I never had the Elf when I was a child and remember finding out about Santa as a gradual realisation rather than a shock moment. I didn't want to do the elf, but my sister bought one for my boy and now we have to keep up the pretense, especially now he's at school and they all talk about it. Albeit a bit more low key than some stuff I see online. He's 7 and carries it around, watches TV with it, gives it food.... How traumatic is this going to be when he finds out? Asking from people who have been through this before.