Jingle Bells, The Magic-Less Elf

In the back of the preschool, sitting on a tree fort that overlooks the children’s bookshelves and toy kitchen, there sits an elf who’s lost his magic.
At least, that’s what everyone says.

I first found out about the magic-less elf when I went to pick up my son from school, and was informed of this fact when I walked in.

“We found Jingle Bells today, but he lost his magic,” my son said to me in greeting.

This was repeated by several children, in whispered tones. After a day searching, they had finally found the elf on the shelf, but lo and behold he is not an elf who is magical. He is in fact a “powerless elf.” I turned and saw Jingle Bells—-his jaunty hat, his painted smile, his bright eyes. He looked alright to me. Confused as to why the children thought Jingle Bells was now powerless, I heard one of the teachers approach and address the children.

“I told you not to play with him. You all found Jingle Bells and played tea party with him. Now he’s lost his powers forever. How do you think this makes everyone feel that you’ve taken his powers?” She then turned and walked away. This was met by silence. The children simply grabbed their jackets and followed their teacher for outside time. I took my son and we left, his half day over.

In the car, I asked my son the question playing on my mind, bothered by the situation. “What happened to Jingle Bells?”

“He lost his magic,” repeated my son. “Because we played with him. He wasn’t supposed to be at the tea party.”

“Well, I’m sure he can get his magic back,” I offered, still thinking this over.

“I don’t know,” said my son. “I don’t think he can.”

I mulled this over as we drove. I understand the rules, and I definitely understand the need to teach the kids the rules. Rules keep people from getting hurt, and kids need to learn to follow the rules when someone tells them not to play with something. Rules exist for a reason, right? Most of the time anyway. And the rule was, we look for the elf, but no one plays with the elf. I get it, it’s a game and a cherished holiday tradition. But rendering Jingle Bells permanently powerless and leaving the preschool kids totally deflated and crushed? With no chance to learn from the mistake and make things right? The elf was ruined for the season, and I didn’t know that anyone was any better off for it. It was way too early in the season to take the elf out of commission.

I felt like Jingle Bells needed a chance at redemption.

I told my son the first thing that came into my head. “What if Jingle Bells could earn his powers back?”

“He can’t,” said my son. “Jingle is done. He is totally done.”

“But what if Jingle could go on a quest to earn them back?” I asked. “What if you could help him to find his magic again?”

My son thought this one over, “That’s not what the teacher said.”

“I know,” I said. “But what if we make up our own quest for Jingle Bells? Our own story at home? We can write it together, and then you can show it to your teacher. Maybe then we can help Jingle Bells and the other kids.”

It took him a while to think about this. “I guess,” he finally said. “Do you think we can really save him?”

“Yes,” I answered. “I really do think we can save him.”

We started working on our story that day. A 4 year old has specific ideas about the kinds of quests Jingle Bells must embark upon in order to earn back his magic, and most of them are pretty daunting. I would shudder to be a protagonist in any of my son’s books, he takes no mercy on them. But, we did eventually finish. I dropped my son off with his story two days later, ready to present to his class and teacher. Jingle’s Quest, his second chance. The chance for all the kids to try again, and for Jingle to regain his powers and finish the holiday season as an elf with powers.

Don’t we all deserve that?

I hope that as we approach the holiday season, that you allow yourself some grace. Even if you feel powerless, you aren’t. And you deserve as many chances as you need to get your power back. Be kind to yourself, recognize that you may have to go on an epic quest to do it, but you will get there. You will have success, find your way, and be happy again.

I’m happy to report that Jingle Bells did 🙂

Have the happiest holiday season ever ❄️ ♥️

-Winter