Anyone else absolutely not doing elf on the shelf?

[Paperbear]

I'm not doing Elf on the Shelf, and thankfully my kids haven’t asked about it.

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.

I held out for a few years but we saw one for sale in a charity shop the other day.
Dd8 had been asking for several years so I caved and brought it.
Thankfully dd nearly 11 has never been bothered about them.

Dds have been doing silly things with it on alternative mornings for each other, the most I have gotten involved is helping find the sharpie.

Gotta say… When I see someone posting elf antics every day on SM, I think that they must have too much time on their hands!

Have never done it, will never do it, would rather gouge my own eyeballs out.

No we're the same. I have enough crap to remember than moving an elf around and once you start, you're basically committed for ten years. That's 240 odd ideas to come up with. No thanks!

We do other wee things to keep the magic alive and it's all good.

My sister kindly bought an elf for us years ago when my eldest was about 2, but very sadly he got brutally accidentally decapitated by an ottoman bed. RIP Elfis Costello.

We’ve never bothered since.

No I have never done it I dont like the way they look.

I don't do it. Dd was desperate to have one so I bought her one but was clear it's just a toy. She's got two now and does the set-up herself if she wants to. As long as it's not too messy/naughty and she clears up I don't mind.
I couldn't use the 'allergy to cats' line as our friend who also has a cat does do it.

I didn’t choose to start it, but DD (6) wanted one this year “as all my friends have got them”. She’s disappointed if I forget to move the elf. Also, she asked early on if I moved him, and I felt I had to lie!

On the plus side, when the elf got chocolate on his face, she carefully cleaned him off. She rarely helps out unprompted, so this was nice to see.

We refuse to do it!
DM got each kid an elf a couple of years back and thankfully neither expect the elf to move around or get into trouble like their friends' elves do! I didn't even try to pretend that the elves were magic - they're toys just like their teddies are toys!

We also refuse to do matching xmas PJs or xmas eve boxes! We would usually visit Santa, but always a very last min affair at a local xmas fair as opposed to a beautifully curated garden centre/Lapland UK experience!

This loud

I've never done it. Somebody helpfully bought my son one once but I just bought him a couple of sets of clothes to dress it up with and he was happy with that. I have neither the time nor the inclination. See also Christmas Eve boxes.

I think it’s a foolish thing to tempt the Fae to visit in any way…

We never did elf on the shelf, Christmas Eve boxes or Hot Chocolate stations. There's just no need IMO.

Listening to an audiobook together or watching a favourite film eating homemade popcorn is as far as it goes in this house. 😂

Absolutely this. Awful fucking creation.

Ohhhh nicely played!

Mine were too old when it became a thing thank God. Why is it called Elf on the Shelf when the damn thing does anything but sit on a sodding shelf? Who invented this crap anyway? Presumably someone with too much time on their hands.

No, never done it. My son is 11 now so probably a bit too old anyway.

When he was at nursery, they had an elf, so it became something that was at nursery. He never questioned why we didn't have one at home and never asked for one, so I just never bothered 🤣

He always has an advent calendar.

I don't do a Christmas eve box either.

We do always have a lovely time though and he is lucky to get nice presents and time with us/family, decorations, Christmas food etc.

Ds dad does it in his house but no way am I starting that shite. Honestly I've got enough to do.

We refused to give ourselves extra work but the children really wanted one so they ended up making their own! They are in charge of what their home made elves get up to although one evening last week I did actually set up an elf prank in the spur of the moment 😉

I always said I would never do it

Then when dd was around 3 MIL said I was mean and bought one 🙃 I was absolutely FUMING because it's OK for her not having to come and remember to move a bloody toy and think of ideas when you've been working all day/housework/keeping everyone alive

I survived maybe 2 years of it when dd said she knew parents moved it and i said yes it's a silly game and stopped.

Never again

I held out for a longgg time, ds1 not interested, ds2 started asking for one around 7. I’ve done it for a couple of years. I was very resistant for all the reasons mentioned, but it’s bought DS2 who’s now 9 so much joy and fun that im
glad I’ll have done it for a few years. We don’t have him spying on the kids though, we’ve been asked to look after him as he’s too irresponsible to be at the NP at this time of year and Santa needs people to look after them!

I never did it either or Christmas Eve boxes. Nothing wrong with them at all but I just feel Christmas has enough traditions already so unless I give up one of the existing traditions I am just not interested in creating any more work for myself

It’s a stupid waste of money imported idea from the US. Likewise Christmas Eve Boxes. Thankfully, both of these things started after our DC was 10 so no discussion neeeded on whether we did this or not

Nope never done it, never plan on. Kids are 12 , 4 and 2

@whiskeytangofox

Now hot chocolate stations is something that is plain bizarre, encouraging children to keep having unhealthy drinks???

I'm not suggesting you never make hot chocolate, it's fine occasionally, especially proper cocoa, however this sweetened mixes with toppings daily is a a bad idea