Bloody Elf turns up in a balloon now

[DressingGownofDoom]

I know IABU and a curmudgeon but why does everything have to be such an exhibition at Christmas? Elves can't just appear this year they have to float from Lapland in a balloon with a present I know, I know if you don't like it don't do it. That's fine but I do feel sorry for the kids whose parents don't have £15 to spend on an elf balloon and then a present on top just because it's the first of December. I thought this year might make us all step back and maybe consider a simpler celebration of Christmas but no, the social media onslaught of who can be the most ostentatious Christmas fanatic is worse than ever. I hate it.

[rc22]

@theKeatingFive Yes of course they do but generally children get to experience something fun at some point that they can come and tell everyone about. They know these "earthly" experiences are arranged by their parents and that parents make choices as to when and where these things happen.

The difference is that the elf is seen as some sort of magical, supernatural experience. They see it that they have not been chosen by one of Father Christmas's elves. They don't understand that the elf on the shelf is a toy bought by the other children's parents. A completely different experience to soft play or a cinema trip.

[BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze]

I don’t ever recall being told that I shouldn’t take my kids to the cinema (for example) because others don’t get to.

It’s only the ‘magical shit’ that you’re not allowed to do according to the OPs last post. 🙄🤣

[TheKeatingFive]

The difference is that the elf is seen as some sort of magical, supernatural experience. They see it that they have not been chosen by one of Father Christmas's elves

So exactly like Santa then? Which is totally different because ... reasons.

A couple of years ago DS went on one of those santa train things in early December. He was full of it going back to school, thought it was real.

Is that okay? I absolutely can’t guarantee everyone in his class had the same experience.

[PrincessNutNut]

They see it that they have not been chosen by one of Father Christmas's elves.

Then it's your job as their parent to explain to them that the Magic Of Christmas happens in different ways in different homes, and not having an elf doesn't mean they're out of favour.

[Cocomarine]

@Janegrey333

I have never heard of such a thing but then I prefer a real, evergreen bough in the house or at times merely a few minimal decorations - and no greenery in sight. I have bark stars and they work well with silver baubles like this which are hung on fine rustic twine.

🤣 of course you do.

My 7 year old would think that your minimal ever green bough was dull, and drape it in many clashing colours to improve it for you.

[rc22]

@TheKeatingFive But he (and other children) must have known that he was taken to the santa train event by you. Father Christmas didn't single him out and appear on a magical train in his garden or house in the same way as the presents magically appear in the house on Christmas morning or the elf magically appears in some children's homes.

All I'm saying is that I've observed children getting upset about the elf visiting other children's houses and not visiting theirs in a way that they don't get upset by cinema trips, soft play or seeing Santa in lapland , in a shopping centre or on a train!! I can't explain exactly why that is.

I'm not saying that parents shouldn't do elf on a shelf. I'm just saying that, as a teacher, I have observed that it upsets some children who don't experience it. It's what I've OBSERVED. I'm not making moral or class judgments on parents who do or don't do it!!

[TheKeatingFive]

I'm not making moral or class judgments on parents who do or don't do it!!

Ok good.

Because I’m struggling with the idea that moving a soft toy around my house, for the amusement of my small child, is somehow morally dubious, in a totally unique fashion, when there are thousands of more serious ways in which differences between children’s experiences manifest themselves.

And that’s after we’ve dealt with the class, consumerist and social media based judgement that’s been doled out.

[EvilPea]

I rent and have an elf....

Have a tiny tv and an old mobile though.

We've been doing it for about 10 years now so tend to recycle the same stuff and ideas, he's a crafty bugger and makes most stuff from things knocking about or gets the kids to do it. The children love it more than Christmas day, makes it easier to get them out of bed on a winter morning and their little faces make it an absolute joy. Theres genuine love for that little git!!! I don't have social media, so no pictures posted anywhere. Its just something sweet and happy we do in this house, its not for everyone and thats ok, but it brings us a lot of joy.

