Wordful Wednesday: When Good Parents Go Bad

This year I caved and bought an Elf on the Shelf. It is equal parts fun and a royal pain.

We parked Gus, our elf, on the mantel the first day and the kids knew that if he was truly magic they would find him in a different place.

Amelia shot out of bed at 6:20 a.m. the next morning and checked the mantel. "He's magic! He's magic!"
Of course, like most Christmas magic, this requires mom and dad to remember that they have to do something. Something in addition to the million other things that have to be done day-to-day and especially this time of year.

We've had Gus a week and things have already gone a bit south. One night I had to get up after I went to bed to move him.

And one morning I had to hustle down the hallway ahead of the kids, grab the elf and hastily shove him into a new spot.

He's done nothing creative so far, despite the gazillions of fun Elf ideas on Pinterest and elsewhere online. (Frankly, I don't want to set the bar too high.)

But tonight, Gus got really out of hand. I walked into the kitchen after the kids were asleep and found this, courtesy of Dad:

There's really nothing else to say, is there?

P.S.: The kids did NOT find Gus in this position the next morning. It was solely for my benefit and Dad's amusement.

Play along with Wordful Wednesday over at Seven Clown Circus.

© Trippin' Mama 2011