This was originally published in 2011, when Jack was 1. There still is not an Elf on the Shelf in our house.
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I’m new to the Elf on a Shelf. To be honest I had never heard of him until this Christmas, when it seems everyone that I know is talking about the Elf.
I saw the Elf in the local Hallmark store and immediately deemed him a creeper. Then I learned that he is a creeper for Santa. He hangs around the house to make sure all the good little girls and boys, are continuing to be good little girls and boys.
The Elf appears on Thanksgiving night and reports back to Santa every night between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mom and Dad move the Elf to a new location every night and the kids find him in the morning. It’s a cute idea, even if the Elf is a bit creepy looking. Honestly I wish I had come up with this simple piece of marketing genius. I’ll admit when I passed his little smiling face in the mall I was tempted to buy one.
But Jack is too young for the Elf.
Plus I have mixed feelings about the Elf. I’m not sure how I feel about bringing one more made up character into my child’s life or about taking on one more appearance that will need to be kept up year after year.
This is my conundrum when it comes to the Elf, does adding more mythical characters to the holiday repertoire ultimately devalue the others.
You’ve got the traditional three, Santa, The Easter Bunny and The tooth Fairy. And I’m OK with all of them, even though the Easter bunny always seemed a little too far-fetched to me. But I’ll go with it. So let’s say the tooth fairy misses your kid once because you were too tired or you just plain forgot. It happens. But now he’s questioning the validity of the tooth fairy, if the tooth fairy isn’t real, then what about the Easter bunny or Santa. The web starts to unravel.
I know of families who by tradition have St. Lucia visit in mid December on her donkey, which is nice when it’s a part of your heritage or traditions.
But I know other families who’ve, straight up, made up other characters to bring their kids presents; A Valentines Fairy and a St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun.
And so it goes. Soon will we have Betsy Ross delivering flag cookies on Flag Day or Christopher Columbus delivering gifts from the grave to celebrate his great discovery?
And like a house of cards when one is weak will they all come toppling down?
The thing is I want to make Christmas as magical as possible. I want his belief in Santa to last. I want him to have magical holidays like I did as a kid. I don’t want one misplaced Elf on a Shelf destroying it all.
Who do your kids believe in? Do you do the Elf on a Shelf? What are your thoughts? Am I over thinking this way to much, because it’s just an F’n Elf?
***A brief disclaimer, I’m not knocking anyones traditions here. And if you can manage a cast of characters to make the holidays special for your kids more power to you****
We don't do the elf. That thing creeps me out with those little eyes that follow you all around the house. AND you have to move it around and stuff. Too much work!!! We stick with Santa and we're all happy with that.
I read about him on one blog, then my sister had him, then I read about him on about 5 other blogs. No I will not get one, I have too many decorations as it is.
I agree with you about all the characters. It's fun but honestly celebrating for all the right reasons brings such a true joy.