Leprechaun Magic

I know that there is many a mom out there who hates the recent Pintrest-inspired, Facebook-promoted explosion of holiday expectations for moms (and dads).  There was much public disdain for leprechaun mischief this past week, and the old Elf on the Shelf has more than a few enemies.  Of course, I am completely sympathetic to the fact that we moms do NOT need yet another thing added to our already overflowing plates, particularly something that involves naughty leprechauns or elves who make our houses messier than they already are!  But I'll be honest - I like making magic.  I love thinking of new funny spots for our elf, or dreaming up mischievous acts for our leprechaun, or designing an intricate treasure hunt courtesy of the Easter Bunny... Heck, I've been preparing for the Tooth Fairy's inaugural visit for years!  I have a special book (that Ethan will have certainly outgrown by the time his stubborn baby teeth decide to move on out), a special tooth pillow...I am ready!  And it's not because I'm trying to be Supermom or outdo anyone else - I admit that I would fail miserably at that.  It's because making magic is something that I truly enjoy doing.  I think I get more excited than my kids do on Christmas Eve, anticipating my boys' faces as they descend the stairs, when they realize that Santa really did come.  There is nothing like experiencing magic through a child's eyes - the wonder, the gaping grins, the eye twinkles...it's, well...magical.

So when my boys asked if we could try to catch a leprechaun earlier this week, I embraced it.  I helped them research leprechauns online, build a suitable trap, and fill it with things that might entice a naughty leprechaun.


And after they'd gone to bed, I tripped the trap (but also staged an escape route for our leprechaun), painted tiny green footprints on the floor, and filled the trap with coins and a note saying "Nice try!".
 

And when my boys woke up the next morning to see that the trap had been tripped, the giggles when they discovered the green footprints, the nervous excitement to peek into the trap, the glee at discovering the coins left inside...I ate up every moment.

And I wholeheartedly hope that me getting stupidly excited about holidays doesn't make some other mom feel inadequate, because this is just my thing.  I am lazy about cleaning my house, I totally mail it in when it comes to pretend play, and I make a terrible birthday cake.  But making magic....I'm good at that.

Part of me knows that I am clinging on to these traditions because I know they are fleeting.  Ethan made a cursory comment recently (then quickly redacted) which suggested that he has some inkling that Mom and Dad have at least some role in the Easter Bunny's antics.  He is seven, after all, and I'm not naive enough to believe that that magic twinkle in his eye will last forever.  We are dangling on the precipice of tweendom, and some days it feels like we already have a teenager in the house.  Favorite TV shows and books are suddenly "too babyish", playing pretend is less appealing, and the "I'm bored"s set in more quickly these days.  So I know.  I know my days with leprechauns and tooth fairies and bunnies and elves are numbered.  And so I'll take them now.  I'll take the extra hour of scrubbing to get that darn washable paint off the floor.  I'll take the jumping out of bed in the night to move that silly elf.  I'll take the late Christmas Eves building bikes and trampolines and wagons.  Because it's all part of being the parent of a little kid.  One of my favorite parts of being the parent of a little kid.  And though some days I wish it might, it can't last forever.