Well, I have long wondered what the concept of gift-giving had to do with celebrating the birth of Jesus.  I guess, I focused on the list-making, the shopping, the exchange of gifts.  What has come back to me, as we approach Pete’s first Christmas is another aspect of the gift-giving season relating to children.  It is the concept of receiving desirable or undesirable gifts on Christmas morning as a “reward” for behavior.  What a brilliant management technique! As the weather grows colder (or this year – wetter), children and pets are more confined to the house for daily play.  Their energy and propensity for mischief is focused in confined areas instead of the more expansive outdoors.  Even though Saint Nicholas (origin for our Santa Claus) is known for generosity to those in need, not dispatching punishment, the concept of earning gifts crept into the time-honored traditions in the early 1900’s. Note the Elf on a Shelf of the 21^st century – those tattletales who visit children between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve for the purpose of reporting to Santa Claus who is naughty and who is nice.

I can see how this approach may serve as a great behavior modifier for children.  I wish I knew how to leverage it for puppies!

In the last couple of weeks, Pete has been more rambunctious and scheming that ever before!

I believe that my resistance to being outside in the biting wind or driving rain for more than a few minutes has resulted in too much unused energy which he has channeled into mischief.  I can’t turn my back for a minute!  He is grabbing things, racing around, avoiding us when we call him. He is 6+ months old, has cabin fever and is simply BORED!  Oh that he could grasp the idea of an Elf observing him – or that he may jeopardize future treats, including a stash on Christmas morning, based on his choices! It seems that I, like parents everywhere, could use the heightened motivation of pleasing or disappointing an even higher authority.  Skip and I are teaming up to amplify with combined responses. I think that’s helping a bit.  Wish the Elf could add some additional  persuasion!