I love Christmas and everything that comes with it, from decorating the tree to the counting down on the advent calendars.
I giddily wonder when I can feasibly get away with watching Elf without it being classed as too early,Β and if it’s near enough Christmas (which turned out to be yesterday, actually.)
I try and last out until the 1st of December before having my first mince pie of the year. (Yes, they’ve been on sale in Sainsbury’s for what seems like months, but it would just be WRONG now. Plus I’d be sick of the sight of the bloomin’ things by mid December if I started on them now, and I can’t be having that.)
I even wear my cracker paper party hat and tell everyone else at the table that they have to wear theirs as well. Yes, I’m that annoying person. Just hope you haven’t got a party tooter thing in your cracker or I’ll be tooting that as well.
A Christmas Elf coming to stay for the duration of the holidays though? You what? Isn’t that taking the whole thing to a new, and OTT level?
I heard about these a while back, and it seems to be the new ‘in’ thing.
For those blissfully unaware, it’s where you have one of Santa’s elves come and stay with you over December, and it does either naughty and nice things each day.
One day it’ll have you baking cookies, the next day it’ll have been naughty over night and chucked crisps around your living room while the children have been asleep or something.
Some days it brings presents.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but that sounds like an awful lot of bloomin’ hard work. lazy arse
Plus, it completely reminds me of when the 5 year old had to bring a class doll home for the week when he was at toddler group and we were supposed to do stuff with it, and fill in the doll’s diary of her week’s holiday at your house. Then take photos and stuff.
Stuff like “I’m REALLY enjoying my weeks stay at so and so’s house. Here’s a picture of me sat in the Asda trolley doing our weekly shop.”
(Yeah, like I want to cart a daft looking doll around everywhere I go. I’ll look like a mad old bag lady.)
I had to fight a mad urge not to take pictures of it lying on the sofa surrounded by empty wine bottles and a speech bubble coming out of it’s head saying ‘Hic, BURP.’
Same goes with the elf. I don’t want a batty old elf sitting around on the shelf at home. 24 days of thinking up something new for it to do up until Christmas Eve?!
Pfft.
It’s all getting a bit much now. Aren’t Santa’s sacks full of toys or stockings enough nowadays? Presents from an elf each day who’s got lost on the way to the North Pole or whatever is a bit excessive.
Do you do the Elf thing, or have you heard of it before? π
I’m doing the Elf on the Shelf (http://www.elfontheshelf.com/) this year and he’ll be bringing a small present every day for my son. Forget throwing stuff around the floor though – any attempts to mess up my house and he’ll be kicked back to the North Pole asap. My son won’t be getting a stocking or presents from us on Christmas day though – I often think the build up is more exciting than the actual day and he’ll receive gifts off friends and relatives so the advent days will be more special.
Oh no, I have got far too much on in the run up to Christmas without that as well. Besides on daughter will try and catch me out with regards to where he lives, why he is here, what he does etc that I’m not risking it!
Ha, mine would do that too. They’d be too busy trying to catch it doing stuff as well. π
what?! An elf to stay? Good grief, no thanks!
That was my initial reaction too. π
I think it a really good idea. We will be having an elf for the first time this year and I’m so excited because I know my little girl (3) will love having him over and I’ve told her he will be a naughty elf and she has to help teach him to be good:)
Yes I am a busy mum, I also have an 18 months old son, but I think I can get organised to make this a magical experience for my children. I will also be making a scrap book which the elf will leave when he returns to the North Pole and I’d like to think that these kinds of things will be kept for years to come and we can all reminisce when my children no longer believe in Father Christmas and his magic elves:(
We have an elf on the shelf who keeps watch on behaviour on Santa’s behalf! We went for the low maintenance version who just moves around each night (to prove he’s been back to the North Pole), no crisps on the floor in my house!!
Never heard about it before. I’m huge huge lover of Christmas but don’t think I’d ever go this far!!! Great post
I’m with you. Sounds like hard work! I prefer my elves to be imaginary.
We just go with emailing the North Pole to update on behaviour – his elves can go elsewhere. As for the visiting bear from school, we sent a picture of George bear back in the book wrapped in an England fan with a load of empty bear cans… cos I’m a really respectable parent, honest!
We have an invisible elf come to watch and make sure the minis are behaving. He doesn’t do naughty things- I seriously couldn’t be bothered with all that, he just pops up when they start to slip and they get a reminder that he’ll be reporting back to Santa on Xmas Eve!
I’ve heard of elf on the shelf fro America but I’ve only seen really expensive one here. i was hoping to get something similar to give all the dummies to so father Christmas will think she’s a big girl…wish me luck on that one π
No I don’t do the elf thing! It sounds flipping awful. I’ve seen them mentioned a lot, but I didn’t really know what the point is, so thanks for enlightening me!
Hilarious post, but I have to add it’s not really the ‘new in thing’ as it’s been around for nearly a decade! We got one as a gift from the boys grandparents in the US this year and will be doing it. I think you can make it as simple or as complicated as you want and I haven’t got time to make my elf do crazy stuff! But we will be having lots of fun with it π xx
It seems to be the new thing here in the UK, as not many people seem to have heard of it!
π
We’ve done it for a few years but tbh it’s often for our own amusement than the kids…naked barbie jacuzzi etc. It certainly doesn’t bring more blooming presents and generally does nothing because I forget to move it. Oops!
I’ve got a lot of friends who do elf on the shelf… It’s a great marketing gimmick and a good way to take Β£25 out of people’s pockets for a freaky-looking toy.
Personally I’m not a fan. An elf sent by FC to ‘spy’ on a child to make sure they’re being good so they get presents on the big day? Don’t like.
It’s a fun concept and I know some people go to great lengths to set up special scenarios for their kids to discover each morning, but the ‘keeping watch’ thing doesn’t sit well with me.
This year, closer to Christmas Day, I’ll be introducing a handmade doll into the house – a kindness elf – who will be set up each day with ‘nice’ prompts – things like sorting through old toys and clothes to give to charity, baking biscuits together for the staff in our village shop, making a bird feeder for the hungry birds in winter, enjoying a special trip to the cinema to see a festive film and putting together some items for a food bank. To me, it’s the kindness and sharing of the season that I’d like my daughter to learn about, rather than being bribed to be good with gifts as a reward.
I think it’s each to their own though – as with all aspects of parenting, what works for some won’t work for others!
Happy Christmas (when it comes!) x
Aw, a kindness elf sounds like a nice idea! π Liking the sound of that one more than one who just causes havoc! Merry Christmas!
My kids are too old to believe in the elf on the shelf, however, I find it hysterical to see what people do with the elf. Some of it is really creative.
My mom claims she would have done Elf on the Shelf if it had been around when my brother and I were young, but I guarantee you she would have felt the same way all you do.