Page 2 | Elf of the shelf

Staryflight445 · 2021-12-09T21:27:30+00:00

I’m starting to think this ‘trend’ is quite abusive after seeing multiple videos of parents cutting up their child’s pjs (that theyre wearing) whilst they’re asleep. Can you imagine if someone told you they did this separate to this elf trend? You’d be absolutely appalled and really concerned. This really isn’t ok, is it? When are people going to realise they’re going too far with this?

MysweetAudrina · 09/12/2021 22:18

Depends on the child. Mine would find it funny. Don't do elf though.

Coronado2 · 09/12/2021 22:22

We have an elf, but like a pp said, it's never naughty. Santa supposedly sends them to check the children are being good, why would he put up with the elves being naughty?

Our elf so does things like hide chocolate coins, turn some pictures upside down (about the cheekiest they get), set out stepping stones for a game of floor is lava, hides, makes themselves into a snowman. Nothing really naughty. Nothing I would tell my children off for doing, because that would be quite hypocritical wouldn't it.

soundsgreektome · 09/12/2021 22:26

Our Elf on the Shelf is a pain in the arse. My daughter insists we have him. Anyway last night he got pissed and was found snorting coke this morning. She thought it was hilarious. She’s taken him on a trip to London today to Winter Wonderland.

She’s 22 btw.

HobgoblinGold · 09/12/2021 22:28

I hate elf on the shelf. I completely agree with you OP in terms of the fucked up message it's sending with all the ‘mischeif’ the ‘elf’ gets up to. But it's ok because it's all for fun right?

TheKeatingFive · 09/12/2021 22:34

But it's ok because it's all for fun right?

Ours is just for fun.

He doesn't do anything particularly controversial.

That ok with you?

TheKeatingFive · 09/12/2021 22:35

set out stepping stones for a game of floor is lava

That's a good one, thank you 😊

Darkpheonix · 09/12/2021 22:37

@HobgoblinGold

I hate elf on the shelf. I completely agree with you OP in terms of the fucked up message it's sending with all the ‘mischeif’ the ‘elf’ gets up to. But it's ok because it's all for fun right?

What message?

That if the kids ever become an elf they can play on the xbox all night?

It always amazes me, how people who don't have an elf, hate them so much.

TheKeatingFive · 09/12/2021 22:39

It always amazes me, how people who don't have an elf, hate them so much.

The strength of feeling against a soft toy people move around their house is totally bizarre, I agree.

Pegasussnail · 09/12/2021 22:39

That'd horrible ans upsetting for a child to think the elf cut up pj's.
Ours visits but it's good fun. He put pants on the tree. Writes a note 'hello'
It's a bit of mystery and fun.

Thatsplentyjack · 09/12/2021 22:43

When I was younger, I I believed that a little creep elf had come and sliced my pajamas I was wearing up while I was asleep, I would be shitting myself that it would cut my throat next.
Elf on the shelf can be funny, it all depends on what the parents are like and a lot of parents are cruel fucking idiots that think as long as they find ut funny it's fine.
I can't stand that santa cams or whatever they are called. I know someone who puts them in the kids room. Imagine telling little children there's a grown man watching them while they play/sleep/get changed to see how well they are behaving. Fucking hell talk about no boundaries!

RedDeadRoach · 10/12/2021 07:47

If you don't like elves don't get one. I don't have one because i can't be arsed with it. I don't care if other people do have elves. It's easy to just not care. You should try it.

As an aside is the elf any different to the santa lie? Telling kids they need to be good or santa won't bring them anything, putting out milk and cookies and then removing them overnight - or is that ok because thats an old tradition? If the elf adds a bit more magic at Christmas for a child then what's the problem?

londonrach · 10/12/2021 07:51

Never seen that. We not doing elf thing as such but when the box of Xmas decorations came down a soft elf was found in the box ..since then the elf has been in different places. Today was playing with her toys...she enjoying seeing them moving. It's all random the elf does whatever she does before going to bed. All my friends who doing it on Facebook similar no cutting pjs. I'm not posting anything on Facebook or even taking photo's

MLMshouldbeillegal · 10/12/2021 07:58

I know it's the Sun. But this headline sums it up.

