Notes to nutcracker: elves might be easier
You will not catch an Elf on the Shelf in our house. To each their own, but I won’t be wreaking havoc on my own household for 24 days for the sake of Christmas magic. Santa’s got another method for keeping tabs on our kid this holiday season.
Last year, I shared in a column about my collection of nutcrackers that I’ve accumulated over the years. There are a few dozen of these figures that decorate the top of our piano, the table in the hallway and the kitchen counter.
And it was last year that we accidentally started a new tradition with these guys.
Our then 3-year-old was bubbling over with excitement for Christmas so much so that his listening ears must have fallen off that day. He was so wound up that he was right on the verge of a time out when I blurted out “You know the nutcrackers are watching!”
My son paused and looked at them for a minute, before I continued that they see and hear the good and the bad and report back to Santa Claus at night what kind of day my son had.
From then on, my son started making a point to interact with them. He’d sit on the piano bench and tell them all about the day he had at school (since they were at home, of course), he’d tell them good morning and good night, and one in particular that wore a floppy hat would always suspiciously have the brim pulled down over his eyes when I’d walk by. I wonder who could have been doing that.
When the holidays were over, my son helped me box up all the nutcrackers until next year. It was an effortless piece of Christmas lore to add to our family traditions — no elf shenanigans needed.
Fast forward to this year and we’re getting out the nutcrackers, arranging them in their usual spots and talking about all the memories of each person behind each one.
This year has been a big one for my son with the addition of baby brother, a new school and changes in our routines so it’s no surprise we’ve had some behavior issues. So when it seemed like we were reporting more bad days than good to the nutcrackers, my mom suggested that they write my son a letter to encourage him. Easy enough.
That letter was waiting on the piano that morning and went over so well that he had an “exceptional day” at school (his words — thank you PBS Kids and “Word Girl”) and got a check mark and smiley face from his teacher in his school folder. He told the nutcrackers all about it and I sat on the couch proud and patting myself on the back for the parenting win. But soon after I heard “so when you guys write me a note tomorrow … ” and knew this wasn’t just a one-time writing — I had started something.
The nutcrackers delivered and he got a second note the next morning. He had a little harder day at school, but still came home ready to tell the nutcrackers what all he did. This time he requested correspondence from St. Nick himself. What had I done?!
The following morning the note was still from the nutcrackers, but they acknowledged that he’d be getting a note from their boss soon enough, to keep up the good work and make good choices. The ink had barely dried on that note before he sprung forth from his bed ready to go find it.
He’s now received two letters from Santa, several notes from the nutcrackers and many reminders from me and Dad that Santa is a very busy guy this time of year. But my son loves sharing his day with these Christmas decorations and seeing each morning if they took the time to write him again. It’s added another step to our out-the-door routine in the morning — one that requires more creativity than I have that early in the morning. But hopefully he’ll remember it for years to come.
It would probably be much easier to just let an elf run amok in my house.