Page 2 | Anyone else absolutely not doing elf on the shelf?

Ineedaholidayyyy · 10/12/2024 11:15

Not this year. We have tried it for the previous 2 years and my child just wasn't arsed about it, and I put a lot of effort into it last year ! This year I decided not start it it, but was prepared to if my son asked about it, and wondered why we didn't have one, then I'd find a reason to introduce the elf again. So far he's not mentioned it, all he wants in the morning is his advent calendar.

We love christmas and do plenty of festive things so i dont feel guilty or any pressure to continue something that he's not bothered about, just because everyone is doing it. One less thing for me to worry about in an already busy month 🙂

MrsSunshine2b · 10/12/2024 11:50

I don't get it either. Saw someone doing it for a 4 month old baby the other day, as if they are going to have any understanding of it. DD has asked about it and I've just told her that we don't do the elf and that's the end of it.

We do have a fillable advent calendar so she gets a small gift from "the elves" every morning along with a little activity (usually something we'd do anyway) so today we're going for a walk around the village to spot Christmas lights. "The elves" also drop off a book (the same ones every year 😂) outside the front door every evening and we read it together before she goes to bed.

That's enough for me and builds the Christmas excitement without stressing me out.

redkite27 · 10/12/2024 11:51

Glamis · 10/12/2024 02:00

No cos it’s fucking bollocks designed to make WOMEN’S lives harder.

I am not doing it, for exactly this reason!

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 10/12/2024 11:53

Not a bloody chance and never have done it.

Noimaginationforaun · 10/12/2024 12:15

We do! DS is 5. Started when he was 2. Quite low key here. Elf moves to a different part of the house, DS finds him in the morning and then goes to eat his advent chocolate. He absolutely loves the little routine in the morning and finds it very magical!

SueSuddio · 10/12/2024 12:21

Maybe one day elf on the shelf will be as bedded in as mince pies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph on Christmas eve.

But for me, it's still optional. We have one but DS uses it to play with rather than us setting up different scenes every day.

Bit like Christmas Eve boxes - we don't do those either.

Also, I feel like I'm talking a load of bollocks about Santa every year to my children and I don't need some silly elf too.

bookworm14 · 10/12/2024 12:23

Nope. It’s a load of imported American bollocks and I’m already busy enough at this time of year without having to worry about coming up with new amusing scenarios for a fucking elf.

livingafulllife · 10/12/2024 12:24

First post nailed it.
Ive never done it never will WAIT i dont do xmas either.

AliasGrape · 10/12/2024 12:33

Nope. I was always very clear I wouldn't be doing it. Even when I was teaching, there was pressure from some quarters to do a classroom one but I felt quite strongly it was a parent's decision/ choice. I had a childminder who used to drop off/ collect actually bring me in an elf and tell me I should be doing it and get really offended when I thanked her but told her it wasn't what I had planned. We did other magical Christmas activities and surprises, I just don't like this one!

Then had DC who is 4, and I'll admit I was almost tempted or worried about her feeling she was missing out this year. Since she was tiny we've got into the habit of talking about 'the elves' doing general nice things now and then in the run up to Christmas - they left the basket on the table on December 1st that has various Christmassy bits and bobs in (books/ craft/ baking stuff we keep year on year, plus a few new things to replenish supplies), or they must have left her the snowman bath bomb that we found in the bathroom last night, that kind of thing.

She does have a little plush toy elf (well actually it's one I had that predates her) and we did move it once as she seemed quite excited by the the idea that I presume she'd picked up from hearing others talk about it - however she said the next day 'I hope it doesn't move tonight mummy, I don't really like it' and so that was the end of that. She definitely prefers the unseen 'elves' who occasionally leave treats than a physical toy apparently moving around her house when she's in bed! As a child it would have freaked me out too, and I could never buy the actual 'Elf on the shelf' style ones either because they're such creepy looking little fuckers. I also HATE the 'reporting back to Santa' element of it.

I'm really glad her school don't do it or make a big deal of it either - my friend's DD was terrified when they introduced it, so they 'sent their elf back to Father Christmas' and then her school have started asking parents for pictures of what the elves have been doing and sharing them with the children each day - now friend's DD feels a bit left out and embarrassed that she was scared of hers.

MillyMichaelson · 10/12/2024 12:35

God no, I hate that smug little prick.

TFthatsover · 10/12/2024 12:38

We didn't do it as our kids are young adults, the elf wasn't a thing when they were little.

However, DH has bought one this year and is having a blast with the bloody thing. What's worse is the grown up kids are loving it.

Last night, DH made the 3 of them sprinkle elf dust on to 3 boiled eggs in a bowl and the joy on their faces this morning when the eggs were replaced with 3 kinder eggs was something else. You'd think they were 3/5/7 again rather than 18/20/22.

