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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:

flopsypopsymopsy · 02/12/2016 16:48

What the hell is elf on the shelf?

MattAffleck · 02/12/2016 16:53

Don't have one here either. The whole thing passed me by. We're excited enough in December

LunaLoveg00d · 02/12/2016 17:00

My youngest is 8. We do not have an elf on the fucking shelf. I have jut asked the child about this "tradition" to be met with a blank stare - he has never heard of it which says to me nobody in his class are doing it either. All my FB friends, bar one, have steered well away from the stupid elf too.

It's just a load of nonsense, some toy creating mischief in your house and simultaneously checking up on the kids? And it's not a tradition. It's a 12 year old marketing ploy.

When i was little my Mum told me that robins were Santa's eyes and ears - why else would they feature on so many festive cards and decorations? You had to behave when you were outside, or even in the house because the robin would see and you'd get no presents.

poisonedbypen · 02/12/2016 17:04

I have never known anyone with one, or seen one on Facebook. Only on here. Wanders off muttering & thankful that mine are teenagers...

Funnyface1 · 02/12/2016 17:11

I thought I'd give it a try this year but just bought a much cheaper soft toy elf, not the official elf on the shelf. I was quite excited about it, baby is too small to understand but thought my 6 year old would love it. Instead after several anxious enquiries from my son we have "sent the elf back early". He was basically terrified that this elf could come alive at night and what it might do. Fail.

OooohHorlicks · 02/12/2016 17:12

We have one. I don't labour the point about him watching their behaviour. He's just the fun cheeky elf that keeps them company until Christmas Eve. He brings the advent calendars, Christmas hair bobbles, Christmas books, etc and eats all the mince pies. He gets into scraps trying to prepare for Christmas. He heads back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve and leaves the DC some pyjamas and a DVD.

I couldn't care less what anyone thinks and I don't post pictures to FB. It is indeed a faff coming home from work and having to think of something but the DC enjoy coming downstairs in the morning to see what he's been up to and that will only be the case for another year or two so I'm making the most of it.

That said, I'm green with envy at the two women who had the business idea. Green.

Notso · 02/12/2016 17:17

A couple of years ago DD persuaded me to buy two for DS2 and 3 who were then 3 and 2 promising to help me with them. She didn't help me once. I was the one dicking about tying them to balloons etc the DS's weren't even that bothered so I haven't done them since.
Part of me enjoys seeing the efforts some go to but another part of me thinks it's just another competitive brag fest.

P1nkP0ppy · 02/12/2016 17:22

No and I don't know anyone with one.
Hideous idea.

Original poster

amysmum18 · 03/12/2016 08:55

Thanks everyone. It's reassuring to hear that I'm not ruining my children's Christmas by not having, what I consider to be, a fairly sinister looking Elf hiding around the house for the whole of December 😂 😂 😂

OP posts:

popcornpaws · 03/12/2016 09:46

The fact that what the elf gets up to has to be posted on Facebook says it all, it seems its more about the parents being "fun and whacky" than the children really.
If it doesn't get posted on Facebook (imo) then its fine!

CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 03/12/2016 10:04

I have a 4yo ds (and a newborn). No elf on the shelf here .

birdybirdywoofwoof · 03/12/2016 10:06

No elf on my shelf!

I've got enough shit in the house, thank you

HandbagCrab · 03/12/2016 10:15

Ooh a made up annual tradition that involves loads of busy work at an already insanely busy time of year? Who wouldn't want to do that! :)

oklumberjack · 03/12/2016 10:35

I love a Christmas jumper. It's fun. However, can I ask, what an earth is a Christmas Eve box???

The80sweregreat · 03/12/2016 10:38

I saw a fb meme thing,

' if your bored of Elf on the shelf, try a whore in the drawer' and a drunk Barbie with a bottle of alcohol..
Never heard of this Elf thing before. Sounds like hard work!

BraveDancing · 03/12/2016 10:40

We don't have an elf. I find them kind of creepy.

n0ne · 03/12/2016 10:43

I refuse to buy into this bollocks

CatThiefKeith · 03/12/2016 10:45

We have one, and so does my sister. I found a forgotten post office account that my long deceased gram opened for me 5 years ago with £30 in it, and it had accumulated enough interest to buy two.

It was like her last gift to the great grandchildren she never met, and TBH £80 would have just disappeared otherwise. She loved Christmas and I'm sure she'd have approved.

5 years ago nobody else I knew had one and now nearly all dd's school friends have them so it's definitely caught in here.

Bloopbleep · 03/12/2016 10:45

My dd was freaked out by nursery when she was theee with the concept of elf cam (fire alarms on ceiling that nursery staff said the elves watched their behaviour through) She was so distraught at being watched all the time (mum can they see me poo?) that I think an elf on the shelf would be cruel. Plus she wouldn't buy into an inanimate object creative havoc while she slept. A relative called me cruel for not getting one but ffs who cares.

WinterSpiceZoflora · 03/12/2016 10:45

DC a bit too old for this, thank goodness.

I don't like them. They are spooky little fuckers

ScarletForYa · 03/12/2016 10:50

I don't have one. I don't have time to arrange the scenarios, but they have one in dd's preschool, which is handy.

It's just another job to do really.

I have work and college and dd, so I've enough to be doing!

MiddlingMum · 03/12/2016 10:53

Luna we had the robin thing too when I was small - 60s.

Fortunately my DC are too old for an elf. It's an odd idea, having a small toy sitting round the house spying on them. I'd feel very uncomfortable with that. Christmas should be as simple as possible imo, and involve as little tat as possible.

sarkyone · 03/12/2016 10:57

We have one. As other people have said it's fun with minimal fuss.

It cost a couple of quid off ebay a few summers ago. He gets up to mischief as he's cheeky. He helps Santa keep track of what's going on. After all, Santa has a lot of children to sort out things for! I'm a teacher but wouldn't do one at school as I think it's parental choice!

The tricks he get up to are simple (eating the kids cereal and being stuck in the box, making a train of shoes...) and don't cost anything in term sof time and money. Both my kids love him and are always desperate to see wha the gets up too. And he writes notes about the kids getting up too early ;)

TataEs · 03/12/2016 11:01

don't know anyone in real life with one!

WritingHome · 03/12/2016 11:08

We don't have one and will not be getting one,. we are not in the UK However I know a grown woman in her 50's who has one for herself (kids all grown up, no grandchildren) and she posts pics of it on facebook everyday getting up to 'mischief'. But then again she is a massive attention seeking twonk....

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