[EvilPea]

[quote rc22]@TheKeatingFive But he (and other children) must have known that he was taken to the santa train event by you. Father Christmas didn't single him out and appear on a magical train in his garden or house in the same way as the presents magically appear in the house on Christmas morning or the elf magically appears in some children's homes.

All I'm saying is that I've observed children getting upset about the elf visiting other children's houses and not visiting theirs in a way that they don't get upset by cinema trips, soft play or seeing Santa in lapland , in a shopping centre or on a train!! I can't explain exactly why that is.

I'm not saying that parents shouldn't do elf on a shelf. I'm just saying that, as a teacher, I have observed that it upsets some children who don't experience it. It's what I've OBSERVED. I'm not making moral or class judgments on parents who do or don't do it!![/quote]
Ive always said to mine that not everyone has an elf so don't shout about it.
We have one because i asked for one, its a big responsibility for a parent to have one so not everyone wants or has them.

[rc22]

@TheKeatingFive

It's not morally dubious at all. Of course children have different experiences. These affect children in many more serious ways than the Elf on the Shelf does. It's just that some children are very conscious of this one and it seems to have a very immediate (admittedly not a long lasting) effect on them that other things don't have.

[Oooohbehave]

Janegrey333
I have never heard of such a thing but then I prefer a real, evergreen bough in the house or at times merely a few minimal decorations - and no greenery in sight. I have bark stars and they work well with silver baubles like this which are hung on fine rustic twine.

Sounds very nice but unfortunately most kids love, tinsel, bright baubles and glitter, which I've learned to embrace (ok not the tinsel but the rest)

[PrincessNutNut]

[quote rc22]@TheKeatingFive

It's not morally dubious at all. Of course children have different experiences. These affect children in many more serious ways than the Elf on the Shelf does. It's just that some children are very conscious of this one and it seems to have a very immediate (admittedly not a long lasting) effect on them that other things don't have.[/quote]
An effect that piles of gifts from Santa himself, foreign holidays, expensive tech and big houses don't have. So much power in a soft toy that gets moved around the house at night.

[Janegrey333]

@EvilPea

I rent and have an elf....

Have a tiny tv and an old mobile though.

We've been doing it for about 10 years now so tend to recycle the same stuff and ideas, he's a crafty bugger and makes most stuff from things knocking about or gets the kids to do it. The children love it more than Christmas day, makes it easier to get them out of bed on a winter morning and their little faces make it an absolute joy. Theres genuine love for that little git!!! I don't have social media, so no pictures posted anywhere. Its just something sweet and happy we do in this house, its not for everyone and thats ok, but it brings us a lot of joy.

That sounds lovely.

[WoolieLiberal]

From some of these posts, I think we need a guide to what social class you’re in based on what you do at Christmas.

Eg.

Where do you take your child to see Father Christmas?

Shopping centre/ pub - Working Class

Train/ National Trust Property- Middle Class

Lapland- Upper Class

We can then aggregate all of the answers and work out what class we’re in.

I genuinely don’t know what class I’m in, but it seems to be important to some here...

[Nohomemadecandles]

It's no more morally dubious than taking little kids to see Santa in a garden centre.

Traditions change. New things happen. Look at the things we do as normal now that weren't when I was little. School proms, huge Halloween events, Christmas jumpers, the technology...

Things change and evolve. You either do it or you don't.

The kids only dwell on being one of Santa's chosen ones if you tell them that. Just do the elf. No need to go into silliness!

[Cocomarine]

@WoolieLiberal

From some of these posts, I think we need a guide to what social class you’re in based on what you do at Christmas.

Eg.

Where do you take your child to see Father Christmas?

Shopping centre/ pub - Working Class

Train/ National Trust Property- Middle Class

Lapland- Upper Class

We can then aggregate all of the answers and work out what class we’re in.

