Tears on Christmas Eve over Elf leaving

[Koalaleia]

Anyone else’s kids spend a good part of Christmas Eve sobbing because the Elf (on the shelf) has to go back to the North Pole?! Even my eldest who knows the truth is crying

@LalalalalalaLand123

Mine are insisting that the rules are that elf stays until the end of Dec - are they having me on?!

My dd tried that as well

We have three different elves and our DD3 kissed them all goodbye and they say next To Santa’s plate.

They are already packed away upstairs. Bye bye elves!!

[quote RLOU30]@SleepingStandingUp

Your winning at life ![/quote]
??

Aww bless. Our Elf never said good bye, he just sort of vanished in the night when Santa brought presents!

I'm not surprised that a lot of kids are more emotional about it this year, it's not exactly been a great year for emotions has it!

I'm 52, and I hate putting the Christmas cuddles away at the end of Christmas!

Oh crikey yes. Floods of tears from my 6 year old. It might not be the best parenting but I've just promised him he can stay. We messaged Father Christmas to ask him, and he said yes.

I totally understand what a PP said about getting them to deal with their emotions of people leaving, but he wasn't dealing with it, it was 9pm and the happiness of Christmas was being threatened!!!

Mine goes overnight on the 23rd and leaves behind Christmas jammies and a treat. Takes the sting out of it.

Why on earth would anyone invite this time consuming little bastard of an elf into their lives ? Surely Covid killed the little sod off

Yes, so DS (age 9) politely asked him to stay. He did.

Because some people don't mind doing something time wasting if it makes the kids happy?

I'm now worried that my DC are psychopaths. They couldn't have given less of a shit that the elf was leaving!

DD asked if the (sodding) elf could stay for a while (sad eyes), I told her he lost his magic on Christmas Eve, but he could stay for a short time
I unearthed the bloody thing in June, while having a tidy in her bedroom up and smuggled him up to the attic. She didn’t mention him again until late November

Just keep it out and let them keep playing with it?

Our Elf used to always be in the log basket on Christmas Eve - by the fireplace waiting for a life home on the sleigh. He’s always leave an early present - Christmas PJs! They never questioned why he’d need a life on Christmas Eve when he’s managed every night in December before that! The early present eased the saying goodbye. Perhaps your elf could return occasionally through the year?

We’ve got back up Elfs, they got new ones from Lidl this year so although the ones (yes multiple) that Santa sends go back they get to keep the Lidl ones. Worked tonight for us.

Ours leave a farewell note every year, along the lines of thank you for having us we’ve had a great time, really proud of you etc but we need to go back to our own families and we’ll be back next December. Although my two get a little upset they understand and get over it quickly.

I had a feeling this might happen here this year. So I got two cuddly elfs, and wrote a letter from the ‘real’ elfs saying they knew they would miss them when they went back to the North Pole, so left them a toy to cuddle when they missed them.

It worked. The only issue is I have no fucking idea how I ended up in a place where I bought ‘fake’ elfs to replace the ‘real’ elfs that live in my loft. What next year? Baby fake elfs? I’m in too deep. Husband thinks I have absolutely lost it. He may be correct.

DD used to for a couple of years. She just loved the bloody thing so much and truly believed he was real and her buddy. She couldn't care less this year. She's growing up.

In a twist on these events, I cried at the elves leaving.

Oldest will be in secondary school next year, so feels like the end of an era for them and us in that respect. I think some of it was tinged with bitterness over what covid has taken from them, they had no Christmas party as school closed & no play the last two years. Not the end of the world, but well, you know.

I’m aware that I was being a bit ridiculous.

We have a Christmas fairy. She lives with us all year round because DD1 likes her so much.

If this helps any kids... an Elf having fun at the 'North Pole' in the snow

@BlueCookieMonster

In a twist on these events, I cried at the elves leaving.

Oldest will be in secondary school next year, so feels like the end of an era for them and us in that respect. I think some of it was tinged with bitterness over what covid has taken from them, they had no Christmas party as school closed & no play the last two years. Not the end of the world, but well, you know.

I’m aware that I was being a bit ridiculous.

I don’t think you’re being ridiculous, perfectly understandable. Sending hugs, you’re entering a new chapter, not a bad one just a different one and I know 100% when my turn comes I’ll be the same as you 💐

Late to the party but me as a 19 year old (I still have tears when my elf leaves) When google santa tracker finishes up around last 3½ minutes, I play the sonic heroes theme song to tribute to my elf (it brings me tears but I'll know I'll see my elf next year