Elf on the Shelf

[Fireal]

We’ve never done it. Honestly, I hate the entire thing and I’ve always sworn I would never do it for my children (we do other things and Christmas is a big deal in our house). I won’t go into reasons why I hate it as I understand I’m a minority, but I do feel quite strongly.

My MIL has just bought my two (10 & 7) an elf each (bought with good intentions - we have a good relationship and they’re great grandparents) and I am furious. My 7 year old keeps talking about how it’s going to do naughty things and he can’t wait. I’m now trapped into doing it in December aren’t I? Honestly the thought of staging this every day makes my blood boil and I hate that we’re being forced to do it.

AIBU to refuse? I don’t want to ruin the magic for my younger boy, but honestly it’s the most irritating thing they’ve ever done 😂

The official "elf of the shelf" does not do naughty things - it's the Poundland knock off that does the naughty stuff! You can download the official EOTS film from Amazon Prime or elsewhere and get your kids to watch it, that will explain how it works.....

Just another load of bollocks to add to Christmas stress

If that's how you feel, then obviously don't do it. But it's been a really enjoyable addition to our family's Christmas. It's only as high maintenance as you want to make it.

Ours are not naughty. They hang from lights, or the tree, or from door handles. They hide around the house, especially in shoes and boots. They stick googly eyes on the fruit. They steal chocolate and sometimes they poo buttons in the (disinfected!) potty, or steal fruit and poo skittles. They bring Christmas jumpers and are replaced by the Christmas eve box on 24th, so always get credited with that. They can be touched and played with and are not spies. They are just a bit of craic really.

I would just put them up as decorations, be positive about them in the sense that they were a kind gift and quite cute etc, but be clear that you don't really know why people say they "do things" as they're just toys, actually new toys that didn't exist when you were little. What annoys me about these elves is that they are marketed as a "tradition". It's not a tradition if it was created by some commercial enterprise about 8 years ago!

My children have never asked about them but if they do, that's what I'll tell them. I do already have to tell them Father Christmas is not a teetotaller who loves milk and cookies ffs....he's a good old traditional mince pies and brandy/sherry/whiskey etc man. Keeping a traditional Christmas alive is really important culturally, so these things seem trivial but they're not!

Get your husband to do it. They're from his mum so they're his.b

I can help.
Dec 1. Elves have covid. Put them in a vase to quarantine them.
Dec 14. Write the kids names in toothpaste in the mirror, elf holds tube.
Dec15 write kids names in sugar.
Dec 16-24 just move the elves around the house and let the kids find them.

Merry Christmas.

I always thought the idea of them was to stop the children from being naughty, by spying on them and feeding back tales of naughty deeds to Santa - not being naughty themselves.

It's just a (highly successful) marketing ploy based on the fact that two words rhyme. If it wouldn't traumatise your kids too much, you could always convert it into a shower-loving 'Goblin in the chod bin'

Mind you, I've just worked out that the Brits have borrowed Black Friday without understanding that it needs to be directly preceded by Thanksgiving!

I've already heard it referred to in one TV advert as 'Black November'. I don't think anybody in Britain really knows what it actually means!

Our elf just hides in a different location every night. Not even hard to find. It’s a bit of fun but can be a hassle when you’re in bed and realised you haven’t moved the elf. My eldest also put 2 and 2 together that the elf never moved when mum was on nightshift!

OP, just move the elf around! Luckily the elf on the shelf craze didn’t really arrive until my son was maybe about 8 or so. We travel to my parents for Christmas every year and my mum had an elf. It was hilarious because she’d move it for him to try and spot where the elf had got to in the morning (usually hanging from a light fitting or something equally “naughty”), and after a day or two my son then started moving the elf throughout the day himself (but never admitted to this) and pointing out to us what naughty things that elf was getting up to 🤣🤣🤣

I'm another American who never heard of it until Mumsnet.

