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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think Elf on the Shelf is an awful concept!

75 replies

5Foot5 · 20/10/2013 18:40

I had never heard of such a thing until I saw the phrase bandied about on Mumsnet. I didn't really know what it was all about but thought the name sounded quite sweet, if a little twee so, as a dyed-in-the-wool Christmas-aholic I decided to look it up. I was appalled at the idea Shock

Basically he is some sneaky Big Brother who is going to spy on your kids and then grass them up to Father Christmas if they don't behave! I think that is sinister and horrible. And the way he is meant to keep moving around the house under the cover of darkness is just a bit sinister.

Hmm! Even if the idea had been mooted to me when DD was small I would not have wanted anything to do with it thank you very much.

OP posts:
ICameOnTheJitney · 20/10/2013 18:41

YANBU he is a twat.

edam · 20/10/2013 18:42

I was given one. Was a bit perturbed by the whole spying on children thing - and they look really creepy, too. I asked ds (who was nine) whether he wanted it and he said yes. It's fine but YANBU, I still think it's disturbing.

edam · 20/10/2013 18:44

Mind you, FC is a bit dubious as well when you think about it - an old man creeping into your bedroom in the dead of night, when your parents are asleep... I love Christmas and FC btw, just don't think too hard about those aspects!

Floggingmolly · 20/10/2013 18:48

Yes. It reminds me of the hideous wickerwork monkey (Hmm) my granny had in her house, which sat on a high shelf. It was one of those actually designed to sit on a shelf, iykwim, the legs hung down as if it was just casually perched there.
I was petrified of it as a toddler, always thought it was watching me with it's orange glass eyes.
The bloody elf brings it all back!

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/10/2013 18:51

Nasty little grass.

We use Elmo for all our dirty work in this house. He is currently in the house because DD gave up her dummy. He only came because she was so brave

Lilicat1013 · 20/10/2013 18:56

As someone mentioned, Father Christmas is a bit dodgy as well. If I found some man in my kids room at night I'd be smacking him over the head with something!

I liked the idea of Elf on the Shelf when I first heard about it, not the spying aspect, the fact they do naughty things. That amused me, I like the concept of a naughty little elf playing tricks. Then I looked them up and the actual toy looks like it is out of a Christmas themed horror film. I really don't want to picture that thing wondering round the house.

I know there are cuter option for elves but that has really put me off.

wem · 20/10/2013 18:59

YANBU, it's really weird, but in keeping with the naughty list I guess. We don't use that either.

AryaofhouseSnark · 20/10/2013 18:59

Is that what the elf does ? I thought it suggested Christmas craft activities and went out on Christmasy outings.

Trills · 20/10/2013 19:01

It's creepy and weird and I wouldn't want one, not least because it's foolish to make threats that you are unable to follow through on (unless they contain a video camera - you can't actually tell if the children have been naughty while the elf was "watching).

But different people like different things.

Mellowandfruitful · 20/10/2013 19:02

For me it just seems to unnecessarily complicate things, and in all other ways I love putting extra frills on Christmas. So I don't do it. Even more reason not to if the elf is actually creepy looking!

SoupDragon · 20/10/2013 19:05

I agree.

I have, for the month of December, hissed Father Christmas is watching! at my children though.

I told DS2 last year that he'd been so bad this year FC was bringing him coal and potatoes. He cheerfully told me that, in that case, he'd make chips. :o He was 12 though and didn't actually believe in FC - I wasn't being mean.

WestieMamma · 20/10/2013 19:06

We used to live near the Woodley aerodrome signal, ie the point where planes turn into landing position for Heathrow. As they turned there'd be a row of white lights with a red one on the end. I had my daughter convinced for years that this was santa and the reindeers flying over to check she was behaving.

Guitargirl · 20/10/2013 19:07

We have done Elf on the Shelf for the last two years. We don't focus on the whole 'the Elf is watching you' element of it - it's just a bit of fun for December and the DCs love looking for him every morning and to see what he has been up to. Last year they remembered him from the year before and greeted him with great excitement and giggles.

Don't really see the difference between Elf and the Tooth Fairy/Father Christmas/Easter bunny - kiddie magic.

And I am always bemused at how Elf on the Shelf gets some MNetters frothing at the mouth. If you don't like it then don't do it .

Chivetalking · 20/10/2013 19:08

I'd never heard of it until a couple of years ago via the wonder that is the interweb. It certainly wasn't a tradition back in the day.

Have just looked it up on Amazon and it's close to thirty knicker Shock Thirty knicker for a book and a bit of wool and plastic Shock

Spirulina · 20/10/2013 19:10

Sounds like it's more for the indulgent parents than the child. Sounds horrible

littleomar · 20/10/2013 19:10

Yanbu it's vile. It's the trademark sign that gets me - cynical and contrived. I've got my own Christmas traditions thanks, don't need to buy another one.

Pixel · 20/10/2013 19:12

No creepy elves in our house but I did used to tell dd they might be about when we were out shopping to make sure she was behaving Blush. She once spotted something that she liked when we were in a toy shop and I sneaked back and got it for her for her stocking. She noticed it was from the toyshop (it was one of those independent ones not a chain so a distinctive toy) and as I wasn't ready for her to stop 'believing' I told her that an elf probably saw her looking at it and as she was being so good he told Father Christmas, so that was how all that started. It sounds terrible now she's 17 but she was always very good when we were shopping, she was too busy trying to spot elves Grin.

BeanoNoir · 20/10/2013 19:13

I just google imaged it. Jesus Christ that thing is scary.

Feelingannoyed · 20/10/2013 19:15

We've got an elf, not an elf on the shelf, a cuddly cute one.

He comes on the 1st Dec and gets up
To mischief every night. Ds2 loves it but I do get a bit fed up come Christmas Day of thinking of things for him to do.

He had his own Facebook page with loads of friends on there.

Coupon · 20/10/2013 19:22

YANBU

parakeet · 20/10/2013 19:27

YANBU. I'M responsible for the discipline in this house, not some plastic toy.

And I second whoever pointed out that the first rule of discipline is you don't make threats you aren't prepared to follow through.

attheendoftheday · 20/10/2013 19:27

I don't do it, but it bothers me not a jot if others do, so on that basis YABU. Live and let live.

PeggyCarter · 20/10/2013 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gintastic · 20/10/2013 19:32

We don't have an elf. We have smoke alarms, that's where FC watches you from in this house...

Lagoonablue · 20/10/2013 19:35

Yes the burglar alarm sensors are santa's way to spy in this house. Red light means he is there. WAtching.

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