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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that elves on the shelves are stupid?

78 replies

silvercup · 04/12/2012 10:00

I belong to another parenting forum and there are lots of people on there excitedly talking about their elves on the shelves. And I don't really get the appeal.

Surely the magic of Father Christmas is that he's real? You won't see him leave the presents, but he's a living, breathing man. Whereas this elf is quite clearly to any child's eye just a TOY. Does not that dilute the magic of Father Christmas? Make it more likely that children will realise he's not real?

I also think that I must be a really lazy mother, but I really would not relish having to come up with ideas for that elf for the whole of December or whatever. I have enough to do and once DD is in bed all I want to do is watch Eastenders thanks. There seems to be an almost competitive edge to these women, & most irritatingly of all, this is American crap people.

AIBU?

OP posts:
SpanishFly · 04/12/2012 10:26

Depends what you do with the elf. Ours doesn't go overboard with mischief and absolutely does not "watch" my kids to make sure they're behaving.

But yabu in thinking it's "just a toy". Seriously, my nearly 8yo ds screamed with excitement when he saw ours had returned for another December. He absolutely believes that it moves when nobody's looking at him. It does help that he does kind things too - e.g. he bought them a DVD and popcorn one evening last year

freddiefrog · 04/12/2012 10:31

We had a little Maileg pixie for a while. My 2 loved seeing her arrive, she was the start of the Christmas count-down

She just used to sit on various curtain poles just out of reach

I can't find her this year and the kids are gutted, will have to go and have a good hunt in the loft

TeeElfOnTeeShelf · 04/12/2012 10:33

I have an idea; don't use one.

Your life is now problem free.

You're welcome!

Original poster
silvercup · 04/12/2012 10:47

I wasn't going to use one. I guess by your username I may have hit a nerve ;)

OP posts:
SantaWearsGreen · 04/12/2012 10:52

I love our elf, he is brilliant and a great source of amusement and wonder for our DC. They think he is their special bit of the North Pole, its special and sweet. And he's naughty which makes them laugh.

AllSnowballsAndNoKnickers · 04/12/2012 10:54

Someone tell me wtf an 'elf on the shelf' is? Never heard of it until a couple of days ago on here.

expatinscotland · 04/12/2012 10:55

WTF are they?

AllSnowballsAndNoKnickers · 04/12/2012 10:55

Oh I'm so happy it's not just me!

KenLeeeeeee · 04/12/2012 10:56

WTVF are they? It sounds like something I may need in my life...

Original poster
silvercup · 04/12/2012 11:02

It's come over from America...a (rather creepy looking) elf arrives in your house before Christmas...he does hilarious things when the children are in bed such as hanging underwear off the Xmas tree or making a mess somewhere. I think some people use it as a bargaining tool with their children as the elf reports back to father christmas whether they've been good or not. On Xmas Eve I believe he goes home for good until the following year.

OP posts:
camdancer · 04/12/2012 11:03

Yet another thread on this? Xmas Hmm

Our elf is having a great time living with us until Christmas. At night time he goes to tell Santa all the kind, festive and lovely things we've done that day and the children find him in a different place each morning. This morning he was having a lightsaber battle with astronaut Peppa. During the day he is just another toy that the children play with. I can't see how this is a bad thing. (I did choose a different elf from the proper one 'cos I think that one is a bit creepy looking - but that's just my feeling.)

bedmonster · 04/12/2012 11:14

He absolutely believes that it moves when nobody's looking at him.

Really? Actually really? At 8? Confused Believes that a teddy moves all by itself?? Not knocking seriously, but am genuinely shocked!

OP, YANBU, it's frankly ridiculous and all about the parents desire to conjure up fake traditions.

TeeElfOnTeeShelf · 04/12/2012 11:28

No, you haven't hit a nerve at all. I don't actually have one myself. I just liked the user name.

I'm just tired of 'OMG how could anyone have that!' threads where you don't have to have "that". Really. There's no law about them or anything.

Has it come from America? Must be recent there as well as I'm from America and never heard of them until last year or the year before. I've been in the UK 9 years.

CrapJokeThing · 04/12/2012 11:38

We use Maileg elves, DH & I bought them together on a rare weekend away together. The DDs are to our surprise obssessed with them. DD1 is Year 3 and told friends in great detail about it because she 'could n't keep it a secret'.

We don't over think it, no complicated planning here, they tend to rearrange toys and leave bossy notes about the importance of brushing your teeth which the DDs then excitedly follow. The bedrooms have never been so tidy.

MyNutcrackerSuiteAudrina · 04/12/2012 11:41

Mine drinks all the wine and has his creepy little eye on the Christmas chocolates Sad

SpanishFly · 04/12/2012 11:50

bedmonster Yes, REALLY. What's your point? Is my nearly 8yo stupid or gullible or is he just full of the magic of Christmas?

santaNdeer · 04/12/2012 11:51

YANBU I hate how adults talk about them as if they're real

Hate to single anyone out as I've seen loads of it but as an example Our elf is having a great time living with us until Christmas. At night time he goes to tell Santa all the kind, festive and lovely things we've done that day (sorry camdancer...)

No he it doesn't!

It's all just so twee.

I didn't realise I felt this strongly about them til I read this thread...

SpanishFly · 04/12/2012 11:53

We have a snowman that's quite cute, notythe creepy elf. Ours is just here to add a bit of Xmas fun. I'm not convinced that "keeping an eye" on my ds would have the desired effect, so we don't use that part of it.

SpanishFly · 04/12/2012 11:54

Gosh, how can someone's tradition be so offensive to some of you?

bedmonster · 04/12/2012 11:55

Spanishfly was actually asking as my 8yo DD doesn't even believe in father christmas any more so was just shocked that your dc believes that a teddy can move all by itself. Think I actually said as much in my last post. In fact, to quote myself...
Not knocking seriously, but am genuinely shocked!

But no, I don't believe he is full of the magic of Christmas - that phrase is almost as boaksome as the elf itself!!!

Mrsjay · 04/12/2012 11:57

wtaf is an elf on a shelf look after your own kids so they behave Wink (Mutters never had elves anywhere in my day )

Original poster
silvercup · 04/12/2012 11:57

I'm so glad I'm not the only one to feel like this about them!

santaNdeer - yes that's exactly it, the twee way people post about them as if they're real.

I can't even just think "each to their own" because DD isn't even 2 yet and it's obvious that by the time she's at school everybody will have these bloody elves and she'll come home asking why she doesn't have an elf come to visit. And what do you say then?!

OP posts:
DuelingFanjo · 04/12/2012 11:58

I thought they sounded cute until I realised that they are there to see who's being good or bad and that they cost SOOOO much! Shock

Mrsjay · 04/12/2012 11:59

hat they cost SOOOO much!

Do you have to buy them oh good lord somebody has actually convinced conned parents into thinking they need these things

camdancer · 04/12/2012 12:01

It's Christmas. It's meant to be twee! WTF is wrong with wanting to bring a bit of Christmas magic into our house. I'm lucky that because I didn't grow up with Christmas, I can make up all the traditions I want with my own children. Who cares that it is only a few years old - so are my children!

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