If you're not doing elf on the shelf...

[bob1985]

What do you tell your DC?

I really DON'T want to do elf on the shelf. DD at an age this year where she might start asking about why some of her friends have a magic elf and she doesn't.

How do you explain it's not one of your traditions without saying something that might be upsetting if she repeats it to one of her friends?

Mine have two at dad's, who are naughty because they are new to the job and in training.

The elves we have are super important elves and therefore can't be seen, as it's dangerous for them! They leave advent calendars on the 1st and PJ's and hot choc on Christmas Eve with a book or dvd.

They've never questioned why different places have different elves 🤣

I told mine I’m too busy to be moving an elf around every night!

Don't be a sheeple, ban the bloody elf from the house.

Thanks to those who left a kind response.
To clarify :

• the comment about termination of the pregnancy was in the first trimester and made in private to me as my parents were worried she had a history of profound mood change during previous pregnancys
• I regret my decision badly but I was craving affection and intimacy after 18 months of no sexual contact and loneliness. Keep in mind that when my wife is normal, she is great.
• the change in my wife can only be described as two different people. It's not even the same person post natal.
• she refuses counselling and screams whenever I suggest she might be suffering pnd
• we are Australian based.

@wallabyjack I wonder if you’ve posted on the wrong thread?

My kids never mentioned it and neither did we. No elf here

@CaMePlaitPas

The kids who need surveillance get sent an elf by Santa but you've been so good this year Santa's said you didn't need one.

No don't say this as dc might start acting up in hope of getting one.

Also we do elf but only for christmas week. Dc seems fine with that elf is far to busy to come any longer.

I don't like it, it gives me the creeps because elf is horrid looking, plus I just don't like the whole idea of it, it seems tacky and American. Plus not keen on the idea of kids being good, being watched, monitored. Similar to: No Christmas presents for you because you've been naughty this year? Yuk. Fortunately it's only a recent phenomenon and my now teens were too old for it when it first came out.

It's a new thing, I don't think it is that widespread, certainly not as ubiquitous as Father Christmas. Just don't bring it up, they may never ask

We do have a tradition of a crib though, dd hides Jesus until midnight Christmas Eve and the kings don't arrive until 12th night - it's left out until candlemas (2nd February)

I was nagged into it by DD 2 years ago. She's 9 now and I hate the Elf, but the kids love it.

People are nuts about it though. Someone posted on our local Facebook page that some people were ruining it for everyone else by allowing their DC to touch the Elf, when they've told their DC it kills the magic or some nonsense.
I've also never said anything about them being spies (never mentioned naughty/ nice lists either) it's just a fun game.