Need Help Answering My Daughter's Latest Question...

Ever notice there are so many missing mothers (or ones that are killed) in all those movies? Bambi, Nemo, etc. I guess my kids aren't quite as inquisitive, since they've never asked this question. But personally, I would just say "It's just a movie. Whoever wrote it left the mommy out!"

because all the mothers are killed off in disney movies.

Why doesnt ariel have a mommy????? I have watched that movie a trillion times and i guess i always miss the part where she is killed. is that in the original or the prequel? I have only seen the original.

While we're asking -- where are max & ruby's parents?

When asked a question like that I always turn it around on them and see what they think might be the answer. Then I say hmmm, you might be right, or see where the conversation takes us.

If you really want to get her going, read her D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths. Your daughter's question brings to mind the story of Zeus, who ate his pregnant wife, and later his daughter Athena sprang fully grown from his brain! And after all, Triton (Ariel's father, right?) was Athena's godfather. So there was definitely family history of eating the pregnant wife there. Just saying.

I used the turn it around and ask what she thinks A LOT with my daughter.

I also think you can give generic answers that will breed open minded-ness and tolerance.

"why doesn't ariel have a mommy"

"Cuz families come in all shapes. Isn't she lucky to have King Triton and Sebastian as her family"

Honestly!
Say, I don't know, what do you think?
It's a great conversation starter and it will be interesting to hear what your daughter has to say: divorce? she died? they forgot her?
Of course when she's a little older you can explain to her that it's a classic literary move: the child protagonist is a much more sympathetic character when s/he is either an orphan or at least motherless :)

Because she is pretend and the author did not give her one.

Because Bambi, Belle, Pocahontas, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Jasmine, Cinderella, Snow White, Lilo, Nemo, etc. have no mommies. Did I get them all?

you could tell her there's all kinds of families, some with mommies and no daddies, some with daddies and no mommies and some with both. but.. that might lead to further questions so maybe you could just tell her that mommy is on vacation and exploring other seas ;)

Update: I don't remember Ariel's mom being killed in teh movie... I don't recall her ever being there at all... am I forgetting something??

Update #2: thanks LeeLee for the follow-up. it was driving me crazy trying to figure out when Ariel's mom was killed in the movie. lol

Well, Ariel's mother was killed in the movie. I don't think you can get around that one. My daughter's been watching that movie since she was 3 years old. She understood at the time what happened ... your daughter will, too, at 5 years old.

Added: oops, they show her being killed by a pirate ship in Ariel's Beginning. Egads, they all blend into one now in my mind!

Havent read the other answers but in the 2nd one where ariel has a daughter, it goes into the back story she was either killed or captured while trying to save a music box from king triton

Come to think of it, where were Charlie Brown and all the other kids parents???? If they were ever in it did they talk like the teacher?? :-)

I seem to recall once hearing that Walt Disney himself lost his mother at an early age which might explain why the Mommy is missing in most of his stories. Sad.

I agree with the others and would turn the question around and ask her "where do you think her Mommy is?" and see what your daughter comes up with.

Often times we think our children are asking the question for a totally different reason. By us asking more questions, you can figure out where she is coming from and formulate your answer accordingly.

My standard for any of those questions...

"What do you think?"

How about the simple truth? "This is just a story someone made up and they weren't telling the parts about her mommy"... or something to that effect.

Just as a general strategy I usually answer questions with questions! A) I don't always KNOW the answer either B) it gives GREAT insight into how their little minds work C) It encourages them to think for themselves!

The answer is shown in the prequel: "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning". Ariel's mother, Queen Athena, was crushed by a pirate ship while trying to save a music box.

Here are more motherless Disney characters besides those mentioned by Bobbi: Prince Adam (the Beast), Prince Phillip, Prince Eric, Eugene Fitzherbert (Flynn Rider), Aladdin, Koda ("Brother Bear"),Tarzan, Jane (Tarzan's wife), Joe (giant gorilla in "Mighty Joe Young") Jill Young (woman from "Mighty Joe Young"), Aladar (iguanadon in "Dinosaur"), Kida ("Atlantis"), Milo ("Atlantis"), Audrey ("Atlantis"), Taran ("The Black Cauldron"), the Wart ("The Sword in the Stone"), Kay ("The Sword in the Stone"), Peyton ("The Game Plan"), Li Shang, Mowgli, Quasimodo, Kuzco ("The Emperor's New Groove"), Todd ("The Fox and the Hound"), Olivia Flaversham ("The Great Mouse Detective"), Penny ("The Rescuers"), and Giselle ("Enchanted").

I watch too much Disney and own each of these movies except for "The Black Cauldron" and "The Rescuers".

When these questions come up, I just say "I don't know. The movie doesn't say!" If you really don't know, just say so.

I told my daughter that her mommy probably went on a long shopping trip. Her next question was, "Is she going to bring Ariel a treat?!?"