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AIBU?

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Original poster

The Elves must go, 6yo looking for them at 2 am!

65 replies

Therandomtrekker1 · 18/12/2025 02:52

My two sleep soundly , never wake (both since 18 months) but since the Elves have arrived they are waking earlier and earlier.
This week youngest woke at 1.30am with an itchy foot ! Managed to get back to bed quickly and thought I broken night this week with all the early rises since 1 Dec 4-6 am instead of normal 6-7.30 whilst they both look for the Elves I was tired anyway.

Tonight is a new low, woke at 2.15am saw a light on and found the 6yo listening to an audio book while lying on the floor, been all over the house looking for Elves and lights on everywhere. Now upset because I took away her speaker and told couldn’t have nightlight as no one to switch it off later.

The Elves are a pain to do as I always forget until last minute (bought by my mum 2 years ago who didn’t realise what they were, she did apologise later) and while the joy on DC faces is heart lifting, the lack of sleep doesn’t justify them staying?

So
Elves stay it’s only for another week and the magic of Christmas is so fleeting for these little ones. AIBU

or do they get called back to the North Pole early, because little ones need their sleep and this is obviously disturbing them. YANBU

OP posts:
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JoBrodie · 18/12/2025 23:52

@Therandomtrekker1 If you have access to Word / PowerPoint and a printer then Microsoft has the Curlz MT font (same as one used in the film Elf !) so you could print out a "we're off" message that might look quite convincing. Or copy the font style.

Jo :)
www.artofthetitle.com/title/elf/

The Elves must go, 6yo looking for them at 2 am!
MaloryJones · 18/12/2025 20:51

clearscorr · 18/12/2025 20:16

Lock it in the jar and say it’s sick with flu and in quarantine 😂

😂

TheKeatingFive · 18/12/2025 20:20

Winterwonderwhy · 18/12/2025 13:29

It’s not weird when you DONT have a child waking up at 2am. And it’s not weird thinking up something new every single day.

Show quote history

Like I keep saying, if you don't want to do it, just don't, very simple.

And the OP's problem can be tackled with some rules around staying in bed until a reasonable time in the morning.

Flowerslamp · 18/12/2025 20:20

Could the elves wrtte to DC saying they'll have to go back to the North Pole if DC get out of bed in the night?

I'm very glad my DC knew nothing of elves.

clearscorr · 18/12/2025 20:16

Lock it in the jar and say it’s sick with flu and in quarantine 😂

Missohnoyoubetterdont · 18/12/2025 20:07

Bbq1 · 18/12/2025 13:12

Wow, there are some grinchs on here! Ds is 20 so the elf wasn't a thing when he was small but if it had been I would have done it for him. People calling it shite and advising throwing it in the bin is callous. I think it's cute that Ops dd is so excited she's waking early. They aren't little long and it's only a few more days.

Hardly callous! 🤣 Parents are allowed to decide something is not working for them. Life, especially around Xmas, is stressful enough as it is. Christmas is full of magic and excitement without having to devise new elf adventures every night.

bridgetreilly · 18/12/2025 13:42

I do love the broken TV screen one.

SauronsArsehole · 18/12/2025 13:41

Elves leave a letter telling children off for being up late and they’re off to the north pole to consult with Santa on what to do about naughty children not staying in bed and they’ll return when children sleep properly.

though I like the Freddie Kruger option 🤣🤣

bridgetreilly · 18/12/2025 13:39

I expect Santa needs the elves overnight at the moment since there’s so much to do in the run up to Christmas. They won’t be back until breakfast time each day to keep an eye on things.

Engelah · 18/12/2025 13:36

You’ve started now sorry!!

Two separate bought one for my daughter’s first Christmas for me to do. They’re in a cupboard somewhere. I had zero intention of starting it.

Christmas is special enough with lots of treats. I have enough to do!!!

canuckup · 18/12/2025 13:33

If it's causing you trouble, get rid.

