I really want to decorate Christmas ornaments with the kids, but the thought of getting glitter into a box and then rolling the ornament around seems like a lot of extra work. And messy. It seems messy. And I am constantly cleaning up after everyone. Why would I create a mess to clean up? It doesn’t seem logical, even during the holiday season.
Every night when I move the Elf, I really want to get creative but I literally have to peel myself off the couch to do it. So, in the end, I stick him on a shelf, the way he should be placed…the way the creator of the Elf decided it was best to put him, on a shelf. Forget the fancy footwork of the over-achievers. No offense. I dream of becoming you. But, I’ll settle for just enough this holiday season.
Did anyone see the video of the Elves riding the pig in the snow? I mean…I don’t like to talk about other people, but do we have to do that?
My husband ALWAYS lets me of the hook when I tell him about other people’s Elves; they are hanging from parachutes and spelling things in flour. He says, “but only the few people who do these things are posting it on social media, everyone else is like you and me.” Right on, I think. Everyone else, is peeling themselves off the couch and moving him from the Christmas Tree to the fireplace. Amazing.
I did wrap the toilet one day out of the 30 so that is something. I actually copied it from someone from social media. (insert emoji of the girl shrugging her shoulders)
Anyone else have an Elf without a hat? He lost it on the way to the North Pole, I say.
Anyway, I have slowed down a lot this year. I decided not to put a lot of pressure on myself. Don’t get me wrong, there has been blood, sweat and tears. Blood from my 2-year-old, sweat from me wrapping frantically in the attic and tears from my other two on why Elfie was looking out the window one morning and not at them. But, somehow, we have almost survived. We are almost there.
The truth is, our kids don’t need much. This, I know. They just need us. That, I am sure of.
So, when we are stressing about silly things like moving in the Elf and trying to create Christmas/Hanukah magic, please realize that it is being created simply by being present in the moment. So far, my favorite moments have been the simple moments of putting ornaments on the tree and having my girls help pick out gifts for their family. It has been singing Christmas songs in the car on the way to school and sitting by the tree in the evening and watching a movie together. I hope that they remember these moments of being together. These simple rituals are actually what make the season magical. And the parents. The parents are the ones who make the magic. We love to see the happiness of our innocent children. So, I know we would all do anything to make that happen. Just don’t stress about it. Do only what you can do. And remember to rejoice in the magic that you are and the magic of the little moments.
Because Christmas would be nothing without you.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Noreen Heffernan, Writer, MA in Public and Corporate Communications, Certified in PR , Writer, Growing Ladies and Beautycounter Consultant,
Noreen.heffernan@gmail.com