Trying to be the fun mom always backfires

Sometimes I try to redeem my status as a mother.  These are the days when I let Kitty help me make cookies, I consent to play a game of Sorry! or UNO, I say yes to dessert, I let John make a "potion", or I remember Chickie and take her out of the car.  These things are hard for me, I don't know why, but they are.

My latest attempt has been in the form of a new holiday tradition that I guess everyone else already knew about-- Elf on a Shelf. I forked over the massive amount of cash for the "kit" which consists of a cute-ish vintage looking elf and a story book.  For the money I thought the elf would at least have bendable limbs, but alas, it is more authentically vintage than you would think.  Anyway, the elf watches all day and reports back to Santa each night. He/she can't move when anyone is watching and the touch of a human will destroy its magical powers.  Fun, right?

Kitty was first to notice it, we got excited, read the book and decided on the name Winkie.  But after about five minutes Kitty got all skittish and started jumping at the slightest noise. Then there were tears, screaming, and the shakes. Then came the demands that I accompany her everywhere.  She was thoroughly freaked out by the thought that Winkie was alive and watching her every move. Fun mom fail.

Luckily by morning she was used to the idea and now I am stuck with the job of moving Winkie every once in a while to keep it fresh-- it's more work than you'd think, and Winkie is kind of starting to freak me out with her crazy eyes.