It seems as if my friends/family are in 2 camps on this topic. Love or hate.
I have been accused of being an Elf scrooge by several people because I am in the hate category.
Here is the thing. I LOVE Christmas--love the decorations, the carols, the idea of giving. LOVE it.
First of all, I hate commercialization. This creepy elf (as my fellow haters call him) or as Jen from http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/ calls him, the little bastard, is made up purely for people to make money off of parents who will buy their kid "the must have item" because everyone else has it. I can't stand that. We do the Santa thing in our house, but we spend a lot of time reminding my kids that Christmas is about celebrating a religious holiday, not just about getting stuff.
Secondly, my kids are crazy enough around the holidays with the decorations and change in routine. Like I need one more thing to make them insane. Friends have suggested what a great motivator the Elf is. I don't want my kids to want to be good because "the Elf is watching." I want them to be good because they are SUPPOSED to be, not because some stalker is watching them. I don't even like doing the "Santa is watching" thing--I feel like such a liar when I do that. (but that is for another post)
Third, why the heck would I want to purposely trash my house during one of the busiest months of the year! I teach music--it is concert season. And I start with a new rotation of general music students. My morning is crazy enough getting kids and myself out of the house for school and getting my regular stuff done around the house--now I have to clean up after myself because I purposely made an extra mess?
So my kids have been told that they don't need the Elf because it is just for kids who are naughty and need extra monitoring from Santa. We'll make a mess by baking cookies and wrapping presents.We'll sing carols around the piano while my daughter plays her violin. We'll travel to see Christmas lights at Hubbard Park, and visit a Festival of Trees at the Wadsworth. They'll be in Christmas pageant at our church. And they'll survive being the "only kids without an Elf on the Shelf."
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Prayers of my children
My kids have gone to Sunday school since they turned 2 1/2-- our church takes them young! We have been blessed with wonderful teachers who really are patient with these little ones.
This year, the focus is on prayer. While I definitely have my personal moments of prayer, I had never nightly prayers with my kids. It has been really great listening to the things that they pray for. We have talked about the fact that we want to thank God for what we have been given, and also ask Him to look over people who need Him.
So here is what my kids prayed for tonight.
H--age 3-- "God. Thank you for construction trucks. And look out for penguins. And people."
Sounds about right for a 3 year old! His prayers almost consistently mention some kind of car or truck--either a thank you or that he wants them. I think he thinks that God and Santa are the same person!
L--age 5--"Dear God. Please help people who don't have houses and lost their stuff in the storm. And help people who don't have food and are trying to go place. And thank you for beautiful dresses."
This just made me laugh--just when I thought that she got the whole idea of thinking of others, she was praying about something girly. The other night she thanked God specifically for crafts, sparkly things, and ornaments.
Through the eyes of a child!!
This year, the focus is on prayer. While I definitely have my personal moments of prayer, I had never nightly prayers with my kids. It has been really great listening to the things that they pray for. We have talked about the fact that we want to thank God for what we have been given, and also ask Him to look over people who need Him.
So here is what my kids prayed for tonight.
H--age 3-- "God. Thank you for construction trucks. And look out for penguins. And people."
Sounds about right for a 3 year old! His prayers almost consistently mention some kind of car or truck--either a thank you or that he wants them. I think he thinks that God and Santa are the same person!
L--age 5--"Dear God. Please help people who don't have houses and lost their stuff in the storm. And help people who don't have food and are trying to go place. And thank you for beautiful dresses."
This just made me laugh--just when I thought that she got the whole idea of thinking of others, she was praying about something girly. The other night she thanked God specifically for crafts, sparkly things, and ornaments.
Through the eyes of a child!!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Why didn't I think of that before???
I realized that I had volunteered to bake cookies for a school event. After Thanksgiving. When my concert is next week. And I have a student teacher. And am in the middle of working on my National Boards.
Apparently, I'm a glutton for punishment.
Anyway, I had baked a bunch of spritz cookies a few weeks ago and froze them for just this kind of baking emergency. But they needed to be frosted for sure.
And then, it came to me. Instead of frosting them, I used old restaurant style ketchup and mustard bottles to drizzle the icing on them. For 4 years, I have been having my kids "frost" cookies which means frosting is everywhere and their ooey, gooey fingers lick the frosting the inevitably gets on someone's cookies. (Sorry if you had L and H germs on your past holiday cookie treats). Can't WAIT to have them "frost" cookies with the squeeze bottles this year!!
Apparently, I'm a glutton for punishment.
Anyway, I had baked a bunch of spritz cookies a few weeks ago and froze them for just this kind of baking emergency. But they needed to be frosted for sure.
And then, it came to me. Instead of frosting them, I used old restaurant style ketchup and mustard bottles to drizzle the icing on them. For 4 years, I have been having my kids "frost" cookies which means frosting is everywhere and their ooey, gooey fingers lick the frosting the inevitably gets on someone's cookies. (Sorry if you had L and H germs on your past holiday cookie treats). Can't WAIT to have them "frost" cookies with the squeeze bottles this year!!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Because I don't already have enough to do....
I was thinking the other day that I needed one more thing to add to my busy schedule... so I should start a personal blog!
Actually, I have been inspired by several friends including my college friend Anne, who blogs at http://thisrunningmomslife.blogspot.com/, my oldest friend who I've known since I was 5, Kari, at http://benandkarisjourneytoparenthood.blogspot.com/, and 2 colleagues, Marcy, who blogs at http://www.tootimidandsqueamish.com/ and Meredith, who blogs at http://www.frommeredithtomommy.com.
My plan for this blog is just to be a collection of thoughts and ideas about random things that are important to me: the environment, music education, my children, and saving money. We'll see where it goes from there!
Actually, I have been inspired by several friends including my college friend Anne, who blogs at http://thisrunningmomslife.blogspot.com/, my oldest friend who I've known since I was 5, Kari, at http://benandkarisjourneytoparenthood.blogspot.com/, and 2 colleagues, Marcy, who blogs at http://www.tootimidandsqueamish.com/ and Meredith, who blogs at http://www.frommeredithtomommy.com.
My plan for this blog is just to be a collection of thoughts and ideas about random things that are important to me: the environment, music education, my children, and saving money. We'll see where it goes from there!
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