Earlier this year, on St. Patrick’s Day, I followed our usual morning routine with only minor tweaks. I helped my son dress, deliberately setting out a green shirt. That was pretty much it.
After dropping him off at school, I returned home and hopped online. What did I find? Images of kitchens with chairs overturned and cabinet doors ajar, living rooms scattered with shoes and books, and even empty, homemade “traps.” Bathrooms adorned with toilet paper streamers. It looked like snapshots of my own household any regular Wednesday. But no, this wasn’t just a case of messy housekeeping—it was leprechauns at work!
In that moment, it hit me: some of my son’s classmates would be chatting about how a leprechaun had visited their homes overnight, making a delightful mess and leaving behind chocolate coins and special edition boxes of Lucky Charms. The sense of betrayal I felt from my fellow parents was intense. Once again, I was pushed into a world that seems obsessed with making everything more “magical” than it needs to be.
I honestly can’t understand this compulsion some parents have. St. Patrick’s Day is simply a day to wear all the green you can find, maybe enjoy corned beef and cabbage, and perhaps indulge in a Guinness (or two). We used to do small things like adding green food dye to dinner, but after realizing that coloring food green guarantees your kids won’t touch it, we stopped. Meanwhile, other parents have moved on to even greener and more ridiculous traditions.
I’ve tolerated this nonsense for other holidays, but everyone has their limit. One day, my son will come home asking why a leprechaun visits Billy’s house annually and not ours. “Leprechauns aren’t real, and Billy’s parents are just fibbing. Now eat your green eggs.”
I refuse to partake in this absurdity, along with the myriad ways parents are trying to elevate things that are already magical to an unnecessary extreme.
Let’s take a look at a few examples:
Situation: Christmas
A jolly man in a red suit slides down your chimney, visiting every home in the world on a flying sleigh pulled by reindeer. He leaves gifts beneath your tree, perfectly chosen just for you.
Verdict: STILL NOT MAGICAL ENOUGH. Let’s add a creepy Elf who watches your kids for a month and requires moving each night to convince them he’s alive. Oh, and sprinkle powdered sugar around boots to create a trail from the fireplace to the tree, as if that’s what proves Santa was actually here.
Situation: Losing a Tooth
You place it under your pillow and wake to find coins or a few bucks left by a fairy.
Verdict: NEEDS MORE MAGIC. Now we must sprinkle glitter everywhere as fairy dust and deal with the aftermath for months. Leave a note from the Tooth Fairy emphasizing dental hygiene, and forget just a dollar—let’s leave an entire toy instead!
Situation: Easter
A rabbit hides eggs around your house while you sleep—no one knows why—filled with candy. Kids sit on the rabbit’s lap at the mall, often leaving them terrified.
Verdict: NO MAGIC IN THIS EGG-LAYING BUNNY. We need to make all food look like tiny bunny faces or butts, and fill a field with plastic eggs so that kids can trample over each other to gather as many as possible.
Thanksgiving remains relatively untouched, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before Pinterest floods me with pictures of stuffed pilgrims keeping an eye on the children before The Great Turkey makes its sacrifice.
Life is already full of magic. Look around! You exist, and there are countless ways to appreciate the world around you if you just take a moment to breathe and reflect. Let’s teach our kids to cherish the simple wonders instead of constantly seeking out the next big spectacle. It’s truly magical even without the glitter and chocolate.
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Summary:
In a world obsessed with crafting excessive magic around holidays, one parent questions the need for such extravagance. Through relatable examples from holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, and Easter, the piece humorously critiques the trend of escalating traditions and urges a return to appreciating the simple joys of life.