It's Not Too Late to Break the Rules!

I have rules regarding the celebration of Christmas before Thanksgiving. It's fall until after Thanksgiving, and then we can get out the Christmas things.  However, I've learned that planning the holidays in advance 

renders the greatest satisfaction and helps avoid feeling like you've been hit by a train come January 2.  

When my friend Kaylene, who is a LifeCoach, wrote an excellent blog about setting yourself up for success this holiday season, I knew it was time to bend the rules and put some forethought into it before we turn the turn the calendar on November 30.  Click }here{ to read Kaylene's blog and also check out her soon to be

published book, you'll be super motivated!

Because of my rules, I don't buy Christmas stuff before December.  

Which is silly, because by December 1st all you can find in stores is Easter decor :o)  

But today I had an epiphany that had me so excited I broke my own rules.

For the past couple years I've watched my friends with young children 

take enormous delight in the Elf on the Shelf.

(image source)

Do you know about this one?  

The cute little elf joins your family for the holiday 

and gets into all kinds of mischief while the children sleep, 

and then it's great fun for the kids to find out what he was up to in the dark of the night.  

Things like hanging from the chandelier, getting into the powdered sugar and the like.  

While he's up to mischief, he's also watching the children to make sure they're not on the naughty list.  

A highly motivating tool I'm told.

But the Elf on the Shelf made me very sad.

It made me sad because this craze came around about 15 years too late for our family, 

and I would have LOVED to incorporate this into family Christmas tradition.

The kids would've had a ball with it.

I know this because of the popularity of the Googly Eyes in our TV room.

Today I was at Imparting Grace looking at the fabulous entries on Richella's linky party.  

And there they were, free printables for the Elf on the Shelf, 

offered by Barb at Second Chance to Dream.  

Too late ... too late ... too late for me.  

So what do you do when it's too late?

Do it anyway!

That's right ... I just bought an Elf on the Shelf for my 20, 18, almost 15 and 13 year old children.  

The fun part is that we'll share the honor of doing the Elf mischief.  

It's true there is an in between season when your kids are a little disdainful of childish things.  

But I'm finding these days that my kids take delight in nostalgia, 

and they aren't embarrassed anymore to do things like 

go to the zoo or watch the Disney movies they loved as kids.

It makes the bittersweetness of seeing them grow up favor the sweet side.

Much, much joy revisited.

I'm  betting we're going to have a lot of fun with the Elf on the Shelf.  

Even if I did have to break the rules to get him.

To see what kind of mischief our elf got himself into on his first Christmas with us, click } here {

Do you have an Elf of the Shelf?  What's been his "best" mischief? 

Give me some ideas ... I'm so excited!

I'm joining the Grace at Home Linky Party at Imparting Grace!