I won't have any part in it, happy leaving it to DH.

EveryDayisFriday · 10/12/2024 12:39

It was fun the first year I did it, a complete PITA 8yrs later. I've managed to sack it off now thankfully now the youngest is in high school but I wish I'd never started it. The kids absolutely loved it though.

DappledThings · 10/12/2024 12:47

100% not and I've told DC why when they've asked, that it's just another job for me to do to come up with ideas about what it gets up to.

I only found out last year that children are told it's real.and actually believe in it as a magical being. Madness.

gettingolderbutcooler · 10/12/2024 12:52

Anyone else absolutely not doing elf on the shelf?

okydokethen · 10/12/2024 12:57

No my kids are 13 and 10 and I never did it.

I like Christmas and make a lot of effort for my children but the whole thing about parents really getting invested in lying about Santa/reindeers/elves etc is not for me.

Kids comment occasionally on their friends elves but are quite jokey about it with me so I don't think they are scarred for life. I'll probably end up with grandchildren with an elf though.

frozendaisy · 10/12/2024 13:00

Nope because it always seemed absolutely insane.

As the kids grew parents then were concerned how they were going to stop it and went into a panic if they lost their elf and hunted high and low for an exact replacement.

Now are kids are teens they agree it would have been absolutely insane so hopefully they won't carry on this non-tradition to any of their, if they have, offspring.

Workingthroughit · 10/12/2024 13:01

Nope. Not Chrismas Eve boxes, light trails, breakfast with santa… none of the modern crap
we do stockings, carol service, family time.

DarkAndTwisties · 10/12/2024 13:01

I’ve also seen posts of elves being "naughty" and making messes. The whole idea is that the elf is supposed to watch kids to make sure they’re behaving, but then the elf behaves badly too? That feels a bit contradictory to me.

Yes, I've never fully understood the actual concept.

We don't do it - thankfully DD (5) doesn't seem to be aware of it as a thing anyway.

user2848502016 · 10/12/2024 14:01

Don't start it! I did a few years ago and regret it every Christmas haha
(my eldest DD really wanted one!)
Mine never makes much of a mess though

Pistolpunk · 10/12/2024 15:09

TFthatsover · 10/12/2024 12:38

We didn't do it as our kids are young adults, the elf wasn't a thing when they were little.

However, DH has bought one this year and is having a blast with the bloody thing. What's worse is the grown up kids are loving it.

Last night, DH made the 3 of them sprinkle elf dust on to 3 boiled eggs in a bowl and the joy on their faces this morning when the eggs were replaced with 3 kinder eggs was something else. You'd think they were 3/5/7 again rather than 18/20/22.

I won't have any part in it, happy leaving it to DH.

I find that so funny and heartwarming that a grown man and his older kids are loving the antics..they are reliving their childhoods 😂

My adult dc the elf wasnt around as it wasnt a thing and the teenager was about 4 when I started it but had to buy a new elf or gonk every year as he was distraught at the thought of his elf going back to the north pole, finally gave a whole family of them to charity this year. I certainly dont miss the nights of getting to bed and just about falling asleep to " the bloody elf needs moved" 😂

redkite27 · 10/12/2024 15:57

Workingthroughit · 10/12/2024 13:01

Nope. Not Chrismas Eve boxes, light trails, breakfast with santa… none of the modern crap
we do stockings, carol service, family time.

👏👏

SleepingisanArt · 10/12/2024 16:12

Thankfully mine were too old before the elf became a thing. I've seen some hilarious alternatives on Facebook- 'Andy Pandy on the brandy' and 'gonk on the plonk' being my favourites so far!

123feraverto · 10/12/2024 16:16

Managed to avoid it until this year ,
My 6 year old kept asking why the elf doesn't come to his house , and he wished the elf would come . His dad caved and ordered one so it's his job to do it

They are so excited in the morning to see what it's been doing .
Nothing especially naughty - it dressed as a banana and sat in the fruit bowl this morning

Danascully2 · 10/12/2024 16:30

I think it looks like it could be a fun thing to do in a lighthearted way (not in an elaborate lies about them reporting back to Santa sort of way). Some of the set ups I've seen online has made me smile and December can be tough so if it makes people happy then go for it. I could imagine my 10 year old having fun setting up something for his brother to find in the morning. But as per a pp, I just have not got the energy or headspace to do yet another job myself in the run up to Xmas. Maybe I'll see if older one wants to be in charge of it next year. Lovely to hear of the adult children enjoying it! Just shows these things can be fun without any of the weird focus on 'believing' or 'its all about the children'. And childminder pressuring teacher to do it is really out of order.

Danascully2 · 10/12/2024 16:30

The best idea I saw was where the elf had broken its leg so sat still with a cast for the next two weeks!