Elf on a shelf. Anyone else not doing it?

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Please tell me I'm not the only one not doing this bastard Elf on a bloody shelf?

I feel like parents around me are doing them with amazing balloons, advent calendars , cupcakes!

Each to their own but I feel so guilty for not doing it now. But I'm finding every year it's something new and to be quite frank I cannot be arsed!

Nope and never will!. The idea is very creepy, children should be well be well behaved all year round not being spied on before Christmas.
Also around Christmas people think I'm weird because my child knows that present are bought by us and family members and then Santa either makes them or we send them and Santa brings them.
Do your own thing OP.

Nope, think they're creepy and can't be bothered

I do a version of it, a 'It's December and I've got enough crap to do' type if you will.

Our little elf comes out, but he hangs about on the tree and overnight he nips to the magic elf village and brings DS 4 a book. (£10 for 10 books in the Works, if anyone is interested)
Saves loads of faffing about and he still likes the fact that the elf has been and is making sure he's being good!

DD is 4 and has never heard of it. I’m hoping to hold out and never have to do it, but conscious pressure might start once she’s at school next year. I wish all parents (let’s face it, mainly mothers) could get together and agree not to do this shit.

Never done it and mine are too old now. Life’s too short for deliberately for a stupid elf that makes a fucking mess in the kitchen, and then me tidying said mess while getting kids ready for school and me ready for work, and everyone put the door by 8am. It’s the preserve of Christmas Eve box stuffing memory makers. My kids are clearly deprived but they seem well enough adjusted to the naked eye.

Oops typos, got too excited about elf stupidity

Nope, never have and don't intend to. I dont need the extra stress. My kids have never really mentioned it when their friends have been talking about it either.

@BabyRace

Nope, although I'm Jewish and we don't make a big deal about Christmas. Never start a tradition you aren't willing to see through.

Same. I'm so grateful I can use this excuse 😂

Omg I've found my people can't stand it either and once you start something like that you can't stop. I find that it seems to be a parents competition on social media on my Facebook too I find December busy enough without adding that to my to do list, lots of other family traditions we can plan and look forward to.

Nope, not in this house. It creates ANOTHER job.

No I've never done it but my 6 year old did mention it a couple weeks ago and told me her school friends are excited to see their elf and would we be getting one. I did my best to change the subject as I'm too busy. I work full time and find it hard juggling normal life - kids, dog, packed lunches, work, after school clubs etc without an elf to remember

No. The cat would eat an elf who tried to come in our house - is my excuse!

I have done it since last year as we saw them in Asda and my DD got really excited. To be fair they only do stuff like 'go on the computer' or 'drink beer', 'eat biscuits' that kind of thing. Nothing too adventurous and if I forget to move them she makes up her own narrative . I'm not getting involved in balloons etc

Nope the little prick can get fucked.

No I find Christmas stressful enough and I feel I will have given in to social media pressure. I don’t do Christmas Eve boxes or breakfast etc.
Or matching pyjamas.

In fact I silently scream at the breakfast posts and matching PJ sets. I came off Facebook recently to avoid the shitty elf hampers.

@Figmentofimagination that's so overstepping the boundaries. What the eff is wrong with her? I would be fuming.

We have an elf door with a mail box. Sometimes he leaves his clogs outside, maybe a little christmas tree, a little broom. Very low maintenance.

I do it. It's a pain to do but it brings joy to the dc and I'll look back when they are grown up and remember the fun.
Each to their own though.

@WorriedMumsDontSleep - most likely thinking she knows best and that it's fun to wind me up.
I've tried to talk to a mutual friend about it, but all the mutual friend is doing is trying to keep the peace. Saying she knew about the elf but didn't think I'd react like I did and is there anything else going on that is bothering me. No, nothing else is bothering me, I'm just furious that my constant no's (both serious and in a jokey manner so as not to get into an argument) are ignored and that I'm made to be mean because my son is missing out.
If I wanted a fucking elf I would have bought a fucking elf. I don't do Christmas Eve boxes either but I don't judge others who do. Some parents say all Christmas presents are from Santa, some parents say 1 big present is from Santa, so parents say a small token present or just the stocking is from Santa. Everyone's Christmas is different and families who do it differently to me are not mean or doing it wrong or depriving their children.

No, we don't. Neither DH or I would remember until 2am each night and it would just become something I got annoyed and resentful about. I like Christmas! I am not ruining it with something I know I don't have the mental capacity for.

My kids are getting older and definitely less other parents doing it this year too, I think we're coming out the other side of peak elf...

Good job because they freak my youngest out.

I'm not doing it. I have a 4yo (in reception), a teething 1yo (waking through the night), a demanding part-time job, and the vast majority of the mental load of planning and organising Christmas.

I don't have time (or energy, or motivation) for that shit.

We don't do it either. I think it's creepy!

Ugh no. It's creepy as hell. And for many people just seems to be another way of showing off how amazing they are on social media.

Oh I'm so glad you posted about this. I was starting to think I was the only parent not doing the bloody elf and Christmas Eve boxes.