I have some strong opinions about the current cultural craze of the elf on the shelf. I will admit that my kids are older and have no desire to track the movements of a fantasy stuffed doll during the holidays, so we do not participate. I have observed many odd things lately about this naughty creature. I just need to vent a bit.
First of all, parents use this game to make children behave by using their innate desire to please against them. "The elf is watching" parents say. But the elf does naughty things. Who is watching the elf? There are endless boards and websites devoted to showing parents what kind of mischief the family elf should wreck around the house. This is like/not like the "Santa is watching" I grew up with. Santa was never seen and certainly would never TP the bathroom or spread glitter around the mantle. It's kind of confusing to me, but so are a lot of things. I do enjoy the fun pics of kids freaking out when the elf gets touched though. Apparently the elf loses magic if he/she is touched or played with by the kid. Seems kind of cruel to me.
I also notice parents getting freaked out by the work of keeping up with the elf all December and remembering to move him/her and create fancy scenes for their children to find in the morning. Seems like a lot of work to me. Especially at this time of year. And for what effect? Entertainment? For the children? My kids are plenty entertained, thanks. That's why we have computers, and game systems, and TVs, and books. I have to wonder if parents don't participate in this just to prove they can. Since I have failed as the tooth fairy for years, and that only happens occasionally, I'm pretty sure that keeping up the elf charade would be a total flop.
I know this is just a cultural thing and it's not harmful. I know that I resist new and different things just because I am stingy that way. I honestly just don't get the new craze. So, I intend to continue with my marginal, yet just as special, routine for holiday happenings. Mine go something like this: postpone putting up the tree until the youngest begs me enough that I have to respond, find the stockings a few days later, fake "losing" the garlands I bought last year after the holiday so that I don't have to put them up (and thus take them down), put off gift shopping until the last day, wrap in one long painful session where my legs ache and my feet hurt and I just don't care if you get your present in a Walmart bag, and binge watch my latest Netflix entertainment as long as possible.
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Monday, December 22, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
She Did It!
A peek into graduation, from inside my head...
There are so many feelings coursing through my soul this weekend. I took a moment during the ceremony (I had some time to think while the undergrads commenced) to just take in the moment of the day. It was loud, and crazy, and ceremonial, and a little weird for a 40+ mom. But oh, how sweet it was. I feel so many things about completing this degree.
I am grateful. Yep, it's a feeling. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to: God for His gifts of wisdom and protection and provision and so much more; My husband, for walking with me with kindness and understanding through the journey of this schooling experience; my children, for eating way too many fast food meals and living in a messy hovel with irregularly cleaned clothes; my friends, for remembering me even when I forgot important things like calling and keeping in touch.. the list just goes on and on.
I am proud. I did it! I worked full time, kept the family alive, and learned lots of new stuff and I did it! And it feels good. A bit complex, too. As a Christian, we are warned against pride that puffs us up. I struggle with that. But in this instance, I think this pride acknowledges that I did it, with help from those around me and God Himself, most importantly,directing my steps. He gets the glory, but I still am so proud that I did this huge thing. It was work and took courage and was not easy. And I did what I needed to do. I will not discount the effort that this degree required with false humility.
I am joyful! This is a deep and profound lightness in my spirit that bubbles out in my smile. I find myself smiling huge for no apparent reason this weekend. There is joy in finishing well and accomplishing a big goal. I had forgotten that feeling. Before undertaking this degree, I can't remember the last large goal I had to work hard for. There is certainly something powerful in the joy that comes from accomplishing a hard won thing.
I am a bit scared, too. Everyone keeps asking "What are you going to do with all that free time?" And I don't know. It seems wrong to say "sleep more, watch more tv, maybe dust some flat surfaces?" I don't know what God has for me next. I do know that this degree allows me to make some career changes. That is very scary. Exciting, too. But still scary.
My head can be a messy place. Big feelings make me distinctly uncomfortable, but I am processing through it all. And I embrace the life that these emotions stem from. I graduated,so apparently old dogs can learn new tricks. I hoe that applies to other areas of my life as well.
I am grateful. Yep, it's a feeling. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to: God for His gifts of wisdom and protection and provision and so much more; My husband, for walking with me with kindness and understanding through the journey of this schooling experience; my children, for eating way too many fast food meals and living in a messy hovel with irregularly cleaned clothes; my friends, for remembering me even when I forgot important things like calling and keeping in touch.. the list just goes on and on.
I am proud. I did it! I worked full time, kept the family alive, and learned lots of new stuff and I did it! And it feels good. A bit complex, too. As a Christian, we are warned against pride that puffs us up. I struggle with that. But in this instance, I think this pride acknowledges that I did it, with help from those around me and God Himself, most importantly,directing my steps. He gets the glory, but I still am so proud that I did this huge thing. It was work and took courage and was not easy. And I did what I needed to do. I will not discount the effort that this degree required with false humility.
I am joyful! This is a deep and profound lightness in my spirit that bubbles out in my smile. I find myself smiling huge for no apparent reason this weekend. There is joy in finishing well and accomplishing a big goal. I had forgotten that feeling. Before undertaking this degree, I can't remember the last large goal I had to work hard for. There is certainly something powerful in the joy that comes from accomplishing a hard won thing.
I am a bit scared, too. Everyone keeps asking "What are you going to do with all that free time?" And I don't know. It seems wrong to say "sleep more, watch more tv, maybe dust some flat surfaces?" I don't know what God has for me next. I do know that this degree allows me to make some career changes. That is very scary. Exciting, too. But still scary.
My head can be a messy place. Big feelings make me distinctly uncomfortable, but I am processing through it all. And I embrace the life that these emotions stem from. I graduated,so apparently old dogs can learn new tricks. I hoe that applies to other areas of my life as well.