Really enjoying these creative suggestions of how to put as little effort in as possible 😂

To the poster who pointed out how important it is to keep a traditional Christmas alive: I think maybe you’ve got to the crux of why I hate them? This isn’t a criticism of anyone who likes/does them, but for me it’s so far away from that traditional childhood family Christmas of soft glow lights, mince pies and trying to spot Father Christmas in the sky; it seems so modern and commercial. We have a real tree and very much try to create a feeling of Christmas spirit throughout the season rather than it being about stuff. We spoil our children of course (if you can’t at Christmas when can you?!) but we try to keep consumerism at bay really, and Elf of the bloody Shelf, Christmas Eve boxes etc just seem like a build up of clutter and expectations.

I am coming round to the idea though thanks to this thread. I think binning them (I’d love to do this) would be cruel to my younger boy, so I’m going to work them into advent somehow without going all out. You’ve all convinced me 😂

We have a real tree and very much try to create a feeling of Christmas spirit throughout the season rather than it being about stuff. We spoil our children of course (if you can’t at Christmas when can you?!) but we try to keep consumerism at bay really

I don't really recognise this though There's no need to spend a penny on EOTS. Beyond the elf itself, which I got for a fiver, many years ago, there hasn't been any consumerism at all.

We also value lots of tradition Christmas stuff, but I don't follow how seeing where the elf is every morning takes away from any of that.

Elf on the shelf is not the magic of Xmas, it’s forced, generic, late stage capitalism arse.

Good luck op I don’t envy you.

Elf on the shelf is not the magic of Xmas, it’s forced, generic, late stage capitalism arse.

Im not sure my kids would agree 😆

I love that it’s all been MILs that’s bought these for the unwilling DIL

Yeah like it’s never been an issue in our house; we just don’t do it. I’ve never had to confront why I hate it so much nor have I really judged others for doing it. I just haven’t done it! Now, thanks to my MIL, I’ve had to face all my Christmas demons 😂 which is ironic in a way because they aren’t really Christmas people and don’t really make much of it 😩

Don't be surprised if you find yourself hating them now but loving the wee bastards and excitedly hoarding outfits and elf size items ... I have 1 son and 5 elves. Not even sorry.

I’m not sure we borrowed it, rather had it imposed by Amazon and then UK retailers had to follow suit or lose sales…!

Now, thanks to my MIL, I’ve had to face all my Christmas demons

But you still don't have to do it if you don't want to.

Either keep it as a decoration or send it back to Granny for her to do it. No need for any more angst than you've had before.

I have 1 son and 5 elves. Not even sorry.

😂

Here are 5 easy excuses to rid yourself of this tedious nonsense :

i) Santa needs extra help this year and the elves have gone to help him. They may make an appearance mid December if they (you) can be arsed. Then chuck them in the loft.

ii) The elves hid in the toilet and got flushed. Then chuck them in the loft.

iii) The elves decamped to the garden and have hid themselves very well there. Maybe you should spend 6 hours looking. Then chuck them in the loft.

iv) The elves decided the house was too untidy and not up to their standards and decided to leave. If you keep your room tidy for the whole of December maybe they might come back. Then chuck them in the loft.

v) The elves have gone to help fluffy bunnies and sick puppies at the animal shelter. You're glad about that, right ? Then chuck them in the loft.

Depends on the level of detail for the elf designs

I love it but go on the American fb sites for inspiration. Plenty of inexpensive, simple but effective ideas. The key is to have it pre planned. I make a list of what it is going to do each day and have any props needed ready in a box and it takes the stress right out of it. Worth it for the excitement and joy it brings my kids and definitely the elves are a big part of their Christmas memories. We also have an elf photo album updated with pictures of the elf antics for each year.

I also really dislike the face and - why hasn't it got any feet? Really disturbing.

Well that's a new one on me.

Last week it was scrunch bum leggings and this week it's elves of shelves. What will MN educate me about next week I wonder?