Anyone who doesn't do the elf thing, what do you tell your kids?

[YouLookLikeStevieNicks]

DD is only 2 so I don't really need to worry about this just yet.

But a friend said to me today "ooh she will be old enough for an elf next year" and it hit me that I really don't want to do it. I can't even explain why, I love christmas and I want to make it as magical as possible for her, but I really don't want a bloody elf!

Is it a really big deal these days? Will she be the only one in school without one?

Some otherworld creatures have been known to be malevolent, not worth the risk.

This aside it’s just another blinking thing to buy and I try really hard to avoid buying more ‘stuff’. I feel the same about Christmas pyjamas, unless they are intended to be used throughout the year.

I do explain this to DD and my reasoning.

Everyone has different traditions. We have an elf visit once a year. As was the tradition in our house growing-up, the elf comes to collect the letter for Santa which is placed in the Christmas tree at some point before Christmas. The elf leaves snowy footprints but that's it. No mischief. DC have never asked about the 'elf on the shelf' and I have no idea if any of they're friends do this.