Someone bought an elf for DD

[Yabbers]

Got a call from school today, a staff member was talking with DD yesterday and DD told her she was going to write to Santa to ask for an elf on the shelf.

Staff member bought one and left it at her desk this morning so DD thinks Santa has done as she asked.

I've a huge problem with the whole elf thing, happy for others to do it, it's just not for us.

We're under a lot of pressure for a number of reasons and now we've
got to spend each bloody night doing something with this damned elf. AiBU to be really pissed off that someone else has done this to us?

My dd wanted one, I told her I’d buy one but I’m not going to be pissing around moving it. She was fine with that and happily plays with him like any other toy.

The staff member obviously hates you

Actually, unless you personally are friendly with the member of staff, I'd say that was totally stretching some serious boundaries there! Why would a member of staff take it upon themselves to do that? That's odd behaviour, I think!
Mind you, I'm in my 40s, my mother is in her 60s and she's bought one and keeps posting pictures on Facebook of it! I'm trying not to roll my eyes every time I see it, but it's very hard.
YANBU

Has this staff member done the same for all the children? If not then singling one child out for special attention in the form of a gift isn't really appropriate and I'm surprised the school allowed it.

My elf doesn't move! He sits on a high shelf and watches and if there's any naughty behaviour I point to it

Yanbu, I have avoided the elf and would not appreciate anyone doing this!

My DS has an elf but he carries it around like a teddy because there is NO WAY I am putting extra pressure on me to do yet another chore in an already busy life.

I even told my DD that it was a fad when it started coming in a couple of years ago - and told her not to tell people.

Haha tell her she can come to your house and set it up every night!

Why did school phone to tell you that? I think whoever bought the elf has crossed a few boundaries there. It's a bit odd

I would be annoyed too. Can you tell your DD it’s hers to play with but there won’t be any night time shennanigans?

It won’t take you any time, just move it round the house each evening. You can’t really do much else now

We were also given one. I hate the bloody things and find it annoying that people think they can choose your traditions for you.
Why did the school ring you? I find it very odd that a staff member bought one.

My niece has one. Sil just moves it round the house, nothing major

I see your point but youre a bit yabu, its only a bit of fun and kids arent kids for long. Let her enjoy her elf

Maybe your elf could get drunk and pass out. Mischievous little bugger.

Aren't the Elves quite expensive?

Yes, I would be quite annoyed about that. I mean, it isn't quite as bad as someone deciding that they are going to buy you a pet as a surprise (thank goodness) but it has the potential to give you another job to do.

Just give it to her and tell her that it's a Christmas toy.

My mum bought my children an elf.

It sits in the Christmas tree. She’s a bit annoyed I don’t go in for it wholeheartedly but... fuck that

No the elves are dirt cheap. You can get them from pound land

A chore??? pressure??? Jesus!!! Someone did something nice for your daughter and you are pissed off?

Why not just scrap Father Christmas, in fact no scrap Christmas as a whole, I mean what with all the pressure.

It takes all of 2 minutes to pose an elf and creates a bit of magic.

Just tell your child it is a little friend for her and not the naughty elf she has seen. This is partly why I don’t get any of the Santa crap-
If you lie about Santa being real it’s hard to then tell the truth about other stuff like elves and presents and stuff. Or tell the truth.

I think that's quite sweet of the teacher. Maybe she was the only child without one. I think they are rather creepy things but I did get one for DS this year, I hate to buy into the whole peer pressure thing but for the sake of a few quid and 5 minutes every evening it's just not worth leaving him to be the odd one out.

I would be very annoyed. It's imposing and slightly inappropriate. Tell the staff member it stays at school and she can move it around.

Leave it at school and tell your DD it is watching her there so then her teacher has to spend each evening faffing about with it. I don’t have one and have no interest in them so would be a bit annoyed too.

An elf cost a couple of £, it's the book that's more expensive.

Not unreasonable to be annoyed that someone bought something you disagree with for your child, but it's such a small gift, it's a bit mean to be that pissed off.

Completely unreasonable to claim you have no time to deal with the elf, when it would have taken you less time to pinterest basic and simple ideas than it took you to write this post.

People who are genuinely busy don't have time to write to complain they are busy. You don't like the elf, fair enough, just don't play the lack of time card

Yikes! Whoever the member of staff is, they have serious boundary issues or did they buy one for the whole class?
If not, in my school such behaviour would get me into some serious trouble!

There must be more to this. Is your dd a reluctant writer? Was this a way to get her to have a go? Did she actually write the letter?