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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed by extravagant elves?

270 replies

dontcallmeduck · 02/12/2019 16:02

My social media is full of joyous parents sharing the antics of their elves. All fine, I even partake myself.

But why are the elves now bringing Christmas pyjamas, selection boxes, gifts, teddies and even tickets to events? Surely this is going to cause endless confusion amongst children whose elves (if they even have one) don’t???

Why can’t those gifts come from the parents?

OP posts:
Itsrebekahvardysaccount · 02/12/2019 17:25

I said it’s mainly done to show off for Facebook and other social media and I stand by that. Because it’s true. Hope that helps Wink

LaurieMarlow · 02/12/2019 17:25

No. I don’t put any kid stuff on SM. I am very rarely on it.

Jellybeansincognito · 02/12/2019 17:26

That’s convenient @LaurieMarlow

Enjoy your wine, seems you’ve had a few already...

LaurieMarlow · 02/12/2019 17:26

i said it’s mainly done to show off for Facebook and other social media and I stand by that. Because it’s true

You can think whatever you want.

You’ve no idea if it’s true or not.

LaurieMarlow · 02/12/2019 17:27

That’s convenient

Or, y’know, the truth.

Greencustard · 02/12/2019 17:31

This whole family has matching pj's have only been in shops 2-3 years, but they are now must haves

Out of all these new stupid 'traditions', the whole family in Christmas pyjamas on social media is the one that gives me the rage the most. Grown men and woman sitting there dressed as overgrown children is ridiculous. If I suggested to my DH to put a pair of pyjamas or onesie and posted it on Facebook for everyone to see, he'd tell me where to go and vice versa.

Itsrebekahvardysaccount · 02/12/2019 17:32

In the age of Instagram influencers I think it’s widely accepted that many, many things are done for likes and EOTS is definitely one of them.

OneForMeToo · 02/12/2019 17:32

We don’t do matching pjs. Couldn’t think of much worse tbh.

Bluerussian · 02/12/2019 17:33

BitofFun - love your dog photograph and the sentiments they express.

ims0rrydarlin Mon 02-Dec-19 16:31:06
Santa isn’t real nor are his elves. Don’t think it really matters.

My sentiments entirely!

Like many other issues, the leading up to Christmas business seems to have got out of hand; how did it start (I mean things like the elf & Christmas eve boxes stuff, not Christmas itself), and where did it come from?

KindnessCrusader · 02/12/2019 17:37

Everyone I know who has started it has bitterly regretted it.

Nah.

Cuppachino · 02/12/2019 17:38

i said it’s mainly done to show off for Facebook and other social media and I stand by that. Because it’s true

You can think whatever you want

You’ve no idea if it’s true or not

But it is true. It's all over our social medias to prove it.

PineappleDanish · 02/12/2019 17:38

the whole family in Christmas pyjamas on social media is the one that gives me the rage the most

It will be a cold day in hell before I dress the same as my 11 year old boy.

GreenTulips · 02/12/2019 17:41

How about teaching your kids to ignore what other people have/do and feel grateful for what they do have, as well as striving towards what they want

All very well when little miss princess arrives in class for ‘show and tell’ about how good she’s been and the Elf brought her ££££ of tickets or PJs or any other such nonsense -

They do it to show off. There’s no other reason.

LaurieMarlow · 02/12/2019 17:42

It's all over our social medias to prove it.

That’s classic availability bias. Grin

You see it on SM, so even though you’ve no idea of the numbers who do it and the percentage of them putting it on social media you decide ‘everyone’ does it for SM. You don’t have the data to make that claim.

dreichXmas · 02/12/2019 17:43

Our gnomes brought pj's and bed sheets.
Dc know they aren't real by now but don't care.
I suggested they wouldn't come this year but this suggestion met with strong resistance.
Dc need pj's and bedding so it's not particularly ungreen.
Tacky is pretty much in the eye of the beholder and often just means not a tradition in that persons's house.
Xmas trees were once a tacky new tradition. Where have Yule logs gone?
Culture isn't meant to be static.

John1971 · 02/12/2019 17:43

Why did you give your kid one Euro from the tooth fairy? No wonder the kid was fed up.

Pinkpeanut27 · 02/12/2019 17:43

I’ve done Xmas eve pjs fir the last 16 yrs . Told the kids they had magic dust in them and they always ( and still do) sleep well. This year Dh has asked for some !

I also do 24 books of Xmas during December which encourages my reluctance reader . I don’t however share it in social media .
I quite like the idea of spreading Xmas out over the whole of December rather than bugging it all up to one day - too much pressure

MilkTrayLimeBarrel · 02/12/2019 17:44

I have absolutely no idea what this elf thing is - could someone enlighten me?

Jellybeansincognito · 02/12/2019 17:45

Do you think elf on the shelf would have been as popular as it is now without social media @LaurieMarlow?

Where did you first see elf on the shelf?
In a shop? Or someone SM brag?

pooboobsleeprepeat · 02/12/2019 17:45

Consumerism is winning and the sheep are following! Think of all the extra money this is making!
The elf idea is ridiculous. Imagine if your boss told you that you were under constant surveillance for the whole of December and you would only get your Xmas bonus if you were ‘good’.

Original poster
dontcallmeduck · 02/12/2019 17:45

I do wonder whether some people do it just for social media, mainly the people who make special photo albums on Facebook for their antics.

Our elf has so far arrived, moved to the kitchen and moved to a shelf without requiring a single photo because I’m doing it to keep my kids happy not for social media. I am enjoying hearing the children wondering where he is in a morning and going to find him though.

And yes he’s totally creepy looking and yes I’ll be regretting even bothering sometimes.

Christmas in general is just too over commercialised in a lot of ways. When I was young I was more than happy spending £1 to see Santa at the church fair.

OP posts:
NoImNotSpecial · 02/12/2019 17:45

Another reason not to participate in social media. Is a relentless one upmanship.

LaurieMarlow · 02/12/2019 17:47

Do you think elf on the shelf would have been as popular as it is now without social media

No I don’t. But that’s very far from the same as saying ‘everyone’s doing it to show off’.

I’ve no idea where I first saw it actually. VERY glad I did though, my children love it. Smile

dreichXmas · 02/12/2019 17:48

I think my dc got introduced to elves from other dc at school.
I couldn't find an elf so we ended up with a gnome.

I think that illustrated periodicals were what spread the use of Xmas trees alongside Xmas cards and novels.
Media now operates online but print played a similar role before then.

Cuppachino · 02/12/2019 17:49

You see it on SM, so even though you’ve no idea of the numbers who do it and the percentage of them putting it on social media you decide ‘everyone’ does it for SM. You don’t have the data to make that claim

Data? For Elf on the Shelf and shite? Ooft!