting for that glass slipper? Or have you decided to create a kingdom of your own? The Cinderella Syndrome explores why some of us have chosen to live in our own castles of serenity. If you are one of these princesses this book will help you to explore why you are still single and why you do not have to apologize for it. Before you can create a long lasting relationship with someone else you first have to transform how you view and love yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483527857

Book preview

Are You Waiting on that Glass Slipper?

After living in my mother’s kingdom for many years, it was time for this princess to branch out and make her own. This princess could no longer wait for her prince to bring her to his castle.

This is a big step for any princess who has made the decision to create her own fairytale that does not include a prince, knight in shining armor, a frog, or a beast needing to be kissed. This princess made a decision to pursue her own happiness in her kingdom of Singledom. I call it the castle of serenity, where you can leave a few dishes in the sink, leave your shoes by the door, be indisposed, or just walk around naked.

Yet as I moved out of my mother’s kingdom to the kingdom of Singledom, I found that this momentous decision turned me into an abnormality. What is wrong with the princess? She is not following the fairytale. She cannot make up her own rules—she must wait for her prince! As the court tries to figure out why the princess has left on her own, the barrage of questions begin:

You’re not afraid to live by yourself?

Have you looked hard enough for your prince?

Is she getting married soon?

Is she pregnant?

So you are going to be doing this all by yourself?

Yes, this princess is going it alone. As the trunks of my luggage and baubles were being packed for Singledom, whispers began from family members, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, doctors, people I don’t like, my tax preparer even! The question they really wanted to ask is, Why don’t you have a man/prince? while they gave me that something-must-be-wrong-with-her look.

I never realized creating my own kingdom would make me an anomaly. The nonbelievers made me feel like this one act of independence created a small tear in the universe, disrupted space-time continuum, or made some people question whether aliens are among us.

It also made people question their long-held beliefs about themselves and me:

Maybe two is not better than one . . . ?

She’s obviously a lesbian.

She will have one hundred cats.

She does not like sex.

She is not good in bed.

Her cookie must stink.

She does not give head.

She does not give good head.

She has unrealistic expectations.

This list could go on and on about my manless/princeless state.

My single status reached a critical stage when I attended the wake of my favorite queen. One of the members of court who I had not seen in a long time was there. After we exchanged pleasantries, she asked, Did you get married? Did you have a baby yet? My no responses