Is it too early for an Elf On The Shelf rant...?

[NotTakenUsername]

Because he’s already bloody everywhere.
Everywhere!
Why do mums do this to themselves? In the busiest mum month of the year... why add in a creepy little tell tale elf who models bad behaviour and encourages excessive consumption.
I know, I know, if I don’t like it just don’t do it... but I’ve been just not doing it for many, many years now. So I thought I’d throw in a wee MN rant for good measure.

[plaidlife]

They don't have to be naughty, of course they can be nice. I think their naughtiness is appealing to small dc and maybe more fun for parents.

[Butterflysprinkles]

This will be my first year starting with elf on the shelf

But.. I'm not having a naughty elf teaching my boys naughty things. I'm going to hVe a nice one.

Why do they have to be naughty? I don't understand that bit..

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

I'd love to do EOTS one year, the trouble is that I'd only want to do it once, when you are full of ideas, and it doesn't really work like that.

Once you start you are stuck doing it until your youngest knows it's you,and it gets harder and harder to think of new things, even the second year is tough, and the more years you do the less quick and easy ones you have as an option

[1CantPickAName]

Oh Dear, I’ve got matching pj’s for me and my 2 dd’s for Xmas eve and I went out today and got two eots!

[LaurieMarlow]

The elf on the shelf thing doesn't even make SENSE. Everyone with half a brain knows that throughout December the elves are working around the clock in the toy factories getting everything ready for Santa to deliver

None of the santa story makes any sense.

Why is Santa parading round shopping centres in the month of December when he should be in the North Pole prepping for the 25th?

Why are the elves busting a gut to make exactly the same toys that can be purchased in Toys R Us?

Thankfully my 4 year old has not questioned any of this yet.

[BluebellCockleshell123]

Elf on the shelf would have no chance in this house. I'm bad enough at remembering to be the tooth fairy!

[LillianGish]

I've never done boxes or elves, but does occur to me reading all about it on here that if you are going to have new pyjamas for Christmas it makes sense to have them on Christmas Eve so you can wake up in them. I also think if there is some sort of Christmas DVD gift (does anyone even buy dvds any more?) that also might be a good idea on Christmas Eve if you have nothing else on and are looking for a peaceful wind down before bedtime. I think anything that spreads the present opening frenzy is to be welcomed (we always used to save a few gifts for Boxing Day fo this reason), but not if it means you buy more presents. I think a nicer Christmas Eve box idea (if you are really determined to do more wrapping and packing) is to make one for a homeless person - we have a few round our way ad I'm intending to that with my kids this year.

[Spicylentil]

My favourite ides was when I said he was missing the North Pole and it spent a week in the freezer

[Spicylentil]

This will be my 6th year of doing it, was fun the first two years, now it’s just a chore esp trying to think up new things each year! There really is only so much you can do with a stuffed toy my youngest loves it though.

[PiperPublickOccurrences]

The elf on the shelf thing doesn't even make SENSE. Everyone with half a brain knows that throughout December the elves are working around the clock in the toy factories getting everything ready for Santa to deliver.

They certainly don't have time to be twatting about making glittery messes in people's houses.

[PiperPublickOccurrences]

Never too early for a rant about this pile of nonsense.

[OutPinked]

I bought mine about five or six years ago before anyone I knew had even heard of it. I did hear about it on the MN Christmas thread and thought it was a brilliant idea for my then toddlers.

They’re now primary school aged and still expect Norbert the elf to visit. Every year I have become shitter at remembering to move the cunt so it’s often sat in the same place as the day before. Wish I’d never bothered with the twat .

[WellFuck]

Looks like someone just capitalised on how many parents use Santa to discipline their kids 2 months a year. So I can see why the creepy pedo looking bugger caught on.

[Pickupthephone]

I find Christmas Eve boxes more irritating than EOAS actually. At least EOAS does something.

[Mia1415]

A few years ago I thought like you. Then I realised that DS was the only child I knew that didn't have an elf visit so decided to join in with the craziness. Yes, its a pain after about day 3, and our elf isn't very adventurous (he's more lazy than naughty!), however it is good, harmless fun.

Oh and I also love seeing what my friends elf's get up to on social media as I need all the inspiration I can get!

I don't really understand the hatred. If you don't like it then just don't join in.

[Thesnobbymiddleclassone]

Elf on the shelf just really creeps me out!! It's weird to say there is this thing that watches you all the time and sneaking around your house at night.

As for Christmas Eve boxes. Each to their own. I know loads of people that do them, but I don't want to. My daughter can have her stuff on Christmas Day and it seems a waste and extra stress to fill up some box with tacky crap just to keep her occupied.

[Nicpem1982]

We do both eoth and Christmas eve boxes and we love it

If you dont..... Don't do it simple

[boohooyo]

Sorry mrsstrowman but that doesn't fit the "it's a capitalist conspiracy, sheeple!" narrative.

[LaurieMarlow]

Our (non plastic) elf has already given us joy for 2 years and will continue to as long as the kids are small.

If you're worried about throwaway plastic tat at Christmas then focus on actual throwaway plastic tat (lord knows there is plenty of it). But the elf isn't it.

[MrsStrowman]

The Christmas Eve box thing isn't be though is it? Ok we didn't get a box but on Christmas Eve as children we'd go to the carol service at the church, come home we'd get new Christmas pyjamas, have hot chocolate and all watch a Christmas film together, then mince pie, carrot and brandy for Santa (I know it was for you dad...) and bed. It was our routine, so I'm not sure it's much worse to put those things in a box 🤷

[theSnuffster]

We started it when DS was 3 or 4. Big mistake! Really, really stupid thing to do. It's just one more thing to worry about, one more job to do before we can go to bed. We've never done it the 'traditional' way though- they're not even theoriser elves, we got them from IKEA. They don't do naughty things, just nice or funny things- usually quite simple like hiding in the tree or leaving a candy cane for the children to find. Also the children are allowed to touch/ play with them. DS is 9 now and DD is 6, they still adore their elves. I do regret starting it though!

[PumpkinKitty82]

BTW , I LOVE Christmas but the elf thing is utter shite and super annoying

[PumpkinKitty82]

My Facebook is always filled with bloody “funny” photos of peoples elves .. it’s so fucking lame I get serious eye ache from all the rolling they do.
I swear most on my feed just do it for “likes” and not for the actual kids.
I seriously have way to much to do than ponce around with an ugly toy

[MissContrary]

Wow. The words bah humbug spring to mind!

[boohooyo]

Is "won't somebody think of the environment?" going to be the go-to argument to make people feel superior now?

Is a toy elf, which by it's very nature will be played with year after year, really the thing that's harming the planet right now?

And why would pyjamas end up in a landfill?
More than any other gift? Or should we be banning Christmas gifts now? I mean it's not a mad idea but I wanna know how far you elf haters want to go.

I'm as keen to reduce my throwaway plastic use as the next guy so if someone can explain this to me then please do.