<p>Welcome to our ✨Holiday Special✨! In an episode that is ostensibly about Elf On The Shelf (or Mensch On The Bench — for Sarah), we explore our collective annual search for meaning and self with the great Meaghan O’Connell, author of <em>And Now We Have Everything</em> and noted Elf On The Shelf apologist. </p><p>Pressing items interrogated lightly include: Should <em>Elf On The Shelf </em>be a Dad thing? Does holiday magic necessarily include lying to our kids? What do we say when our kids ask if we’re Santa? What is the <em>true</em> magic? How do we even know what we enjoy and what we don’t in a season this busy, and should we take Miranda’s recommendation to do a witchy ritual to remind ourselves? </p><p><strong>Links: </strong></p><p>* Meaghan O’Connell’s book, <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/and-now-we-have-everything-on-motherhood-before-i-was-ready-meaghan-o-connell/16a5f95d277f9913?ean=9780316393850&#38;next=t"><em>And Now We Have Everything</em></a> </p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Nicholas-Day">St. Nicholas day</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.powells.com/book/mr-willowbys-christmas-tree-9780385327213?condition=New&#38;gad_source=1&#38;gad_campaignid=23231155612&#38;gbraid=0AAAAAD_gE3NXytrR5DC6ZlQHaPNVhFiP7&#38;gclid=CjwKCAiAz_DIBhBJEiwAVH2XwEEfMTzJ5ugx9-VMP4Z0VrZmSWdDdlRIH_ErJxX8UOjde7HIJzx_zhoCEgwQAvD_BwE"><em>Mr. Willoby’s Christmas Tree</em></a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://meandbmaketea.com/2017/12/03/lazy-mums-elf-on-shelf-ideas/">‘Lazy Mom’ Elf On A Shelf</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://elfontheshelf.com/"><em>Elf on a Shelf Book</em></a></p><p>* The <a target="_blank" href="https://motherofitall.substack.com/p/episode-6-are-the-holidays-fun-its-3e0">first Mother of it All holiday special</a>, featuring </p><p>Sara Petersen</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://themenschonabench.com/">Mensch on a Bench </a>(“as seen on Shark Tank”)</p><p>* Sarah on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecut.com/article/boo-baskets-for-kids-trend-for-parents-couples.html">Boo Baskets </a>(<em>The Cut</em>)</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/a/111937/9781611803433"><em>When Things Fall Apart</em></a> by Pema Chodron</p><p>* Miranda’s Grandma Ruth’s <a target="_blank" href="https://food52.com/story/24875-my-family-recipe-peanut-butter-balls">Peanut Butter Balls</a></p><p>* Meaghan’s <a target="_blank" href="https://meaghanoc.substack.com/">Substack</a></p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe</a>