Let a Christmas chore enhance the Joy!

Emma the Elf has returned to our residence as of December first.

For those without small kids around Emma is an ‘Elf on the Shelf’ who flies back to the North Pole each night in December to report to Santa about the household activities. Essentially a glorified spy and correspondent. Haha.

This means each night includes:

• Progressively more creative ‘staging’ of Emma’s activities (the girls tend to demand more from Emma’s antics each night)

• Clever note writing in a variety of fonts (which also requires paying attention to the girls one sided Emma conversations)

• Fear of forgetting to move Emma lest the girls freak out that her ‘magic’ is gone. (the story states that Emma loses her magic if kids touch her… yikes)

In summary, Emma’s return amounts to an extra set of chores and ‘work’ for December.

It forces parental creativity, crafting, and Pinterest searching.

At the same time it ramps up Christmas spirit, household excitement and overall Joy.

Like so many things in life, it is the effort that creates the joy.

• Now that’s a peak ethos.