Christmas Elf - am I the only one who's not doing it?!

[landofmakebelieve]

I keep seeing threads on here and other parenting forums about little elves coming to stay and bringing with them lots of activities from the North Pole or wherever for all the small people to do.
Then I read the said threads and think, blimey, that sounds like a lot of work!
I wrote about Christmas Elves here: castawaywithdreams.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/a-christmas-elf-coming-to-stay-er-no/
Am I alone in thinking all of this?!
I'm a regular on the boards but name change for blog posts threads as they will 'out' me!

I don't do Christmas elf partly because I am lazy and don't want to think up things for an elf to do. Also I am always away with work at the beginning of December and then have intensive work I do from the middle of December until middle of January and fitting an elf in as well would finish me off I think

Or what SoupDragon said

Were having an elf this year!!!! He is arriving on the 1st December and will bring ds advent calendar & a dvd (elf on the shelf dvd) hopefully that will explain the elfs job without me having to, I love the magic of Christmas & remember when I used to believe as a child, the excitement on Christmas eve. ..it wasn't even about the presents, I just loved the magic & build up and used to spend Christmas eve asking 'where is santa now' and gazing up at the sky to catch a glimpse.... kids need a bit of magic to get lost in I think, I was never angry at my mom & dad for lying to me about father Christmas. ... just greatful I got to experience believing!

In our house santa delivers all of the presents, but they arent off santa, hes just the courier for our family & friends. .. we just order from santa and he makea them and delivers!

I really think it is a lot of nonsense and as we do a very light version of santa (stockings only presents from real people) it just doesn't fit in for me - would feel a total fraud!

My home-made Elf is a rather jazzily dressed Liam Neeson/ Hannibal from the A-Team doll (must add a few more sequins to his outfit this year)

We do it as a lighthearted thing. My DC will be 14 and 11.6 so I don't feel I'm conning them. They've been "Santa Savvy" for many years.

DS has a "What The Jeff" moment when he finds Elf in the fridge

70 I quite like the idea of doing it when the DC are older but for now I'm steering clear of the elf

We love the elf in our house and DH and I have had some giggles late at night coming up with places for him to appear. I don't move him every single night though, just when I remember. I have to confess to being a complete Christmas fanatic though and I love anything to do with magic or imagination when it involves the dc. I have also been known to be out in the dark sprinkling glitter over fairy houses in the garden as evidence the fairies had visited

I like reading about it on here, seeing what people think up, but we don't do it ourselves. The only elf involvement is that on 24th Dec, new jammies (and perhaps an Xmas book or tree dec) are delivered at bedtime. Last year as we were out all day I arranged them on the stairs with glitter leading up from the door, so we found them when we got home (although DD, 5, got briefly upset as she thought she had missed Christmas ). There is no actual elf though IYSWIM, we just said the first time "ooh look the elves have delivered something" and that was enough

With the Santa thing (always a controversial bun fight thread on MN when it gets nearer Xmas!) we didn't particularly do anything, but when DD heard about it from nursery we played along in a low key way - we do the cookies/carrot before bed, and he fills the stockings and brings one main surprise present. We've never done letters, grotto etc (DD is very shy anyway). I'm not entirely sure if DD - now 6 - really believes or is just playing along. She is quite literal in many ways and has often said things like "ghosts/vampires/whatever aren't real are they mummy, they are just fiction".

I figured it out when I was about 4 or 5 I think - my mum put a note in the pouch of a cuddly kangaroo saying "please look after me" - bless her, she had even changed her handwriting, but I recognised the (slightly dry and scratchy) felt tip she had used! I felt smug rather than sad I think. With my DCs if they ask if he's real, I will say "what do you think?" and if they say yes I will continue playing along, if they say no then I will say they are correct, well done for figuring it out etc, but that it's fun to make believe and we still can if they want. This thread has reminded me I must talk to DH about this to make sure we take the same approach.

Sorry I have totally diverted from the subject there haven't I . Anyway. I like the idea of the elf but I don't think it really suits us. We tend to keep things quite low key and I don't like too much build up throughout early December as I get worn out. They get chocolate advent calendars but I might get a wooden one if I see a nice/affordable one. Would probably still mostly be chocolate in it though.

I've never done it, never even heard of it apart from on Mumsnet - like a lot of things actually, I often wonder if Mumsnet is a separate universe sometimes.

I enjoy the preparations for Christmas, crafts, baking, carol services, nativity plays shoebox appeals etc but I loathe the 'commercialisation' about it all and the fact that so much is about the presents, instead of focussing on the true meaning of Christmas.