Say they had to leave now to help Santa wrap the gifts.

Winterwonderwhy · 18/12/2025 13:29

TheKeatingFive · 18/12/2025 08:47

My kids love the elf. Do it/don't do it, entirely up to you, but the level negativity towards it from some quarters is weird.

Show quote history

It’s not weird when you DONT have a child waking up at 2am. And it’s not weird thinking up something new every single day.

Bbq1 · 18/12/2025 13:12

Wow, there are some grinchs on here! Ds is 20 so the elf wasn't a thing when he was small but if it had been I would have done it for him. People calling it shite and advising throwing it in the bin is callous. I think it's cute that Ops dd is so excited she's waking early. They aren't little long and it's only a few more days.

AyrshireTryer · 18/12/2025 12:04

They have had to go back to Santa early, and then pop them in neighbour's bin.

zingally · 18/12/2025 11:55

A little girl I tutor proudly showed me her 3(!) elves the first week of December, and told me everything they'd got up to.
The next week I saw her, I asked how the elves were behaving, and she sort of shrugged and said they'd disappeared. She looked a bit sad, so I made up some rubbish about how it's a busy time of year in the workshop, and santa probably needed the extra help!
The mum told me on the way out, she just got sick of them!

TheKeatingFive · 18/12/2025 10:55

ThereAreOnlyShadesOfGrey · 18/12/2025 10:51

Na, be proud you haven’t been sucked in.

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Again, this all just feels very overblown. It's just a stuffed toy you move around the house. Do it/don't do it, entirely to you, no big deal either way.

ThereAreOnlyShadesOfGrey · 18/12/2025 10:51

MaggieFS · 18/12/2025 09:18

It’s probably frustration like I feel because I feel like I’m a shit parent for not doing bloody elves.

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Na, be proud you haven’t been sucked in.

ThereAreOnlyShadesOfGrey · 18/12/2025 10:50

Nope, the whole elf thing is weird.

How people shouldn’t “spoil the magic” for the other kids, how it’s a tradition yada yada yada.

It really isn’t. The elf has only been a thing in the past 15 years or so. And on a major level probably not more than ten years.

I would never have bought into it but I’d equally have told the kids straight that it wouldn’t be happening.

And I’d have had no issues with my kids going into school and telling the other kids the truth about the elf. It’s not the same as Santa and I have 0 doubt that parents would have been grateful 😂

KittyFinlay · 18/12/2025 10:48

I'd take them and leave a note explaining why- the children keep getting out of bed to find them when it's still dark and so they are going home where they don't have to rush home from the North Pole so fast.

TheKeatingFive · 18/12/2025 10:08

MaggieFS · 18/12/2025 09:18

It’s probably frustration like I feel because I feel like I’m a shit parent for not doing bloody elves.

Show quote history

Well there really isn't any need for that, all parents do different things and all children get different experiences.

LavenderBlue19 · 18/12/2025 09:27

The elves have been called back to Santa's workshop because he's extra busy, but they'll be back one more day on Christmas Eve (if you can face it).

That way she knows they're not here to search for them, she has something to look forward to, and hopefully you'll have finished work by then and have a bit more time to think something up?

I don't do the elves because it looks like a nightmare. Feel like a shit mum because of it but honestly, there is enough to do in December (plus it's my busiest time of year at work).

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/12/2025 09:25

Elf leaves a note saying hasn’t moved as they are getting up too early and scared if they been seen moving

no looking for them till after 7am

MaggieFS · 18/12/2025 09:18

TheKeatingFive · 18/12/2025 08:47

My kids love the elf. Do it/don't do it, entirely up to you, but the level negativity towards it from some quarters is weird.

Show quote history

It’s probably frustration like I feel because I feel like I’m a shit parent for not doing bloody elves.

MaggieFS · 18/12/2025 09:17

And this kind of nonsense, or whatever else my children would conjure up is exactly why we don’t have elves.