On That Creepy Little Elf on the Shelf

It's that time of year again.  Time to get out that weird little elf that creepily watches over everything my kids do in a day so that she can head back to the North Pole and report everything to Santa while he makes his naughty and nice list.  She stares at them from various places in the house...from the mantle, from above their beds, from the light fixture in the living room that gives her a good view of everything going on in the house.  I tell my kids that she also knows every single thing they are doing when they are away from home at school because she's MAGIC.  It doesn't matter if she's there physically or not.  She's our elf and knows all that we do.  Magic, guys, it gets your kids in line and terrifies them into behaving.  We make sure our kids are equal parts in love with the elf and also petrified of what she's going to tell Santa about them.  Because that's what Christmas is about...scaring your kids straight so they gets lots of presents.

Just kidding, you guys.  I am blown away by how this silly little elf has become such a polarizing topic in our world.  I've seen so many opinions on this that I just have to shake my head and turn off my computer.  And then turn it back on and give my two cents.

Let's get a few things straight.  

Number 1.  My children know what Christmas is all about.  It's not about being greedy little stinkers and only behaving for one month out of the year to get lots and lots of toys.  It's about the birth of the man that came to this world to save all of our souls.  It's about a man who loves us more than anything, even if we completely ignore Him.  CHRISTmas, guys.  The birth of Jesus.  The totally encompassing, unfathomable, unending love that is Christ the King.  That's just how we roll in this house. 

 Number 2.  We also believe in Santa.  Why not give your kids a little taste of magic?  What's wrong with letting them know that Santa comes and gives us gifts in celebration of Jesus?  I've heard over the years that there are people out there who are super bitter about being "lied" to about Santa all of those years.  I feel that like stems from a deeper place that I don't want to get into.  When I was a kid, Santa was a happy, joyful, magical thing to think about once a year.  When I found out he wasn't "real", I didn't cry into my pillow for weeks and disown my parents.  I loved Santa as a kid, and even now knowing he isn't a physical person I can touch, I still love him.  I still believe in Santa, ya'll.  Not as a fat, jolly man with an impressive white beard, but as a feeling, a peace and joy that you don't get any other time of year.  An abundance of love and giving.  I plan on telling my kids that the magic of Santa is what you make it.  Even if you are the one wrapping the gifts and sticking them in stockings, the look on the faces of those precious little ones Christmas morning....THAT IS SANTA!!!!  What's so wrong with that?  

Number 3.  Our kids LOVE our elf.  If I would have tried this little experiment and been met with terrified cries and horrible dreams of a creepy elf watching them at all times, that elf would have been out of here.

But.

Our kids LOVE Mrs. Jingles!  She moves to a silly new place every day and brings them fun little treats during the few weeks a year that she is in our house.

OH, NO!!!  She brought donuts, you guys!

For me, it's just one more tradition that my kids will cherish far into adulthood.  A little piece of the home, the love, the care that I am giving them right now.

Happy faces, guys, happy adorable faces.

Do I wish the elf was a little less psycho looking?  Sure!  Who wouldn't?  Do I think it's a terrible, evil trick to pull on your kids?  Absolutely not!  Do I think all of you should adopt this tradition?  NOPE!  It's a family by family thing.

I find it sad that I even felt the need to write this and "defend" my position.  There are so many things in this world that people get uptight about that make absolutely no sense to me.  Not everything is for everyone.  Why can't we just let those who want to invite that weird little elf into their house every year be?  Why can't we nod our heads and say, "Yup, I get why you aren't doing the elf in your house" to those who aren't doing it?

I'll say this once....IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL!!!!  Get the heck over it.

For us, in our house, Mrs. Jingles, our creepy little elf, is a win.  She brings donuts and a new ornament every year.  She hangs upside down from lights.  She makes my kids jump out of bed in the morning.  She makes those sweet little babies giggle when they find her.  They tell her goodnight at bedtime.  Please tell me, those who disagree with the idea of the elf, where is the harm in that?  If you give me a good enough argument, it will be adios Mrs. Jingles. But for now, our Elf on the Shelf is a HUGE win.