{Different Strokes for Different Folks}

I feel like I am pretty wordly, but since Ellie has started school, I am seeing more and more that I may actually live in a little bubble of sorts.  The kids have gone to school where I work all of their lives.  We beat our little path from the University to "the Sticks" every day.  On weekends, we go to church with people we have known several years and Biz and Tim, of course.

Socially, we have friends we've known for years, people we work with and of course neighbors.  And there's always family.  As evidenced this summer, I spend a large amount of my social time with my family.  My peeps.  Those who know all about me and love me, and mine, just the same.

So now Ellie has started school and we are  presented with new interactions with new people and new interests. And new ideas.  And for the record, I have always known these ideas were present, it's just that I haven't put myself or my family in situations with people who share these ideas because they are not common ideas.

This past Friday, I had a meeting with some other moms from Ellie's classroom to plan the "Holiday Party".  Now, just don't get me started on that term.  Because really, ya'll?  Really?  I don't hear anyone complaining about all the benefits of this "holiday" season.  But let's be real.  The "holiday" is CHRISTMAS.  The birth of my Lord.  OK?  Ok.  Like I said, I don't intend to rant.

So while at this little planning party, all the moms got to talking and a certain book came up.  One of the other moms was talking about this book and how horrible it was and she was telling us "DON'T buy it!"

So, I just listened.  (I really just listened!)  And she went on to tell that the book was about a moose and his adventures.  That other woodland creatures move into his antlers and on and on.  And then...are you sitting down?  Well, then there's a hunter.  With a gun.  (Not a slingshot or anything, a GUN.)  And the hunter wants to kill the moose.

I've heard that's what hunters do.  That's just what I heard...

So this mom goes on and on and on about how horrible the book was... and how she apologized to her daughter for buying it... and she had no idea what it was about... and that she never would have bought it... and how it was HORRIBLE.  Alrighty...

And I just sat quietly.

Because this is a picture of my living room:

And my kid has been known to wear this.

(Look at that smile.)

And in general, I am not passionate about convincing people who don't hunt that they need to.  I actually don't even try to convince people who won't eat venison that they should.  Because I really don't care.

The thing that got under my skin about the interaction was the idea that everyone at that table felt the same way this other mom did.  Because I don't.

And you can bet your bottom dollar that if it the subject comes up among Ellie's friends, she will think they have three heads when they say "hunting is bad"  "guns are bad"  or "killing animals is bad".

And to complete my rant.  Oh wait, did I say I wouldn't rant?  Well, let me complete it anyway.

To complete my rant, I just wonder if my family would be viewed as the "backwards", "closed minded" family.  Because guess what, ya'll?  It's not the case.  Well, not for me.

As I said, I do not care if this mom wants to feed her kid rubberbeans and grass.  Or seaweed and pondroots.  Just don't assume that everyone you are talking to feels the same way you do.  Because that, my dear friends, is closed-minded.

I think I'll email that mom and suggest she arrange to give Ellie that book for their classroom gift swap at the Christmas party! Cause, really, we would kinda love that book at our house!

BUT, but...here's where it kind of took me back...I kept my mouth shut.  Because I am not like that mom.  And I don't care what she does at her house or what her kids read.  It effects me in no way whatsoever.  And I guess we have entered the realm of our kids being exposed to things at school that are out of our control.

Who knew we'd start with lobbying against the NRA rather than learning cuss words???

And I guess when Ellie comes home and says "Soandso said that hunting is bad."  We'll just tell her that everyone has different opinions.

Ok, that's what I will tell her.  I can imagine her daddy will tell her to kick the kid in the knees and show them her rifle.  And he might even help her with her powerpoint presentation on "Why Hunting is Good and Being Vegan is Dumb".

But we're not closed minded.  Thank goodness for that.

***
I have to add some cute things the kids said this week because otherwise it may be forgotten into my distant memory.

One morning this week something was said about Jesus.  (And I really cannot remember what was said)  And Mason responded:  "Jesus?  I know him!  He's God's son!!"  Amen and A Men!

We watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" one night last week.  At the end, when the Whos get all their stuff back, Ellie looks at me and says "Jesus made that happen.  He did.  Because Christmas is about Jesus."  So evidently Jesus wanted the Whos to have their gifts and decorations.  She was very convinced of this fact.  But at least she (mostly) knows what Christmas is really about.  For that I am thankful!

{Merry Christmas!}

Ya'll get the privilege of being the first to receive that greeting from me this year.  Did you know I love Christmas?  Love it!  And I have finally gotten on the bandwagon of thinking that the Christmas season starts the day after Thanksgiving.  I mean, it's all so much fun, why not celebrate a little longer???  I am so excited about decorating the house.

In the spirit of Christmas and all the behavior management techniques it affords, we brought out the Elf on the Shelf for his second year in our household.  Do you know about the Elf?  He comes in a little gift package that happened to be delivered to my parents' house last year on Thanksgiving Day for Ellie and Mason.  In the package was a book, "The Elf on the Shelf", and the Elf himself.  The book explains that he is there to watch over things and report back to Santa.  Every night when the kids go to bed, he flies back to the north pole by way of "Christmas magic" and gives the Big Guy a report of the good and the bad.

This seems like a fun little idea, huh?  I mean kids certainly need MORE Christmas to go with all the other fluff, right?  Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking.  Do I not have enough stress without having to remember to move the damn Elf every night?

Then I rethought it.  My kids are only little once.  And with the way things are going, I honestly am not sure Ellie is going to believe in Santa and Elves for very long.  She has already informed me that she isn't completely buying this Elf thing.  She told me the second day that "He's just stuffed.  I don't see how he flies home."  To which I replied an indignant, "YOU THINK I WOULD LIE TO YOU???"

Does that make me a bad person?  I mean, it's a lie, right?  But it's a good lie.  Right?

Sometimes I am not sure if she just enjoys a good fantasy and plays along or if she really believes.  And I really don't remember having those thoughts until I was much older.  To her credit, I think she will at least play along for a good long while for Mason's (and possibly my) sake.

I somewhat expect Mason to get fed up with the Elf's reports and make the little guy mysteriously disappear.  Mason has entered the terrible threes.  His twos were actually a joy.  He's paying back now.  More on that later...But I do have to add, he is still the funniest kid I know.  This morning as we were walking into school he told me first he was galloping like a horse.  Then he started running and I said "Are you running like an antelope?"  He said "No!  I'm running like A CHILDREN!"

I was particularly pleased with my creativity regarding the Elf last night.  And I plan on making this Elf on the Shelf thing fun for myself this season.  (I know Brandon can't wait.)

Ellie is now convinced (and scared)that our toys come alive at night.  Mason was kind of miffed that Woody was in the Barbie Jeep.  

Next up:  A letter from Santa.  Oh and I'll be changing Biz's contact info in my phone to "Santa Claus" in case I need to text or call the Big Guy.  Merry Christmas, ya'll!