Community Chat

[aggravated]

The people at work with younger children talk about it CONSTANTLY at holiday times.  Frankly, between their gift shopping, school activities, elfing and taking time off during the holidays and talking about all of it nonstop.  Why don't people with children just take the month of December off?  They practically do anyway.

[graciesmom1003]

our elf Sally, comes the night after Thanksgiving since they were almost 2yrs old. she moves to the wildest, most exciting locations every night. sometimes she brings little gifts each morning, sometimes she gets into mischief and makes a mess overnight. the best is that she has given us 8 years of the fun of searching for her each morning and taking care to never touch her. it is a remarkably simple and gentle way to pass the month before Christmas each year. i hope we never out grow her, i know i won't!

[traveler]

Thank you all. By 2000 my kids were in college so no interest there. I have always thought it looked cheap and was manipulative but to each their own.

[homedecor1]

@graciesmom1003

that's wonderful!  I can't remember my GD elf name but I think it's a "wonderful" fantasy in this world of sad & crazy happenings.  I enjoy hearing all the silly places she ends up!

To those who say it's a sign of "poor parenting" I disagree!  When we were kids our parents always started reminding "Santas watching!".   We believed it especially on Christmas Day when we got wonderful things from him for being good!

I wish we could all enjoy the fantasy Santa forever...instead of "growing up"!

[Cakers3]

[Cakers3]

I don't think it is bad parenting but I don't agree with telling children to behave for some toys at Christmas.

Yes, Santa was a big thrill for me as a child but the nuns took the wind out of those sails.  lmao

I wouldn't mind the elf if he (or she) were used as an example of Santa's helper  but the thing is just creepy.  And I swear it's eyes move when I see one in Hallmark.  lmao

I'm pretty sure most kids realize that they are going to get the toys  regardless of how they behave.  Because come Christmas morning the presents are always there.

Children aren't clueless.

[Wsmom]

My kids are late 20s so thank goodness that wasn't a thing when they were little because good grief moms today are under a lot of pressure with all the pintrest posts and all the clever things they do with that elf.  My friend's grandpa was babysitting and had no idea and touched it!   The kid was traumatized.  I think it's a really cute idea but man am I glad I didn't have to try to remember to do some fun thing with that elf every night after the kids went to bed. 

[AuntMame]

My parents used to do this in the early '60s, move little plastic-faced elves around the house every night. They never spied on misbehaving children however. 

[candys mine]

I'm sure we had one of those elves in the 60's but he was not connected with the Elf on the Shelf.  I think I would have enjoyed having an elf that reported to Santa my hopes and wishes every night and to find it in another place each morning would have been magical BUT and this is a big one for me.  I think the elf MISBEHAVING is a big No no.  How can they expect children to be good when the elves do bad things?   Would not have been tollerated.  Only perhaps, if it were obviously a good intention gone wrong.

Just a question re: protocol  what do you do if the elf falls on the floor?  Does the no-touch rule for children still apply?

 edited to remove wierd emoji apperance!

[KingstonsMom]

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@Wsmom wrote:

My kids are late 20s so thank goodness that wasn't a thing when they were little because good grief moms today are under a lot of pressure with all the pintrest posts and all the clever things they do with that elf.  My friend's grandpa was babysitting and had no idea and touched it!   The kid was traumatized.  I think it's a really cute idea but man am I glad I didn't have to try to remember to do some fun thing with that elf every night after the kids went to bed. 

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@Wsmom

Why aren't you supposed to touch it?