I genuinely don’t know what class I’m in, but it seems to be important to some here...

Nice try 🤣 I think the shopping centre / NT works.

But not Lapland.

I think Lapland is like Disney - it also attracts the working and middle classes, and can definitely be viewed as trashy, even if it is expensive 🤣

[WomBat55]

@Busydrinkingcoffee1

I know 3 people who put these balloons on social media this morning. That elf pisses me right off and the constant posts in December of what the elves are up to! I really don't want to have to do it for my DS but what do you say when all their friends have one and they're wondering why they haven't? Fortunately he hasn't questioned it yet!

Yeah our elf brought an advent calendar and then left a note to say Santa needed him back at the toy workshop. When my son questioned why he didn’t stay like his friends’ elves, I said that Santa already knows he’s good and doesn’t need an elf to keep an eye on him. He was delighted with that ☺️

[wink1970]

And literally no one I know does elf surveillance.

I don't know what this is, but we have a Santa Cam ........ it's the omnipresent logo on DH's T-shirt, and DGD absolutely believes it! It's lovely!

[PrincessNutNut]

I'm struggling to see why kids would think they're out of Santa's favour because of an elf, but not because he brought more expensive presents to someone else. And what about the kids he doesn't visit at all?

[HopeMumsnet]

Hi there,
Thanks for the reports, we have removed the early post as we thought it was neither in the spirit of MN or of Christmas. Just bear in mind, though, that as great as the quote function is, it will result in a deletion if you've repeated a deleted post.

[Homebody12]

@Proudboomer Lapland is aspirational middle class. They can’t point to it on a map and think it’s a country.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I've taken DS to Lapland and I'm working class. I also do the elf.

[baubled]

Please can someone tell me what I'm allowed to do with/for my kids at Christmas? I'm a bit unsure because all I see is people slagging off anything and everything that they deem as below them.

So I've crossed elf/elf balloons off my list (I actually make these too but I'll remember to tell the parents who are maybe just trying to do something a little fun next year that they're not allowed)

How about Christmas pyjamas? Am I allowed to buy them for my son? If so is it only acceptable in early December so they get worn for the full month?

Can we go to see socially distanced Santa?

How about Christmas Eve boxes? Am I allowed to get one and it include whatever I like or is it only okay to include Santa's plate and a book?

Are bells okay for Christmas Eve?

How about presents from Santa??!! Do I have to tel me child that I've bought all the presents because Timmy down the road might get one less present and get upset?

If there's anything else that I need to ask permission from Mumsnet for please let me know, I like a good list.

[Janegrey333]

🤣

Some posters use that a great deal - even when they are clearly not laughing their heads off!

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

@baubled

Please can someone tell me what I'm allowed to do with/for my kids at Christmas? I'm a bit unsure because all I see is people slagging off anything and everything that they deem as below them.

So I've crossed elf/elf balloons off my list (I actually make these too but I'll remember to tell the parents who are maybe just trying to do something a little fun next year that they're not allowed)

How about Christmas pyjamas? Am I allowed to buy them for my son? If so is it only acceptable in early December so they get worn for the full month?

Can we go to see socially distanced Santa?

How about Christmas Eve boxes? Am I allowed to get one and it include whatever I like or is it only okay to include Santa's plate and a book?

Are bells okay for Christmas Eve?

How about presents from Santa??!! Do I have to tel me child that I've bought all the presents because Timmy down the road might get one less present and get upset?

If there's anything else that I need to ask permission from Mumsnet for please let me know, I like a good list.

Nothing.
Be miserable AND grateful.
Giving AND humble.
Sticks,coal and satsumas are ok.
Bring the magic but don't lie.

Shove a stick up your arse and twirl on The rhythm of "Partridge in a pear tree" , you'd have more chances of getting it right.


Or... do whatever the fuck you want because whomever gives a shit about what you do with YOUR child needs a bell around their neck. So we can hear them from a distance and run away quickly.