I can tell my kids that Santa is watching! I know it is not quite Thanksgiving yet, but Santa is an effective motivational tool and I intend to squeeze every drop of utility out of it that I can.
Oh Children! Santa knows you are hiding behind the bookcase reading The Dangerous Book For Boys (such a great book) instead of making your bed like I asked you to do three times!
I know you are earning money so you can buy extra special Christmas presents for your siblings, but I do not pay anybody for saying "please" or "thank you." Those are polite things you have to say whether your piggy bank is full or not. It is not actually polite if you are saying it with your hand out.
Here is a list of things you CAN do to earn present money:
Make your bed.
Make somebody else's bed.
Put stuff where it goes.
Clean something. Anything.
I don't know if Santa will actually bring you a real live fish for Christmas. He is still probably mulling that one over in his head. The last thing Santa wants to do is make more work for Mommy. Have you made your bed?
Santa agrees with me that you should take piano lessons before you can have a drum set. Plus he understands that we need to have a bigger house first. With soundproof walls.
And again . . . the Elmo dilemma. We have another lover of Elmo in our house. How necessary is it for Elmo to laugh and sing (yell, screech, annoy) in order for a two-year old to actually be happy with it? Hopefully Santa agrees with Mommy that a nice, quiet plush Elmo will be just the thing for our house.
Sometimes those talking Elmos remind me a little of Chucky. You never know when one will sneak up behind you and scream "Let's do the Mr. Noodle family dance!" in your ear. I'm buying a lock for the toy box if Santa brings one of those. I don't want Elmo escaping in the middle of the night.
The kids have struck a deal where they will use their earnings to buy exactly what the other requests for a gift. I'm pretending not to know about the arrangement. At least they are cooperating.
And me. I don't want much. Peace on Earth. Good will among men. Photography classes, rain boots, food storage and a bracelet . . . . in case Michael is reading this. If you aren't him, I'll be happy with some peace.
