No, this isn’t another Phonewatch ad. This is tangentially related to an elf-related incident**.

“Comparison is the thief of joy”

was said by Theodore Roosevelt.  And amazingly, he said this was before he knew there would be instagram accounts devoted to making mothers feel inferior about everything from babycare to lunchboxes to “Clean Tok” videos showing how they tidy their children’s 3 toys away each night.

Even before social media bombarded us with images of perfect homes (not to mention baking marvels, expensive gifts, suspiciously happy and neatly dressed children, holiday glamour, and unmissable  cocktail parties…and no one mention the Elf)

Everyone’s holiday is different.  Prioritise what is most important to you so you can find the joy … and let the rest go. Even the matching pajamas.   Because while comparison is the thief of joy – so is just being too tired!

Oh, you want to know the story?  Right.  First of all, know that my youngest son loves the elf.  Like really loves it. Completely enchanted with the concept and talks to it all day like it’s a member of the household.  Anyway, yesterday, the elf of my son’s classmate arrived at school with a special elf-case for carrying around an Elf so it can go to school.  My (very young) son came home and talked seriously to his Elf, Oodie, last night about having to get a case for the next day.  Oodie was unable (unwelling to source one at 9pm at night even with his substantial Christmas magic, so he tied himself into a re-purposed clear plastic container from the recycling with some coloured twine.  Youngest child was over the moon this morning with this.  On the way out the door, he suddenly panicked that Oodie does not have a fashionable name like Sugardrop Snowflake Sparkles or whatever his classmate’s Elf is called and had a panicked consultation with the Elf in the backseat on the way to school.   I reassured him that Oodie was happy with his name and off he went.     I reflected on the commute to work:  why did I bother?  Would it matter?  I realised that it was the comparison, even at his young age, that threatened to rob his joy.