Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Im in love with Elf on a shelf

69 replies

TarasCrazyTiara · 02/12/2021 05:06

I love Elf on a shelf. There I said it!

I like to move him at night. I will put him in the fridge. I will put him in the cereal box. I already crawled into my sons room and put him on his bedside table looking at him when he woke up on the 1st. I emptied my husbands underwear draw and put elf in there (naughty elfGrin). I googled places to put elf.
Already I’ve seen some Elf hate on Mumsnet but I love the Elf tradition.

I’m in love with Eld on a shelf.Blush Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
AFS1 · 02/12/2021 10:14

“To their own” not “up”

JustFrustrated · 02/12/2021 10:15

I'd totally forgotten about the Elf until DD 9 asked if he'd be coming.

She's at that stage where she doesn't believe, but really really wants to.

Mad panic cause I had no idea where this flipping thing was. DD 12 calmly reminded me I'd thrown him on the top of the wardrobe.

DD 9 loves it, it's not surveillance it's fun.

Dd12 loves to help with it. Tonight she'll be hanging string between two picture rails and hanging Bert off them with a pair of her sisters pants as if he's been "zip lining".

It's no effort, it's a giggle and it makes my 8 year old happy.

Oh and to the Pp with the snarky comment about "if you only work part-time so you've the time" DH and I both work full time, it takes maybe 2 minutes a night. End of.

SmellyOldOwls · 02/12/2021 10:21

I have questions. Do the kids believe the elf is real and moves every night? Do they not question why he's just a doll every day and also why you can buy them in Poundland? Do they not get upset when the elf goes back to wherever he goes to?

EasyLikeSundays · 02/12/2021 10:29

@SmellyOldOwls

I have questions. Do the kids believe the elf is real and moves every night? Do they not question why he's just a doll every day and also why you can buy them in Poundland? Do they not get upset when the elf goes back to wherever he goes to?
To answer your questions my 4 year old believes he is real and moves himself every night. She thinks the one in the shops are just toy versions of her special one. She isn't sad when he leaves because she knows he'll be back next year and he's going away because santa is coming. It's all quite sweet and magical and I'll be sad when she's too old for it.
Somethingsnappy · 02/12/2021 10:34

I've never done it, but I'm kind of tempted this year! Sounds fun.

TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2021 10:44

My kids think the elf comes to life at night and moves by himself. They don't really see other elves (they aren't in shops much) so that's not an issue. They are a bit upset when he leaves, but it's Christmas Day, so plenty to distract them

ABCeasyasdohrayme · 02/12/2021 10:47

I'm bad enough remembering when the tooth fairy has to come, she's often late. I would be crap with elf on a shelf.

It looks like fun though. I've seen a few this year where elf is in quarantine for 2 weeks, that would be more my style 🤣

MotorwayDiva · 02/12/2021 10:48

DD declared her elf is a good elf. Win win for me I don't have to think up pranks and just move it each night, she's loving getting up early to see where her elf is hiding.

housemaus · 02/12/2021 11:46

I don't even have kids and I hate most Christmas twee-ness (I am a scrooge at heart haha), but I think I would really enjoy doing elf on the shelf! I've been an elf consultant for a few friends to give them ideas Grin

PaddingtonStareBare · 02/12/2021 11:49

It was always a hit here when DD was younger! She never went upstairs though and we never did the original story, I never read it anyway, we just bought an elf toy and moved it each night so it was doing something cheeky.
It always made DD shriek with laughter at some of the 'antics' and was all fun.
I don't understand the hate associated with it, if you don't have time or don't want to do it, then don't? 🤷‍♀️

Punfreeusername · 02/12/2021 11:52
  1. YABU not to post this in the Christmas thread
  1. YABU to think you are being really original, and that everyone wants to see what hilarious japes you've done with the Elf via a daily FB post.
  1. YANBU to enjoy it, I'm just being a grumpy sod!
3scape · 02/12/2021 11:58

I be fine with it if the people I know who do it didn't treat me as a dangerous eccentric for collecting felt dolls! Toys are fine, just don't judge mine!

Hillarious · 02/12/2021 12:04

Hardly a tradition.

maofteens · 02/12/2021 12:26

Totally unreasonable. So glad this didn't become a thing til my kids were too old. Aren't they supposed to give the kids 'acts of kindness' things to do?

hangrylady · 02/12/2021 12:35

@Mittenmob

If you have time then crack on.
It takes 2 mins. Stop trying to act all busy and superior
TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2021 12:36

Hardly a tradition.

Well this is the 4th year in my house, so certainly approaching family tradition status. I'm not sure why that's important though, it's a bit of fun that will last as long as we want it to.

hangrylady · 02/12/2021 12:37

OP I loved it for the first year. 5 years in and it's lost the appeal. My kids don't even believe it's real but they love it so I have to carry on, his antics have become a lot less outrageous over the years!

TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2021 12:37

Totally unreasonable.

Why?

Aren't they supposed to give the kids 'acts of kindness' things to do?

I think there is a separate concept of a 'kindness elf'. Not entirely sure what they entails.

TheKeatingFive · 02/12/2021 12:39

That

New posts on this thread. Refresh page