Elf on the shelf is shit, isn’t it?
234
MustardScreams · 04/11/2019 20:11
I’m being ridiculed at work for not doing this for dd. Apparently I’m ‘ruining the magic of christmas’
It’s ridiculous though! Who has the time and energy to think up bonkers things to do with an elf for 25 frigging days?! Surely the magic of presents and Santa is enough ffs. Also it’s just playing into commercialism blah blah rant rant rant.
Newmumatlast · 05/11/2019 15:43
Personally think it is ridiculous and struggle to see how children can genuinely think that a toy comes to live and does those things and/or isn't terrified by that prospect. I would've been as a child. I also think it is a parenting cop out - behave or the elf will report to santa. How about just parent with your own skills rather than making out a silly doll is telling on your child?
LaurieMarlow · 05/11/2019 15:54
It’s a little bit shit though tbh.
Well my son thinks it’s awesome
And it’s him I’m doing it for, so 🤷♀️
LaurieMarlow · 05/11/2019 16:01
I think you should have a word with yourself if you’re telling strangers on the internet that perfectly innocuous practice that brings their children joy is ‘shit’.
SoapOnARoap · 05/11/2019 16:27
You’re not wrong. It’s bollocks
dreichwinter · 05/11/2019 16:36
It’s a little bit shit though tbh.
No more than the rest of Xmas, if fact less rubbish than some bits going by the many Xmas threads about where to spend the day itself.
My dc also thought it was awesome.
WhiskeyLullaby · 05/11/2019 16:39
The Elf,like absolutely everything is what you make it to be. Some people can't be bothered or don't see the point. Some people like it and use it as a but of harmless fun. Some people use it as a parenting tool. Some people go absolutely OTT. Some people do it for SM or whatever.
Even reading in the wrong hands/guidance can be shit, just like anything else .
The Elf in itself isn't shit, the way some people use it can be.
Maverick66 · 05/11/2019 16:46
Ridiculous extra pressure!
DoesItGetAnyBetter · 05/11/2019 18:23
It really shit. My mother bought one and presented it to my children so I am stuck with the fucker. This is our 3rd year of getting back out of bed at 11.30pm each night, having realised I’ve forgotten to move the cunting elf.
I’ve still not forgiven her 😂
LolaSmiles · 05/11/2019 18:29
Maverick66
Not just pressure, but consider how much people (rightly) complain about mental load, wife work and how Christmas seems to be more wife work etc, it amazes me how many people are willing to add another pointless task to their to do lists.
Unless of course in most households it's the men who have the idea and the men who do at least 50% of the ideas generation, buying props, setting it up etc.
SimonJT · 05/11/2019 19:03
It’s a bit weird.
My four year old knows Santa doesn’t exist, if he didn’t there is no way he would cope if he thought some silly toy was deciding if he was worthy of receiving a gift on christmas day.
LaurieMarlow · 05/11/2019 20:07
it amazes me how many people are willing to add another pointless task to their to do lists.
In my case a) I enjoy it (or I enjoy the payoff) so it doesn’t feel like work b) it doesn’t have to be elaborate or take that much time c) DH gets stuck in too so it’s shared.
LolaSmiles · 05/11/2019 20:11
That's good Laurie
The people I know who do it spend half their time complaining about how overworked they are, how they're overwhelmed at home etc but then find themselves doing elf on the shelf, Christmas Eve boxes, new themes decorations every year, etc.
MaterialReality · 05/11/2019 20:36
YANBU. Not only is it a lot of unnecessary work, it's super creepy and normalises the idea of a surveillance society.
Foucault on the Elf:
64sNewName · 06/11/2019 00:29
It’s like anything really; if I was forced to do it at gunpoint and my dc genuinely grew to love it, I’d no doubt start to love it as well. The positive associations would override my first response to the elf.
Just like a lot of CBeebies programmes initially made me go but then later, because they made my babies happy, won me over.
But because we don’t have one and my dc aren’t interested, I still just react naturally to the things I dislike about the elf (deeply horrible little face, bad concept, irritation factor of the constant suggestions that we do just one more extra Festive Thing).
Thegreymethod · 06/11/2019 01:02
We do it but literally move it around the house so one day it'll be in the kitchen one day in the front room...... the kids find it funny and it takes minimal effort. I cringe when people get really competitive and OTT just to put it on fb, especially when they write a caption for it as if the elf has wrote it 🤮🤮 seriously do people not have enough shit to do without waiting till their kids go to bed then trashing their house or throwing food about!!
AutumnalLeaves38 · 06/11/2019 04:46
The little sod's a bad influence, people.
Don't let him cross your threshold.

DuchessMustard · 06/11/2019 04:55
@AnnaNimmity
ha I have one and am the least likely person to indulge in all that shit.
That is patently not the case though
JustaScratch · 06/11/2019 07:39
It seems totally unnecessary and a bit creepy. Fortunately I'm not in the UK and it hasn't caught on here yet.
minisoksmakehardwork · 08/11/2019 20:38
@DoesItGetAnyBetter - make a small suitcase out of a matchbox and pose elf packing. Next night, note saying 'moved to Nanny's' and when you visit next, discretely deposit said elf and a note saying he's 'left home because he prefers the sofa at hers' with your mother.
WeshMaGueule · 08/11/2019 21:13
I fucking hate it, and "comedy" Christmas jumpers and matching family pyjamas decorated with Brussels sprouts and all that shit. 'Cos the birth of Jesus was all about planet-raping disposable shit made by eight-year-olds in sweatshops.
breadwinnermum · 08/11/2019 21:21
It's bollocks. Don't worry about it.
katand2kits · 15/10/2020 12:43
I was single for most of my 20s. Very lonely after a while, and felt sad as I saw most of my friends settling down. Anyway I met my husband at 31. We have 2 children now.
Viviennemary · 15/10/2020 12:44
I think it's a totally bonkers idea. And could give children nightmares.
FourPlasticRings · 15/10/2020 12:49
Woah. How has this zombie been resurrected?! Always fun when you visit a thread on active and find you commented on it in a former life.
changerr · 15/10/2020 12:50
Elf on the Shelf is horrible. Manages to be crass and creepy at the same time.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.