Why so Grimm?

So, Ariel was watching Hannah Montana yesterday (yes, I know), and she asked the question.

Ariel: "Where is her mommy?".

Me: "Uh... she's dead."

Ariel: "Oh... that's so sad."

YES! Yes, it is sad! So why does almost every kids character have dead damn parents?? She asked the same about Harry Potter: "Where are Harry's parents?"... "Dead." Then, of course there's Cinderella, Snow White and The Little Mermaid- dead, dead, dead. I don't ever remember thinking about this stuff as a child!

Disney did base most of its movies on The Brothers Grimm stories which are, well... grim. And I know there's the whole, "there wouldn't be a story without the challenge for the character" thing, which is true in a sense but now, she randomly asks me if she can live with grandma and grandpa if we die, and if it's okay if she brings her bunk beds to their house. Gee, thanks!

At least she's a forward thinker!