I cant believe so many parents aren't bothered about the whole santa thing... I love this part of Christmas with kids and the magic that surrounds it, I guess some littke ratbag at school will tell him "santa isn't real cuz his mom and dad told him so' ill be peed off big time.... these parents that dont care if there kids believe should consider this, as some family's do like the magic Christmas of Christmas hes only 3 so im going to enjoy it while I can! Don't get me wrong were a Catholic family, were not overly religious... my I make sure my son knows the real meaning of Christmas

That's a bit of a leap there banker, just because a child doesn't believe doesn't mean they will ruin it for others. I will definitely be telling my DD when she realises (I think it may be this year) that it is something fun to play along with and she must remember that her little brother and her friends might still believe so she can't go round telling people. She hates upsetting people so I'm sure she will be careful when the time comes :)

Im not saying all parents, but some have said on here, that they dont like to lie to their child, which is fine, each to their own, but ive heard other friends who have older children complaining that other children are telling them santa isnt real 'cuz their mom/dad told them' I know we cant lead our kids on forever, but reading these threads has made me realise not everyone does santa... it never occurred to mr there would be small kids that weren't led to believe... not having a go, just saying. Id like to at least enjoy the magic for a few years yet!

Banker

I agree. My friend is a bit like this and I get the impression she can't wait to tell her child Santa isn't real! I think she finds the Santa thing an effort etc. I've already told her that ill be very cross if her dd tells my dd he's not real! My dd is 8 and I know kids in her age group can be very mean and love nothing more than spoiling the magic, especially if there are one or two who are aware at the same time. We go overboard on the whole Santa thing and she very much believes as do all the kids in her class....but I'm well aware it'll only take one!

My DDs know but wouldn't dream of spoiling it for anyone else. My eldest knew last year but her sister only realised after figuring out the tooth fairy. They are 10 & 12.

They both want to do the whole thing anyway, as part of the magic of Christmas (that and the whole getting more presents thing). We will still be doing stockings, Elf on the Shelf, PNP videos, making a runway on Christmas Eve and tracking Santa on Norad for many years to come.

Just feels like huge overkill to me.

Christmas is exciting enough as it is I reckon.

That's great that you got them to 10! I hope to do the same as mine are 8&6. I think if they find out when colder, they understand more about the importance of not spoiling it for younger kids. I think the problem is when kids of 4-7 find out as they are not as mature. Plus often they love the fact they know something their friends don't!

Oh yes and I cannot COPE with those that insist on labelling all presents from santa. I'd snatch mine back if I got wind of anyone I knew doing it. I want the credit thanks very much

When older not colder!

In our house, Santa does the stockings and a couple of surprises, everything else is from us. DD said (after finding out) that it was better knowing because it makes you realise how much your parents do for you. Made me smile (and shed a proud tear).
:)

Nothing is from santa in our house, mommy daddy friends and family order from santa (and pay for it) and santa delivers it x

My DC have known for years.
I know my DS was told by NDN daughter when he was about 6yo. I asked him to play along for the sake of DD. Which he did

Now they play along for my benefit but of course they know.

DS will ask for a game for his X-Box, or something for his PC (or an iPhone )and says "Father Christmas will bring it" (cheeky glint in his eye)
"No" I tell him "he brings toys made of wood and nails. Not iPhones".

And I want at least some of the credit.

I have to say, IMHO, the Elf concept is just that step too far.

Let me be the first to say I'm a Christmas obsessive. Panto already booked, cake already designed, most presents purchased already. Walk in wardrobe dedicated to Christmas ribbons, wrapping paper and decs. I adore Christmas. I do 1st Dec hampers for all the women in the family as a relaxation present for the festive period, and Christmas Eve hampers....both of which, frankly are massive overkill, but I LOVE giving presents and can't help myself.

When we already have FC watching during the year for who's good and been bad, and who delivers the presents/stockings, I think the idea of another North Pole character, essentially a spy for December to bring more stuff and report back to FC is just a little too much...and that's coming from me :) Soon the Elf will be merely expected and we'll find ourselves strategically placing Rudolph's around the garden to step it up a gear.

I remember at Easter, seeing Easter Crackers in the supermarket, and thinking, bloody hell, that's just going too far and losing the whole old fashioned loveliness. I think Monsieur Elf smacks a little of that...

nope- not dong it here either. got quite enough stuff to do in dec with out that one. DS has an advent calender, we start decorating the house early dec and just carry on till christmas day gently making and adding stuff.

Not doing it!! My DD has autism and would be distraught if she touched it or when it leaves to go back to the North Pole! TBH I don't like giving them the idea that its watching them and reporting back to Father Christmas.