Over the past couple of weeks, Erik and I have worked hard getting ready for Christmas and festivities. He traveled. I purged the house like a mad woman. I don't want anything for Christmas. I gave Erik a list of "errands" that I need done like taking books to sell at the used book store, etc, etc for my Christmas present.
Over a week ago, we were panelists for a Youth Fireside. It turned out to be really fun.
I've been working to put together the Sacrament Services for Christmas Day. Did I ever tell you that I really, really hate logistical work? But, I find myself in logistical roles all the time. It will be a nice program with many musical numbers.
The boys are having a great time during the holiday season. We are finding many things to do from looking at lights, baking cookies, decorating the house, reading many stories about the importance of Christmas (something to counteract the overly Santa culture we live in), and taking time to help them shop for presents.
This week Erik and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. My parents and Erik surprised me with an overnight trip. They watched our boys for *24* hours! I was a little worried that Merritt would wear them out, as the trip came at the end of one of his most overachieving weeks to date. But, all went well!
We did go to our Ward Christmas party. You know, I don't think I will enjoy ward parties until both of my kids have reached the age of 5. It was too overwhelming for Merritt, and I ended up just chasing him around the building to allow the rest of our family to try and enjoy it. Everett did see Santa and asked if he could follow him out the door when Santa left. I said,"Why?" And Everett replied that he wanted to see if the reindeers were with Santa.
(Believing in Santa has come from being surrounded by it in our culture. I have not taught Evy to believe in Santa and have been very clear with him about the reality of it. Some people don't like it when they hear me say that. They think I have stolen some sort of magic from my children. I have my reasons, and btw, he believes in Santa, anyway.)
Other than jolly, holiday fun, we are trying to stay healthy. I've been hit a couple of times with some mighty germs (explains, partly, to the lack of posts here on the blog). Erik is now getting over something. The boys have fared fairly well so far.
This is my holiday rant:
Can all of you (the 2 readers who read this) do me a favor? Help me clamp down on the threats made to kids during this holiday season. I don't know why adults have to take a so called magical time and add things like threats "Santa won't come if you . . ." I mean, seriously, I wish the adults would just apply consequences to behavior as usual and not escalate it because of their own emotional weight of the season. What would you call it when an adult holds his/her children's holiday miracle magic in a constantly threatening manner? And, personally, the Elf on the Shelf, as I have seen with what people have shared, is nothing but a scare tactic.
If the season is so overwhelming for kids (and adults) and they are misbehaving, then pace back the amount of activities/stuff that is done. If kids are out of control in behavior, figure out what is causing it rather than using a doll or threats to create accountability. I just don't like watching kids needlessly cry in the store because mom got fed up with something and instead of applying consequence as she would have done in most circumstances, she says the "well, then Santa is not coming!" phrase. And the child becomes hysterical--and no one has actually address the real problem in the situation to help the behavior. Okay, enough said.
