Holiday season is officially here. Which means if you have children, your ELF has returned!
We’ve had an elf for the past 8 years. “Snowflake“. Named by my daughter when she was 2. Last year I lost Snowflake. I completely forgot where I had hidden him after the previous Christmas. I hunted and searched and just couldn’t find him.
So I decided to post on my town Facebook page, asking if anyone had an elf to spare. Luckily, a very nice mom replied. She said that just like me, she had lost their elf the year before and had to buy a new one, only to find the original one soon after. She offered theirs to me for free. I was so grateful since my kids were beginning to get very nervous about why the elf hadn’t returned yet.
So off I went… I picked up our new elf, hidden in a shopping bag on the other mom’s porch. I drove home feeling so happy. Planning in my head how he the elf would show up that night. Perfect! Until, I opened the bag and discovered he had red hair and freckles and looked nothing like our elf, Snowflake. Nothing. UH OH.
So… I made up a story. A good one. Our elf, Snowflake had an accident. He broke his leg and couldn’t fly. So Santa sent us his cousin, “Snowball“. And the kids bought the story. With not a single question.
But wait a minute….
How did this whole charade, meant solely to encourage good behavior in my kids, turn into me, the mom – LYING??????
I had no good answer to this.
In some ways, I love Elf. He does encourage the kids to behave well. In other ways, I think he is a ginormous pain in the BUTT. He drives me and most parents crazy.
So how I have decided to compensate for that, is I try to have some fun with him too. Rather than let the whole idea of the elf annoy me, he now entertains me. That’s my advice.. make the elf fun for you too.
Here are some fun (but yes, they are PG-rated) elf ideas…
1. This is what happens when Dad is in charge of the elf!
2. SPLAT
3. Just lounging.
4. “Freeze – Don’t move!”
5. Elfie, the Pimp.
6. No caption needed for this one.
7. PARTY TIME!
8. It was a rough night.
9. “Argh, Matey”.
10. What are you going to do now?
11. The cookies don’t look so tasty anymore.
12. “Go home Elf, we don’t want you here!”
13. Elf is a ladies’ man.
14. Elf on a hot date with Barbie.
15. The Elf of doom and gloom.
16. Remember, Elf can be VERY evil if you cross him.
P.S. By the way, I found “Snowflake” soon after “Snowball” showed up. How I explained that to my kids… is a whole other story!