"Boy, 6, yells 'bastard' after his mum sneaks into his room at night, cuts up his PJs and blames it on Elf on the Shelf"

www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/13470025/boy-six-swear-holes-pyjamas-elf-shelf-prank-christmas/

MLMshouldbeillegal · 10/12/2021 07:59

Oh and the Irish mum in the Sun article did this LAST year and got 5000 likes on a Facebook video.

That'll be why so many idiots are doing it this year.

mafted · 10/12/2021 09:43

I’m pregnant with my first and won’t be doing Elf at all… I also feel it’s making a rod for your own back anyway and I’m too lazy!

I said we wouldn't have an Elf, but it's hard to resist when your DC come home from school upset daily because the school are encouraging everyone to share their Elves antics with the class and they don't have one.
I had far more resolve as a parent before my children were born

sociallydistained · 10/12/2021 11:39

@mafted

I’m pregnant with my first and won’t be doing Elf at all… I also feel it’s making a rod for your own back anyway and I’m too lazy!

I said we wouldn't have an Elf, but it's hard to resist when your DC come home from school upset daily because the school are encouraging everyone to share their Elves antics with the class and they don't have one.
I had far more resolve as a parent before my children were born

I get that but I’ve nannied for two families for 15 years and 7 years respectively and been through it with them. The families don’t do Elf and my kid will be coming back to work with me so won’t be having an Elf either!

Everything else in parenting I am not so determined about as I know my little Angel will be hardest work being mine and all 😂

CandleWick4 · 10/12/2021 11:44

I voted YABU but only because I found your OP was a very sweeping statement. We do elf on the shelf and he’s mischievous but never naughty or abusive. He hides in the Christmas tree or in a cereal box, I’d never do anything to upset my children and I find it really odd that people do.

I hate having the elf though. It was gifted without my consent and it’s honestly the worst thing to happen to Christmas. It’s a pain in the arse. There’s a special place in hell for the person who created the idea

Orarewedancer · 10/12/2021 11:51

This is our first year of doing the elf thing. I've avoided it until now but DS(5) was keen.

Honestly, we've had fun with it. "Who has the time?". Depending on what you do, it takes 5 mins to Google ideas or arrange something. If you don't set expectations too high then it's not hard. Last night the elf took selfies with everyone sleeping on my phone, the kids absolutely loved it.

Parents cruelly petrify their kids at Halloween and have threatened them with Santa for decades, doesn't mean everyone who celebrates Halloween or tells their kids about Santa are abusive.

ThePoisonousMushroom · 10/12/2021 11:56

We have an elf. Last night it had a ‘pool party’ in the sink with an inflatable unicorn. The night before it zip wired across the room on a candy cane.
It’s fun. The children think it’s fun, and we enjoy finding silly things for it to do. It doesn’t report back to Santa and it isn’t naughty.
People have such strong feelings about other people having fun! It’s weird.

NerrSnerr · 10/12/2021 11:57

@ThePoisonousMushroom

We have an elf. Last night it had a ‘pool party’ in the sink with an inflatable unicorn. The night before it zip wired across the room on a candy cane. It’s fun. The children think it’s fun, and we enjoy finding silly things for it to do. It doesn’t report back to Santa and it isn’t naughty. People have such strong feelings about other people having fun! It’s weird.

Ours is the same, not naughty, doesn't report back to Santa.

Ours were eating a tin of beans this morning and the other day they'd put some knickers on the Christmas tree. Just daft stuff that only takes a minute.

Starcaller · 10/12/2021 11:59

We have Kindness Elves. The Elf on a shelf one has such a creepy face. I don't want it in our home lest it come alive in the night and kill us all.

whereislittleroo · 10/12/2021 12:02

@ChangeChingyChange

I havent seen anything like that, sounds awful my daughter would hate that. We do have elf of the shelf but we just move him around the house in funny poses or he brings her treats like a chocolate coin etc. Anything further than that is crazy and people need to chill out, cutting up pjs your child is wearing is weird and horrible.

Exactly this. We keep it really simple and the kids love it. I don't spend more than 2 minutes a night moving her into some other position in the house.

Angel2702 · 10/12/2021 12:22

We have never done anything destructive, Beas test was putting loo roll on tree.

Ours usually brings treats related to little themes related to special things we’ve done during the year, trends the kids have liked, big films or book.

junglejane66 · 10/12/2021 12:24

@TheKeatingFive

Our elf does things like hide in the teapot.

It's not the elf that's the problem here ...

So who is it then? He's the one getting up to mischief, he is fully to blame!