Have you seen all these adorable photos of elves swimming in mugs of mini-marshmallows or making snow angels on the counter in flour? Have you felt the pressure to bring a little elf home to your kids? Has that voice in your head that tells you aren’t creative enough or don’t have enough energy at the end of the evening to set up an elaborate scene dissuaded you? Or maybe you’re afraid those darn elves will ask you to solve a rubix cube! (Holly’s post had me laughing out loud!)

I really wanted to jump on the Elf on the Shelf train. I love the magic of it. I really hate the time commitment and the pressure to be creative. Do I really have to do this every night? And how much creativity do I really think I could have at 10pm after working all day and getting the kids to bed? The rules seem too strict – no touching or he goes back to the North Pole? I’m not keen on the idea of the elves being tiny little spies for Santa Clause. But mostly, I’m kind of lazy and forgetful.

Introducing The Kindness Elves*! “Jennifer” and “Ryan” arrived this year just before the start of December. I explained to the ladies that kindness elves leave little notes with suggestions for something kind you can do that day. I made sure to let them know that the kindness elves don’t always leave an act of kindness everyday, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be kind or come up with their own idea that day. And the best part is that you can play with the kindness elves. They just have to make it back to their special place on the rocking chair at the end of the day.

Just like Elf on the Shelf, there are lots of ideas online for notes your kindness elves can leave. There are sites where you can buy books or elves, but I like the idea of just picking up any old elf you see and going with that. Like your family’s Santa traditions, I like the idea of making the elves your own. My kids love the magic of the elves and of the holidays in general.

Maybe the kindness elf or the Elf on the Shelf isn’t for you. Whatever you do, just remember that even the littlest things mean the world to the littlest folks in your life. My husband and I love coming up with new little fun things to do with the kids this time of year. Whether is making some hot cocoa and hopping in the car to go see some neighborhood lights or going to visit Santa at our local park, it really is the most magical time of the year.

* Thank you to my mom who knitted the kindness elves and even sent along all the little paper hearts for writing notes!