aint nobody got time for that

CopperPoppy

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-howerton/can-we-bring-the-holidays_b_2903040.html

An interesting article that someone on FB posted about going overboard with the minor holidays. I was just talking to DH about this yesterday. What IS St Patricks day? Judging from my FB feed it's really just another holiday to get smashed on while wearing, or ingesting all things that are green. I also blame Pinterest.

Ladiebug30

This made me laugh. I also blame Pinterest. 

sisterjanet

I have no interest in even doing Elf on the Shelf for Christmas, much less leprechaun shenanigans or Easter bunny footprints.  Sign me up for the lazy/practical parent version of holiday celebrating.

Roufi

I adore Pinterest, but definitely think the Elf on the shelf/ leprechaun mischief/ easter bunny shenanigans are BS.

rainydayluck

I put my kid in a green shirt when I sent her to daycare. That's the extent of our celebration.
ETA: I'm talking about St. Patrick's day of course.

JessElam

I don't get into celebrating each and every holiday. We do the big ones - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter. The others just seem to be either Hallmark or booze fests. I also am too lazy for silly Leprechaun pranks and Elf on the Shelf is creepy. I think Valentines Day is fun for kids but I side eye people who get butthurt when they don't get a gift or get to do something special.

ho11yday

For March 17, my mother would switch the clothes in our closet, dye milk and toilet water green, and sprinkle some green glitter around the house. I have happy memories of this so I've planned on doing this before I even became a parent.

However, I've occasionally wanted to "celebrate" the Ides of March for the fun of it.Make my kids read Shakespeare or something.

NorthernGal248

I like going to festivals and parades and such - but we def wont be getting gifts and decorating our house for minor holidays.

Maybe when the child gets a little older do a mini lesson and craft for the holiday to figure out the real meaning?

Kageer

The thing that puzzles me with elf on a shelf and pretending to be a leprechaun or the Easter bunny is that it is a mess created by the parents. I mean who has time to spill flour on their floor and blame it on some made up creature? Guess who is cleaning the mess up later? Not the elf!!

talkthewholetime

I will do all of those things and then some.

Hate on, haters.

Unknown

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tjkdlhb

I will do this.  But only because it is a tradition in my family.  We used to do it as kids and I loved that it was something special that only our family did.  We didn't do it this year, because DD would have absolutely no concept of what we are doing.  But when she is old enough to make a trap she will.

I also think it's a great problem solving activity, getting kids to figure out how to make the trap work.  I remember getting a green lollipop, or a few chocolate coins.  That's the equivalent of what our kids will get.

BUT.  I am not one for overdoing holidays.  DD gets a few chocolates for Easter.  Valentines day she might wear a pink shirt.  Christmas we do three gifts... it was enough for the baby Jesus, it's enough for her.

Alexinav

I don't do anything extra on st pattys day other than make corn beef and dress my son in green and in east we do an egg hunt and baskets but I do take part in elf on the shelf and so does my sister for her kids. My son is seven and he gets a huge kick out of waking up every morning to find his elf. Sometimes she does mischief things but sometimes she just moves and leaves a little note. It does get frustrating to have to come up with some new ideas but it's all worth it to see the smile on his face. And I like the idea of creating fun memories for him when he grows older and has kids of his own.

sisterjanet

My sister is totally the parent the article is talking about.  I mentioned it to her and then realized who I was talking to as the words were leaving my mouth.  She was like "but you need to make sure you do these things because he won't get to do them in school!" and I was like "no, you don't understand.  Homeschooling hopefully means he won't even know this craziness goes on for other children, so he won't care that I don't want to figure out what the hell a leprechaun trap is."

CopperPoppy

@tjkdlhb said:

I will do this.  But only because it is a tradition in my family.  We used to do it as kids and I loved that it was something special that only our family did.  We didn't do it this year, because DD would have absolutely no concept of what we are doing.  But when she is old enough to make a trap she will.

I also think it's a great problem solving activity, getting kids to figure out how to make the trap work.  I remember getting a green lollipop, or a few chocolate coins.  That's the equivalent of what our kids will get.

BUT.  I am not one for overdoing holidays.  DD gets a few chocolates for Easter.  Valentines day she might wear a pink shirt.  Christmas we do three gifts... it was enough for the baby Jesus, it's enough for her.

I totally agree that there are valuable "teachable moments" in leprechaun traps and maybe some other holidays but I think it's also pointless when the kids only know about the fun cutesy stories and nothing of the meaning behind it. That goes for the big holidays like Christmas and Easter too. Teach your kids about St Valentine and St Patrick but teach them the real things.

And good lord, keep it the eff off my FB newsfeed. I hate seeing whatever your elf on the shelf is doing today, yesterday and tomorrow. THAT also makes me believe that these "traditions" are not for the kids, they are for your friends to see how awesome of a mom you are... BTW, @tjkdlhb, I'm not in anyway saying you are this type of mom. And even if you are I'll still like you I just won't "like" your FB posts.

BTW, I'm counting this as my UO for the month.

tjkdlhb

CopperPoppy said:

@tjkdlhb said:

I will do this.  But only because it is a tradition in my family.  We used to do it as kids and I loved that it was something special that only our family did.  We didn't do it this year, because DD would have absolutely no concept of what we are doing.  But when she is old enough to make a trap she will.

I also think it's a great problem solving activity, getting kids to figure out how to make the trap work.  I remember getting a green lollipop, or a few chocolate coins.  That's the equivalent of what our kids will get.

BUT.  I am not one for overdoing holidays.  DD gets a few chocolates for Easter.  Valentines day she might wear a pink shirt.  Christmas we do three gifts... it was enough for the baby Jesus, it's enough for her.

I totally agree that there are valuable "teachable moments" in leprechaun traps and maybe some other holidays but I think it's also pointless when the kids only know about the fun cutesy stories and nothing of the meaning behind it. That goes for the big holidays like Christmas and Easter too. Teach your kids about St Valentine and St Patrick but teach them the real things.

And good lord, keep it the eff off my FB newsfeed. I hate seeing whatever your elf on the shelf is doing today, yesterday and tomorrow. THAT also makes me believe that these "traditions" are not for the kids, they are for your friends to see how awesome of a mom you are... BTW, @tjkdlhb, I'm not in anyway saying you are this type of mom. And even if you are I'll still like you I just won't "like" your FB posts.

BTW, I'm counting this as my UO for the month.

I post photos once a year taken by a photographer.  That's it.    I don't want random people on FB knowing every detail about her life... and I think that's something that she should be able to decide when she gets older.  I like having pictures, but I don't want to watch her grow up through an iphone either.  It bothers me going to mom groups and everyone is glued to the damn phone.

And I hate the Elf on the Shelf.  If she begs for it when she is older, we will consider it... but honestly, isn't the point of it to 'teach' them to be good?  Then why is the Elf who is supposed to be a snitch to Santa about your behavior doing all of these things?  Hypocritical.  If we ever do decide to do it, the Elf will not be doing all of those 'bad' things.

Then again... I don't agree with using the Santa threat for behavior either.  Any behavior should be taught with immediate consequences that parents are able to follow through on.  I don't know any parent who will follow through on not giving presents from Santa.  But that's a whole other issue.

Jillzy86

I come from a family that celebrates all holidays with food, drink, and getting together with family and friends. My children will not be getting stupid little toys and candy with every holiday. But we do get together on Cinco de Mayo, St. Patricks day, 4th of July, Halloween, Day of the Dead and the major holidays. Leprechauns ( sp ?) Easter bunny , and elves are not something that will be overly celebrated, if at all.