My 7 year old came home from
school one afternoon and asked me if I could buy an “Elf on the Shelf”
elf. I was actually surprised she even
knew what it was since she is one of the most selectively deaf children on the face
of the planet – but anyhow… I thought
about it for a few minutes, knowing how much parents rave about the tradition,
but dismissed it. Why? I can barely remember to grab my laptop bag
when I’m off to work in the morning.
There are days I completely forget about activities and constantly have
to use a “reminders” app on my phone to remind myself of anything. How was I going to remember to move a little
elf around every single day? My
dismissal wasn't due to lack of creativity – I could definitely think of
creative places to put the elf, I just didn't have the time…or the memory. (I suffer from a very bad case of CRS – Can’t
remember shit.)
Long story short, I felt like a
horrible mother for not wanting to start this tradition. Especially since we had an elf for our decor (somewhere)
that looked almost exactly like Elf on the Shelf that we used to have up when I
was a child. (Saving me $30…) I felt
like maybe I was the only mother in the entire modern world who did not have an
Elf on the Shelf tradition to carry on with my children every year. Well, yesterday I got an e-mail about a blog
by a mom named Jen from the blog “People I Want to Punch in the Throat” and I
was rolling on the floor hysterically laughing.
Though she has an Elf on the Shelf, this mom suffers from CRS as well
and makes me feel so much better about my reasons not to have one at this
point.
Next year I may break down and
use our elf or buy a new Elf on the Shelf for my girls. Unfortunately, it’s too late to start it now,
but it might be fun. Maybe I’ll make a
New Year’s Resolution to actually exercise my brain, even though it would be
hard! (I’ve been forgetful all my life and becoming a mommy just made it
worse.) It would be a cute tradition to
start with my girls that they could carry on when they get older and maybe this
little damn elf WILL keep my kids in check. (Lord knows they need it!) I love to jump on those damn bandwagons, why
not the Elf on the Shelf one as well!
Do you and your family have an
Elf on the Shelf? Do you get super
creative or slack off and forget to move him?
