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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be the only person I know without an Elf on a Shelf

174 replies

amysmum18 · 02/12/2016 08:46

Looking through my Facebook newsfeed over the last couple of days, I seem to be the only person I know that hasn't got an Elf on a Shelf.

My two little ones (5 and 3) have got a cloth advent calendar that we pop a couple of biscuits in every day 'from Father Christmas' if they have been good and that's it. Everyone else I know seem to be spending every night putting their Elves in elaborate and amusing situations for their children to find the next day. Between working, organising everything at home, looking after the kids (and the husband) and trying to get sorted for Christmas, I barely have time to think straight, let alone spend my time hiding an elf around the house!

Is it just me that doesn't feel the need to get an Elf on a Shelf or am I just being grumpy! ;-)

OP posts:

GloGirl · 02/12/2016 09:07

We have one, doing it simply. I didn't want them to end up confused why everyone has one and they don't

Crispsheets · 02/12/2016 09:07

It's more shit parents think they have to buy, like Xmas bedding . Xmas is big business.

rosesandwreaths · 02/12/2016 09:07

Can't get excite about it at all but we already have plenty of xmas traditions and the elf business really doesn't do it for me. For pre-chrismas fun 'n games we have a advent calendar with where each of the 24 small boxes contains a tiny book with a Christmas story. i pop a small note into the book every day telling them to look for x,y,z, where i have usually hidden a tint surprise, hair clips, a nice biscuit and when they are lucky even a pound coin.

TheMasterMurderedMargarita · 02/12/2016 09:08

.....

FlyingFordAnglia · 02/12/2016 09:09

I LOVE Christmas but think the elf looks creepy and quite frankly hard work. Eldest ds is 11 so it passed him by, but youngest is 4 months and I just won't even be starting it!! Once a tradition (if you can even call the elf that) is started it's very hard to stop too.

MsJamieFraser · 02/12/2016 09:09

Each to their own, you don't have to do elf on the shelf, same with anything in life really. Some people do, some don't, that's the way life works.

It's the judgemental BS I dislike.

FetchezLaVache · 02/12/2016 09:09

I don't and absolutely refuse to ! Fortunately, they don't really seem to be on DS's radar - I'm in Yorkshire and most people are too tight-fisted pragmatic for that sort of shite.

MsJamieFraser · 02/12/2016 09:11

I brought my kids bedding, obviously me buying my children bedding makes me a shit parent

Lupinlady5 · 02/12/2016 09:11

What Crispsheets said.

Shops: buy more stuff!
People: ok!

Sparklingbrook · 02/12/2016 09:12

I feel sorry for the parents feeling pressure to do it because all their DCs friends are talking about it.

It does seem very time consuming and a little bit competitive.

MiladyThesaurus · 02/12/2016 09:12

We don't have one (I think they're creepy and can't be bothered) but I can't get worked up at people who do.

DS2's class at school had one last year. The teacher told them they all had to behave really well so they could teach the naughty elf how to behave. DS enjoyed all the elf's tricks. I don't see what the harm is.

CombineBananaFister · 02/12/2016 09:14

Most of my friends with toddlers have them and most with older children dont, so you are not alone. I did it when DS was little and he loved it, one of my friends DDs HATED the thing and she thought it was a chew

TBH, the tide has turned and they seem to be a victim of their own success, I've noticed three different camps - the Lovers, the always been Haters and the newly Haters - (those who thought they were cool a few years back when you could only buy them at £30 a pop are quite sniffy about them now they are a £5 in Home Bargains.)

If you and your kids love it, then enjoy it.
If its your idea of evil consumerism and it as always been your idea of hell then don't. But it's a bit mean spirited to do it yourself then look down on those who it is still a novelty for.

(btw, I dont think you were being sniffy like this op there just seems to be a lot of EOTS sneeriness about lately. Enjoy not having to rack your brains for ideas!!! )

rosesandwreaths · 02/12/2016 09:16

Can't do with christmas hampers cringe cringe cringe at the concept of hampers christmas PJs or any of that. We have a few christmas decorations and lights up in the house, a wreath with 4 candles following the advent, and we actually do have wintery themed bedding which my kids use during december. It's made of brushed cotton so warmer than usual and has snowmen and candy canes on it. ds2 had a wee accident in his fancy festive bedding in the middle of the night

Flanderspigeonmurderer · 02/12/2016 09:17

I don't have one. It's not something my parents did, it wasn't around then. I'm not against them I just didn't want to do it myself.

lilyb84 · 02/12/2016 09:17

My ds is too young but I still don't know what they are, have only heard of them on here and am not on FB so I'm hoping this whole thing will pass us by. Unless ds wants one when he's older, then fair enough...

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/12/2016 09:18

No elf on the shelf here either.

But then I like to go against the grain

bretonpuffin · 02/12/2016 09:18

DD is 5 and we don't have one. Quite a few on my FB too.

I think it's a creepy American import and I haven't got the time nor the inclination to do it.

I also think it kind of dilutes the magic. The thing to look forward to is Father Christmas, there doesn't need to be something else throughout December as well.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 02/12/2016 09:19

My son is a bit (lot) old for it now but we wouldn't have done it anyway.

ZoFloMoFo · 02/12/2016 09:22

MsJamieFraser nobody is calling anyone a shit parent.

I think the PP meant "it's more shit that patents have to buy", she wasn't calling anyone a shit parent for buying bedding

DashboardLightParadise · 02/12/2016 09:22

We don't do it either. I did consider it this year but my ever realistic 4 year old said when I mentioned it, 'you know it's just a silly toy mummy?'.

That'll be a no then

RhubarbAndMustard · 02/12/2016 09:22

I'm going to buck the trend as I quite like them and the kids think they are wonderful. It all adds to the magic and as long as it doesn't scare them I think it's pretty harmless.

I'm impressed with some parents imagination to think of all the scenarios. I'm just too lazy to start it as I wouldn't be able to keep it going every day.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 02/12/2016 09:22

No EOTS here. Can't be arsed with another thing to do. If mine ask I'll tell them Santa knows they're good so we don't have one.

rightsofwomen · 02/12/2016 09:22

No Elf here and no request to have one. They don't seem to be that popular round here (rural Essex)

bretonpuffin · 02/12/2016 09:23

Also we don't have xmas bedding, don't do xmas eve boxes and the tree won't go up until a week beforehand. I know that xmas will still be perfectly magical though, mine were as a child without all the extra memory making madness.

livingthegoodlife · 02/12/2016 09:25

No elf on the shelf here. We have enough things going on which are Christmas themed without adding extra. I don't mind other people doing it though!

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