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Original poster

Elf Rules

102 replies

Elfnsafety · 29/11/2023 23:37

First year doing it.

Don’t want to go with the creepy, the elves are watching you thing. Have a girl and boy elf, just them no big kit or story book etc. My plan is to put them in our post box with a letter for her from them. I’m going to say they’re Santas helpers from The North Pole …then what? Where will they go after that? She’ll wonder where they are/why she can’t play with them. I get that I make them do silly things for when she wakes up in the morning…but then where do they go when they’ve done the silly thing? Sorry but she’s smart and won’t get why she can’t play with them/why they’ve disappeared again until the next morning 🤷🏻‍♀️
Also, I read that they leave on Christmas Eve when they go back with Santa and I leave a letter for them saying thank you? For what though?

Hope I’m making sense 😂

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 30/11/2023 10:17

Because that's the only way anyone sane would have allowed the odious little thing into their house?

We love ours, he's adorable

All December there is thread after thread of people saying "OH MY GOD why did I start this, it is awful".

Bit of an exaggeration here, in fairness 😂

LeanIntoChaos · 30/11/2023 12:20

Oh God, just let her play with them. Way back when I had more enthusiasm for parenting than I do now, I instigated the no touching rule. Obviously they touched the buggers, because they are toys. Then they got upset because I had told them that the magic would go. Then we had to do an elaborate ritual to put the magic back in. Now I end up doing a glitter/poetry ritual multiple times throughout the month of December. At least the big two DC, if not the little two know that it's me doing it.... So at this point I think they are just torturing me. Also they carry them around with kitchen tongs, so my tongs are missing for the whole of December.

My children just love the silliness of it. We don't really do the watching thing... Because it's a bit creepy. It's a massive ball ache and I often wish I hadn't started it, but they love it. They each have an elf which I am going to give them when they have children of their own. Although at this point they are covered in various unknown substance and at least one has lost a hat.

Both my sister and my sister in law act a little bit smug about not having the elf/elves and Its really looked down on on here as well. I end up feeling a bit ashamed for doing it all. But each to their own, my children love it and they don't mind if the elves pants the Christmas tree 4 times in December, so all is good.

Drhow · 30/11/2023 12:31

I started this 10 years ago and it’s a bit of a pain in the arse now but my DC expect it so I have to play along every year. They arrive on the 1st with some Christmas books, usually a Christmas tree decoration each and advent calendars. They move each day so every night I have the pressure of remembering and finding something ridiculous for them to do which I can’t always be arsed with and I have forgotten a few times! They leave on Christmas Eve and leave the Christmas Eve boxes behind when they do.

TheGoogleMum · 30/11/2023 12:35

Most people with elves complain about it. We decided we won't do it!

MissMoo2222 · 30/11/2023 12:37

DDs elf arrives with a short note saying Santa sent him as he's very naughty and knows how well behaved DD is (she is!) so hopefully the elf will learn some good behaviour while here. She's allowed to play with them during the day and at night she leaves them in the living room and knows when she comes down next morning they'll have done something nice or naughty. Last year I also put a note saying some nights elf has to return to the North Pole to give Santa an update so on those nights there won't be any tricks. This covers us for those nights to forget to move the little fucker.

Wonderblue · 30/11/2023 12:41

Some people set themselves up for a month of stress doing the OTT things. Ours literally just moves around the room occasionally, putting a chocolate coin in the calendar. That’s it. But the kids love it.

AhBiscuits · 30/11/2023 12:45

We don't have the no touching rule in our house so they get played with.
They bring the advent calendars on 1st, do some stupid shit for a few weeks then disappear by Christmas day.
Honestly, it is a pain in the arse, but my two absolutely LOVE it. I would say it's their favourite part of Christmas. They've been talking about their arrival and getting excited for weeks.

caringcarer · 30/11/2023 14:25

They could get into the fridge and get squirty cream all over themselves.

There was no Elf on the Shelf when my kids, now adults were small but I'd have enjoyed getting them into mischief. It sounds harmless fun.

caringcarer · 30/11/2023 14:28

CheshireDing · 30/11/2023 05:45

The book explains why the elf is here - to report back to Father Christmas on good behaviour so the child gets out on the good list

Don’t overthink it OP.

