Oh! Effing Elf Day!

Meet Sam: our elf.

When I was a kid at Christmas, there was just Santa. And Jesus. But I didn't grow up in an incredibly religious household....at least not until I was in middle school. Mom would take us to church on Easter and Christmas. We were those people. That's not the subject of this rambling, though. I'm just saying there was not an Elf on the Shelf. I was a little later having kids than others my age. I watched others on social media with their elves and the antics of said elves. "Oh I am for sure not doing that!" And I didn't. But when Joseph was 3, he started preschool where he first learned that some houses have elves, and he asked why we did not. I told him that a request had to be put in with Santa to get an elf assigned to your house. He begged for me to ask Santa for one. I "did." However, our elf, Sam, was incredibly shy. He brought little gifts and left notes and stuff, but he didn't come out. And he absolutely did not cause mischief. This worked for several years. The kids were perfectly happy with the gifts and notes. It was perfect....but didn't last forever. Thanks to the school for having effing "Elf Day" as a reward for reading points. The students could bring their elves to school (after asking the elf permission to touch them of course). Problem: Sam the Elf didn't really exist. I learned about this special occasion the day before it happened. I told Joseph that he could ask Sam to come out, but if he didn't, we just had to respect that. But then I heard the heart-felt plea of a small child asking in earnest for an elf to please come to school with him. It was so sweet and broke my heart. So, I took a 10 PM trip to not one but 2 Wal-Marts to try to find an elf. But one was not to be had. I did find a little bear though. I brought that little stuffed bear home and sewed him a little outfit. When Joseph saw him the next morning, Sam had a note explaining that he had been nervous to come out since he wasn't like other elves...he was a bear. Joseph and James both seemed to accept this just fine. 

The elf was now out and about. And had to move every night....which has not been a strong suit of mine. There have been lots of 5 AM dashes to move the effing elf. Even with my forgetfulness, it was smooth sailing until James was old enough to participate in effing Elf Day. Both Joseph and James got their reading rewards and were able to bring their elves to school...problem: there is only one Sam. After a huge meltdown, I did get clarification that their elf days weren't on the same day of the week. Whew. Crisis averted. No having to saw Sam in half. I was reminded of this when James informed me yesterday that today is Elf Day and he wanted to take Sam, but he wanted Sam to be in a box so that he wouldn't get squished in his backpack. Also, I needed to put air holes in the box. So, Sam went to school once again. This time in a Nomadik subscription box with little holes poked in it. Now that I have a stepdaughter who is 7, maybe Sam will be making the trip to effing Elf Day for a few more years.

 Happy Effing Elf Day. 

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