That Elf

We are the hosts of an Elf on the Shelf, which the kiddos remembered vividly from last year (thanks, Gommie!). But we're not so interested in the spying-to-report-back-to-Santa narrative. Instead, our Elf's job is to renew our Christmas spirit, which can sometimes lag in the chaos of preparations and flagging patience. So, each day, it moves. Not at night, as that occasions very early rising to search the house for its new position. Instead, it moves throughout the day, usually during school but sometimes during rest. A clue: the cat always seems to meow when the elf is about. And it is that which occasions the mad dash in search of the new hiding place. "It" because last year it was "Amy Tango" something; this year, it's "Shaun," after the sheep, a funny British claymation import. Of course, other people warn the kids that the Elf will tell Santa how they behave. But, I tell them that Santa knows and, because no one is perfect, he doesn't expect perfect: good is good enough.