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Original poster

To not do 'Elf on the shelf'

231 replies

Alottodoaboutssomething · 29/10/2024 09:58

I understand it as a magical annoying elf turning up 1st December, to watch your children, and report their behaviour back to the North Pole. However, it back fires when it is the "naughty" elf who infact is the one who needs watching. This is demonstrated by his antics each night (set up by the lucky parent who has to think of various mischievous predicaments for 24 days)! Please correct me if I am wrong on this.

I promise I am not a grinch! We do crafts, baking, advent calendars, small Christmas box with night before Christmas book, Santa key, leaving mince pie, carrot on Christmas eve etc in the lead up. I just find the elf idea creepy, especially the whole watching/monitoring idea. Surely it could lead to a "mummy is this you doing this?" and create further risk of them questioning Santa as well. I don't know if this has happened to anybody!

Dc1 has asked about his elf, and I don't want to do it, and feel mean, because the other kids get it visiting them. I don't want a festive squatter in my home!

OP posts:
TinyGingerCat · 29/10/2024 10:07

I am so thankful this was not a thing when my kids were little. If you are going to do it, do not post daily pictures on SM - your friends will despise you if you do

Tagyoureit · 29/10/2024 10:05

I can't stand the motherfucker! Lazy, troublesome little git should be in the north pole working, not slacking off causing mess in my house!

WinterFollies · 29/10/2024 10:05

I have an irrational (or maybe not irrational) hatred of it. Particularly the oh so hilariously 'naughty' pictures on social media - ie booze and fags, sexual positions, etc..

Just bin the stupid thing and get your kids to perfect a haughty 'We don't do that in our family'

noworklifebalance · 29/10/2024 10:04

Oh gawd it sounds like a pain and I feel for parents (usually the mums) of young children whose peers (and their parents) have been sucked in by social media and so you feel you HAVE to follow suit otherwise it’s a bit harsh on the young DCs.
My kids are teens so we escaped this trend but could the naught elf come out once a week, e.g on a Sunday and have the good one the remainder of the time?

Jollyjoy · 29/10/2024 10:02

I am 100% with you. The last 2 years it has always been a strain as I try to hold firm on this, but it’s hard when the kids perceive that everyone in their class does it. Prior to that it wasn’t such a thing I don’t think. I hate the social media creep that spreads this stuff! Like you we have plenty other fun traditions but fuck sitting down at night in December and remember to make the fecking thing look like it’s shitting in the loo, or some such festivity.

Whatsitreallylike · 29/10/2024 10:00

Im doing it this year but I know I’ll enjoy it. I’d feel a bit bad if my DD was going into school each day In December and her friends were talking about what their naughty elf did, your DC might feel a little bit left out. But that said, it’s not a big deal, you make it fun in other ways so if you really don’t want to then that’s OK too.

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