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Original poster

The Elf - were my children horribly deprived?

109 replies

AndMatt · 30/11/2021 22:21

I only became aware of it when an adult friend started sharing the mischief his elf was getting up to on FB about 8 years ago. And very funny it was too.

I have children now 18 and 20, I swear he didn't exist when they were of the right age. Did I just miss it and they were the only ones who didn't have an elf visiting? They never mentioned it, but if it really has only been around less than a decade, blimey it got traction quickly!

OP posts:
GeorgieFlame · 01/12/2021 08:58

They remind me of a stretch armstrong version of a Kewpie doll. Grin

Redcrayons · 01/12/2021 09:01

Late teens here and it was absolutely not a thing. Probably because social media wasn’t such a big thing either.

I’m soooooo glad it wasn’t, because I would have definitely done it.

Whiskeyandwine · 01/12/2021 09:21

I’m doing it this year. The elf is great for policing bad behaviour! Dc never been so good, not sure what I’ll do after Christmas though Hmm

NotQuiteUsual · 01/12/2021 09:23

So envious of everyone who missed it! I had no intention of doing it. I think it's daft and creepy having elves spy on your kids. But my DD was really upset and hurt that she wasn't special enough for an elf to visit like her friends. So here we are.

It is DDs absolute favourite part of Christmas, so I don't mind doing it too much, plus our naughty elves have been sent to learn good behaviour from my children, not to judge them.

AuntieMarys · 01/12/2021 09:25

Mine are in their 20s I wouldn't have done the Elf if it had been around.

fluffythedragonslayer · 01/12/2021 09:31

Our elves are fluffy and cute cos I started it before the Elf on a Shelf came in so we don't have the creepy one 😂 and they don't watch the kids or report back to Santa.

Comefromaway · 01/12/2021 09:33

Mine are 17 and 20. I became aware of it around the time my youngest was about 10 years old. I thought sod that for a game of soldiers.

Teaandcakeordeath83 · 01/12/2021 09:51

I hate the elf. I thought it would be fun a couple of years ago for my eldest who was just figuring out and getting excited about Christmas. I genuinely thought it would be a one off as I don't particularly like Christmas and I thought she'd forget.... It's been 3 years now. She didn't forget. Her sister didn't forget. Her brother has been introduced to it today. 😭

I can't wait until they find out father Christmas isn't real so I can bin the sodding thing. 😂🙊

SSOYS · 01/12/2021 10:01

Didn’t exist for my teens, thank God. I find the elf very creepy and the idea of children believing that he’s spying on them and that they won’t get any presents if they’re not up to scratch borderline abusive.

Treaclepie19 · 01/12/2021 10:16

We don't do the elf. I'm wondering if my ds is going to feel left out since everyone else seems to.
It feels pointless though and a bit creepy. We don't use the threat of Santa as a punishment anyway though which seems to be most people's reason for doing it.

evilharpy · 01/12/2021 10:28

We don't do it. My daughter is 7 and most of her friends seem to have an elf but she's not at all bothered and says they look creepy.

We also don't do the whole "Santa knows if you've been good" thing so we don't need an elf to spy anyway.

TheSpanishApartment · 01/12/2021 10:49

Yeah, we don't do it either. My daughter is also 7. I'd say 75% of her friends have one. She doesn't seem bothered; she's happy with her advent calendar, which is a refillable one that she has convinced herself that the elves fill every night (we have never encouraged or told her this, all her own work).

TheKeatingFive · 01/12/2021 11:02

We do it, my kids love it.

We don't do surveillance
We don't have an official elf, but a very cute one that cost 5 euros
I don't spend another penny on it
I don't find it a pain, quite the opposite

But each to his own, families do different things, no ones missing out any more than they miss out on thousands of things that others do that they don't.

TheKeatingFive · 01/12/2021 11:03

We don't use the threat of Santa as a punishment anyway though which seems to be most people's reason for doing it.

I don't know anyone who does this but, in fairness

TheKeatingFive · 01/12/2021 11:03

Bit

Arren12 · 01/12/2021 11:14

My eldest asked loads last year as apparently 'everyone' in her class has one. I hinted it was the parents moving it which I think she actually knew anyway. If she comes home asking the same this year il have to tell her the truth. There is no way I'm starting that rubbish. I have more than enough on my plate plus my eldest just gets so wound up at this time of year anyway.
I do feel a bit bad but I doubt everyone is doing it and if they are then good for them.
I do have to laugh at the social media posts last night with the elf ready. Most parents are morning about it but then do elaborate set ups. Its all for the likes imo.

TheFairPrincess · 01/12/2021 11:15

Mine are 6 4 and nearly 2, I just don't like it so I don't do it :) I don't like the elf I mean, I think he's creepy!

Divebar2021 · 01/12/2021 11:16

My DD is 9 and we didn’t have one for ages then she saw them for sale when she was about 6/7 in bloody Poundland and begged to have one. It’s pretty tough to resist that when they’re only a pound. My DH did a massive eye roll when I bought it but we all ended up having fun over that Christmas.( My favourite was when the elf got into the whisky and puked). I’m happy she’s over it now though …. It did get taxing coming up with ideas every night. ( we never discussed that he was “keeping an eye “ on anyone… it was just a prank)

TheSpottedZebra · 01/12/2021 11:34

I was trying to avoid it and we got bought one Hmm
'Unfortunately' our much-loved cat really did not like the elf so we had to ask him (elf) to visit someone else instead.

Flutterflybutterby · 01/12/2021 11:50

I've never even heard of it and I left the UK around 10 years ago

Treaclepie19 · 01/12/2021 12:00

@TheKeatingFive

We don't use the threat of Santa as a punishment anyway though which seems to be most people's reason for doing it.

I don't know anyone who does this but, in fairness

Maybe I have awful friends then Grin
Angel2702 · 01/12/2021 12:04

It started in America in 2005 but based on a much older traditional knee hugger elf that was popular in 1940s -1960s.

We have been doing it for 10 years with an actual elf but have always had elves visit in the night to put up decorations etc all my life. We had started looking for an elf toy before we’d heard of the official version so ours are unofficial.

567and · 01/12/2021 12:11

My DD is 14 and my DS is 12 and we have had an elf since they were little. It definitely was around 10 years ago in the uk, certainly available to buy. It got him from a book website, but can’t remember which one. I had to frantically find him amongst the Christmas decorations last night as they wanted him to visit again this year! Luckily he’s quarantining for a week so that gives me time to park out what he’s going to get up to.

HappySM1 · 01/12/2021 12:15

What on earth are Christmas Eve boxes?!?!

We don't do the Elf. The house is such a state, my DD would not be able to tell what the elf did anyway.

BridStar · 01/12/2021 15:13

It didn't exist. It was made up by some American to sell books and assorted tat.