I wish I had never started the coin from the Tooth Fairy being a glittery one ! That’s a right pain 🤣

You can put a £1 coin in a small amount of Coke and it will be glisten. All the dirt comes off of it and it goes shiny.

anon2134 · 30/11/2023 19:11

My elves have fun, sometimes they leave things, sometimes they wrap doors, sometimes they read books to other toys, sometimes they've had to pop back to the North Pole for an elf emergency for a day or 2.

We don't do the if you touch it it loses its magic, our elves are fun.

IDontDrinkTea · 30/11/2023 19:17

My children are allowed to touch the elf - it’s far too annoying otherwise. I remember the first year the elf was set up on the hob and I realised we’d have to touch / move him or no one would get their porridge for breakfast.

We also say the elf was sent by Santa to help us get ready for Christmas. Not linked to behaviour at all. But he doesn’t do anything really naughty - just fun

Ofcourseshecan · 30/11/2023 19:21

like the time tot-sized DS1 (now 13) indignantly exclaimed that the elves had gone 'too far' and he was phoning Santa!

I love this!
😂

Kittylala · 30/11/2023 19:32

Our elf suddenly appeared one day. Dd was ecstatic. They play. Sometimes elf destroys things, but it's great fun. He also delivers her Advent gift! I don't put any effort in at all.

CharityShopChic · 30/11/2023 19:34

Elf Rules - realise that most people don't give two hoots about this shit.

Pumpkin314 · 30/11/2023 19:56

Get a working elf - ours only visits on weekends as he's busy in the north pole on weekdays!

Stressedoutmammy · 03/12/2023 15:53

They just stay where they are found in the morning for the day and then the next night they move again and are found somewhere different! It is a pain, but my kids love it so it’s worth it.

Lopella · 03/12/2023 16:16

FizzyWizard · 30/11/2023 00:12

Die?!

So not only are these sinister grinning fuckers reporting back on the children to Santa, but if the children touch them they might murder the elves by mistake?

Show quote history

You can bring them back to life if you sing jingle bells to them

MrsMarzetti · 03/12/2023 17:02

Why would you even start the racket ? You will rue the day you did.

Lopella · 03/12/2023 17:11

Since finding myself a single parent and extremely tight on money, I find the elf a free way of injecting Christmas magic into my kids lives when I can't afford much else.They fondly recall all the tricks their elf has played over previous years. It's a bit of silly fun that's free and easy for me to do, and their wee faces make it worth it. Previous to splitting with my exh, we used to be able to afford to go to fancy light displays, santa visits, the pantomime, advent calenders and Christmas pjs - I could afford to take the time off work to go to their nativity plays which sadly I no longer can. I really appreciate the elf, and more importantly my kids do, in a time when they don't get much else they see their peers getting.

fishfingersandtoes · 03/12/2023 17:33

Treaclesandwich · 29/11/2023 23:44

You’ve not done it before and so you can still be saved. You don’t have to do this, you really don’t. Please please just consider carefully what you are about to get involved in. Once you’ve broken the seal, you can never go back. It’s relentless.

THIS!

Wonderblue · 03/12/2023 17:33

Lopella · 03/12/2023 17:11

Since finding myself a single parent and extremely tight on money, I find the elf a free way of injecting Christmas magic into my kids lives when I can't afford much else.They fondly recall all the tricks their elf has played over previous years. It's a bit of silly fun that's free and easy for me to do, and their wee faces make it worth it. Previous to splitting with my exh, we used to be able to afford to go to fancy light displays, santa visits, the pantomime, advent calenders and Christmas pjs - I could afford to take the time off work to go to their nativity plays which sadly I no longer can. I really appreciate the elf, and more importantly my kids do, in a time when they don't get much else they see their peers getting.

Edited

Yes this!

TheKeatingFive · 03/12/2023 17:40

Yes this!

Yes I agree too. Beyond the initial outlay of 5 euro, 6 years ago, I haven't spent a penny on it.

Kathryn1983 · 03/12/2023 17:49

We don't bother but why can't a she play with them once they've done their antics?

purplehair1 · 03/12/2023 19:25

So glad this nonsense didn’t start til my kids were too grown to be interested! Christmas is stressful enough!

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