Bloody Elf turns up in a balloon now

I don’t think most parents are doing that. Most either don’t have time or don’t have the money or have the time and the money but think that that is tacky / wasteful etc...
Seriously, out of your circle of friends what % are doing that?

Because I don’t know any FYI.

It’s a minority doing Elf on The Shelf full stop and those that do it are having the elves deliver the advent calendar or similar.

It’s not compulsory, like most things people can do it or not as they please.

Personally I have never got the point of the whole elf thing and wouldn’t have the energy to bother. That doesn’t mean I judge those who enjoy doing it

I don't rent and am quite ok financially and I did this last year. It is a bit of fun and mine enjoyed it so it was well worth it. It is not something you have to do at all.

Stop being a sheep and don't give in to social media pressure.
If elf on the shelf was done by men... do you think it would all be so over the top btw? Nah it wouldnt. Probably wouldnt even be done actually!

It is just women trying to outdue other women. Yeah...
And all for likes. Just that. Likes.

Not everyone puts pictures of everything they do on social media. I did it for my child not for anyone else. I have the pics saved for us and that is it. I wish people would just live and let live.

This, exactly!

That fecking elf will never be welcome in my house. I'm honest with my kids that it isn't real and is a reason for folk to brag on social media for likes.

The photos of the piles of shit with the advent calendars, families in matching PJs, Xmas eve boxes are all utter bollocks.

We have an elf. She appeared on a shelf this morning. No balloon. No presents. All she does is sit. Last year there were times she didn't move for days. Perhaps she's faulty.

I hate doing the elf, would happily drop-kick the little fucker into the nearest wheelie bin with a song in my heart, but the DC love him so he stays. He's not a grass so he isn't saying for Santa, he just plays some child-friendly pranks and gets up to mild naughtiness. It gives them a giggle each morning to see what he's been up to during the night and some nights we do absolutely nothing with him so they can go crackers trying to work out what he's done that they just can't see.

If you don't like what other people are doing with/for their DC and what they're sharing then unfollowthem. They stay on your friend list but you won't see their updates.

I'm not on any social media other than mn for this kind of reason i cant even be bothered to see it. Our Elf forgot 😑 yep first day grand entrance that was turning up under a hat on the front door just as we was leaving this morning I'm over it already

I've not seen any balloon arrivals.
Most of the elves my friends have are in isolation jars until the 14th which I think is a clever way of getting out of moving it 😂

WTF has renting got to do with it? Does it make someone a lesser person?!

Ironically, our rent is twice the amount of most of our friends mortgage repayments.

I just stick to the traditional elf on the shelf story but it's gone way beyond on that now.

God I hate those bloody elves. Still haven't forgiven the parent who sent one in as a class present...yeah thanks for trying to extend my working day there love! I'd either have to be until wraparound care is over or before breakfast club starts.

From my social media it tends to be people renting/lower salaries ironically that have done this.

Important question, how big are their flatscreen TVs? Its not proper sneering at people in rented accommodation with low paid jobs unless you mention the massive TV, multiple children, and top-up benefits.

If you're going to goad, do it right.

My daughter has a relative who buys into all this, elves around the front room in various poses, family all wearing Christmas jumpers for photos.

Whatever floats their boats I suppose.

If only they had stopped wasting money on elf balloons, they could have made it onto the property ladder by now.

DH does our elf, so I'm pretty sure it's not exclusive to women.

A parent did what?

And do you actually move the elf about before they get in every day? Ugh. What a dick move from them.

Our elf is still in the cupboard where I put him after Xmas dd 5 hasn't mentioned him so he will stay there until she does certainly won't pay £15 for a balloon to then pop it our elf will just appear sitting in the tree no present maybe a little note but thats all.