It's time to stop wishing your life was a fairy tale, because princesses don't have it as good as we think they do. In fact, being treated like royalty is the last thing you want, especially when you're in a relationship. Your boyfriend should be treating you like an equal, not like a helpless girl who needs a strong man around to protect her. That's why it's time to end the idea that "good boyfriends" should treat their ladies like princesses.

It's better to be independent. You don't need a man to "rescue" you from your parents, your inner demons, or your life in general. You're an independent woman who can save herself. There's no reason to waste your time waiting for Prince Charming to find you when you're perfectly capable of doing all of the things that he can do.

Relationships require teamwork. If your man views himself as your protector, then he's going to feel like he's the one in charge. Of course, in a healthy relationship, you should be considered equals. He shouldn't be burdened with the task of taking care of you. You should take care of each other.

You shouldn't be able to do whatever you want. Princesses are free to do as they please. They give orders, and those orders are met. Sure, that sounds nice, but do you really want a boyfriend who will agree to do every little thing you ask? If you respect him, then you won't expect him to wait on you hand and foot.

There's more to you than beauty. Prince Eric fell for Ariel, even though he never heard her say a word. Why? Because she's beautiful. Even though you're a gorgeous girl, your man should like you for more than your looks.

Your life shouldn't revolve around him. Snow White sang about waiting for her prince to come. Sleeping Beauty needed a kiss in order to wake from her slumber. Even Simba wasn't truly happy until he had Nala. Of course, you and your boyfriend shouldn't believe that you need each other in order to feel fulfilled. Relationships are special, but they're not the only thing worth living for, because there's so much more to life.

Gifts aren't everything. Don't be materialistic. Your boyfriend doesn't have to shower you with expensive gifts in order to show you he cares about you. The little things, like the way he looks at you and jokes around with you, are worth more than any diamond is.

You shouldn't be lazy. If you think it's okay for you to go through life without lifting a finger to help your partner, you thought wrong. It doesn't matter if you get a job to help him out financially, or if you clean the dishes to help him out with the housework, but you should do something. No one has the right to be lazy in a relationship.

Compliments should be meaningful. You can't expect your boyfriend to give you compliments every second of the day. If he does, then they aren't going to be genuine. Wouldn't you rather have your man wait until he has something special to say than hear him blurt out whatever he thinks you want to hear?

You're not a victim. In most stories, princesses are victims. They're kidnapped, they're abused, or they're locked away. Of course, your boyfriend should never look down on you and pity you, as if you're some sort of victim. You're way too strong for that.

Happily ever afters take time. In most fairy tales, life is perfect as soon as the princess meets her prince. In the real world, relationships aren't going to run that smoothly. If your boyfriend pretends that you two don't have any problems, just because you're in love, things will end fast. It's better for him to acknowledge your weak points so you can fix them and really end up with that happily ever after.

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Holly Riordan Holly is a science fiction and horror writer, who has recently been published by Flash Fiction Press, Infective Ink, and Popcorn Press. You can find more of her nonfiction articles on All Women Stalk, The Talko, and News Cult.

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