The Elf - were my children horribly deprived?

[AndMatt]

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!

@lebkuchenforxmas

My DC are a little younger than yours and I've been aware of Elf on a Shelf for a few years now . I did start doing it one year - they came down on 1st Dec to their Advent Calendars and an Elf and then the next day the Elf had done something silly. The DC came down, looked at it, asked why I was playing with dolls and carried on with their breakfast. In the meantime I had to get on with clearing up whatever the Elf had done and just thought "whyyyyyyy?????" which was short for "why am I creating all of this extra work for myself" and that was the end of the Elf in our house.

😂

It started about 7-8 years ago as far as I can recall. I have never done it and thank my lucky stars every year that I don't do the bloody thing.

My now 11 year old asked a couple of times why we don't have Elf on the Shelf. I told them it was because they were so good, Father Christmas didn't need to send an Elf. He only sends them to the children that misbehave! That stopped any further questions and put paid to any requests for the Elf.

I have enough in my plate without all that shit...

I feel as if I have entered a parallel universe sometimes when I read posts here: I have never done, and will never do elf/hot chocolate station/Xmas Eve boxes/matching Xmas pyjamas etc etc..and I don’t know anyone who does this either.
All the STUFF!! And the expense 🤦‍♀️

Matching pyjamas?!? Hot chocolate station?

Still don't know what Christmas Eve boxes are.

I don't know if my family and DH are weird.

The best loved Xmas traditions when we both grew up and many still 'things' are kind of random. With our kids too we have things that are a bit strange. They're the things that everyone gets excited about though.

And yes I'm a miserable sod about all this. Getting older and a bit back in my day maybe! Or maybe it's because there's so many things I've heard, elves, boxes, whatnot. And I'm thinking that I personally would not at all like to feel I had do it so kids weren't odd ones out, or not do it and think well I don't want to. I've never been much for noticing let alone following what things are done iyswim.

This does NOT mean I don't think anyone else shouldn't do it before that starts up again! Xmas brilliant everyone should do what makes them happy imo.

I was wondering though. With what sounds like so much stuff as apparently really common now. Is there space for your own things to be added? The things that get more over the years and are all definite must dos? Because however they happened everyone found it really funny/ makes feel cosy/ did it one year and stuck. And the ones carried on from parents own childhoods as well?

I imagine answer yes of course just interested!

I remember it being around in about 2011. It was more of a niche thing. Not popular. Read about it on Mumsnet. Agree that 2013 is more when FB etc seemed to get hold of it as an idea.

As for why it's become so popular so quickly. Social fucking media!

I have young ones again now but I wouldn't be arsed with it so I don't :)

Anyone fancy sharing their family ones that will be... Why? Oh god really?! On the thread?

The one everyone who comes across it recoils at.

Is that when we put the tree up we do it as a family, and a loop of about 6 70s/80s Xmas songs MUST be playing. The one we all know YES it's Xmas is stop the cavalry and we all sing along and sometimes get up and dance/ march about

(I am NOT suggesting this as a thing lol. Please don't be too harsh though! Makes us so happy!)

It exists because social media exists. I reckon high % of people who do it also post their antics on FB. It's not just for the kids....

Probably.

The book day first day year etc etc gets on my tits. I mean first day ever cool, occasional snap or more, lovely. Friends family people don't see often will love them.

A million carefully posed snaps to show off carefully crafted outfits child often looking utterly pissed off? No thanks.

A pic with pissed off kid. With comment saying eg haha! X really didn't want to have photo but I insisted! Hoho.

Wtf?

Get a nice snap when they're playing laughing happy or whatever as most people have from day to day and put that up!

Pics of children unhappy why??? Oh but look! Harry potter!

I am out of step.

I don't go on Facebook much anyway so you know. I mean I'm not saying STOP or really agitated I simply don't understand why.