Thank you (Feeling better about our elf)

Thank you to everyone who commented on my post. I really appreciated your stories and perspectives. I was realizing as I read them that my kids have never asked me, directly or even indirectly, if Heart or Santa or the Tooth Fairy are real. If they had, I wouldn’t have lied, though I probably would have said something along the lines of, everyone has to decide for themselves but I like to believe.

Because it’s true.

And if they do ask in the future, that is how I’ll respond.

We first started our traditions with Heart because I wanted to get advent calendars for the kids but didn’t think they could handle only opening one box a day. So I got the advent calendars, but left it to Heart to portion out the surprises. It was much easier for them when they had no choice but to wait.

I still do that. Every year they get an advent calendar (they either ask for one specifically or I find one I think they will like) and each day Heart leaves the treat from the calendar in a little stocking near her spot. On the weekends they usually get something else, like candy or a pack of gum (I NEVER buy them gum unless it’s for something special like this. I HATE gum.) And that is why I first embraced Elf on a Shelf.

It’s definitely a lot of work. And by the end of the month I’m super over it. But I know it means a lot to my kids, and talking to my daughter about it last night made me feel good about my efforts, both past a present.

I haven’t really changed the way I talk about Heart with my daughter, but instead of asking her what Heart have her this morning, I asked her if she liked what Heart gave her. A small change, but a significant one. I think she noticed it.

My little girl is growing up. My son isn’t far behind her.