The Elf That Got Away

 

After Christmas last year I was determined that we would have Elf on the Shelf this year. O yes, I had planned some fun/funny things for this little guy to do. I had spotted out creative places for him to venture to and some trouble he could get into.

Well here we are, three days into December (80 degrees and all), and I never got around to buying that elf. Dave and I were talking about it the other night and I think it was for the best.

Here's the thing(s):

- Abby is smart. Not that your kid is not, but she thinks of things most three year olds don’t, and you know what yall? She out smarts me all the time. I am not a good liar, like at all. I have the worst memory in the world and she has an excellent memory.

- I don’t like to lie to my kid, partly because it’s wrong, but mostly because I am no good at it. Again, I think it goes back to the memory thing, and the fact that I seriously lack in the creativity department.

- Abbys imagination is wild, beyond anything I have ever seen and I have worked with kids for 15 years. If anyone has spent more than 5 seconds with her you have met her kids (brothers and sisters), her friends, and some have been lucky enough to meet Seal and Owl. Yep, I am thinking that adding a little man with pointy ears that wanders the house at night might end badly for all of us.

- Last but not least, I don’t want to add to the exaggeration of Santa. Don’t get me wrong, I love Santa, and I seriously look forward to being able to use him to change behavior in an instant. However, I don’t believe I need to feed the big guys ego by letting his tight tights wearing little helper  creep around our house and cause me more explaining when Abby discovers THE TRUTH about Mr. Beer belly and his red nosed friend. Again, not good at lying and posses no creativity at all.

Here’s one story that has stuck with me for over ten years… I was teaching pre k (fours and young fives) and I was telling them about donating toys at Christmas time because some boys and girls don’t always get toys at Christmas time because their parents can’t afford it. One of the little kids looked at me and said “Ms Erin, why doesn’t santa bring them toys”? I was really caught off guard and I don’t even remember what my response was. All I remember thinking was that we don’t always give kids enough credit and we usually think they are so simple minded, they really aren’t and when we are honest with them they have a chance to show us that.

What never was

 

Growing up you usually dream of how your life will be when you are an adult. For most people it involves college, marriage, and kids. As little girls you dream of your wedding day and then the kids you will raise. Ask most any girl and they can tell you their hopes and dreams for their future.

But what happens when that dream fades and reality starts to sneak it’s way in? Can you mourn something you never had, or that was never yours to begin with?

What happens when you look back at your family growing up and realize that it wasn’t anything like you had remembered. You start to see the pain and hurt and anger that had been there all along. You often hear that children are products of their environment. What happens when you realize that you are the complete opposite of your environment? What happens when you see that you don’t want to be anything like the environment you grew up in? Even more, what happens when you realize that you don’t belong in what was once your home?

What happens when the marriage and kids that you had always imagined does not turn out the way you dreamed? Often times two people fall in love and start off on the same path. Somewhere along the way the path gets rocky and will shake you to your core. What happens when the one dream you share splits and you are left alone on your path? What happens when you the pain is too great to carry and you can’t take it any more? What happens when you realize in one moment that the dreams, hopes, and prayers you had are wasted and tossed aside?

Can you grieve for a family member that is still alive? Can you mourn for a child that was never yours? Can you let go of a dream that will never be?

God gives us the strength we need for each day. He is already there and knows what and who we will need that day. Sometimes, even if it was never yours to begin with, you need to let it go and give it to God.

That Moment When

That moment when you are at the park and you realize there is a mom more crazy and paranoid than you and you secretly do the “I'm a great mom” dance

That moment when you realize you put the blue paint cap on your bottle and are now drinking blue paint water…yum

That moment when the random old man at Wal Mart approaches you in the parking lot (with your child) and ask if you knew that there was a Sears outlet store on the other side of town where I can buy clothes half off. Yup, can’t make that stuff up. I guess I was not meeting the Wal Mart dress code

That moment when your three year old is showing how to do that Pilates move correctly.

That moment when your mother tells you that her and her bible study group decided we need an African fertility god statue in our room. We have hit an official all time low in phone conversations, but I think I know what will be in our stocking

That moment when someone asks you what today is and your response is “cycle day 14, it’s a good night” and realize you have spent way too much time at the RE

That moment when you realize that you would have shown up for work this week if that boss had not sent out that “reminder” email

That moment when you have already put the kids to bed and realize you are still watching Curious George