Christmas shopping. Christmas decorating. Christmas baking. Christmas wrapping.
Chances are you are experiencing what I am right now.
Some daily element of Christmas-ing.
In our house, there is a little seven-year-old boy completely immersed in Christmas fever.
Declan wears his Santa Claus pajamas as soon as he gets home from school (and has even requested to get a little “chunkier” to fill them out like Santa does (I had to stifle a laugh and follow with a “we’ll see!” on that one).
He moves the daily countdown to Christmas calendar. He has requested I put something in his Christmas stocking every day he is at school, so he has a surprise waiting for him when he gets home (I have obliged and have cut little snowflakes for him to decorate with).
And his other favorite daily reminder of Christmas – the elf on the shelf.
Oh, the elf on the shelf. Arthur is our elf’s name. He has been with us for the past seven years.
The elf seemed like a genius idea when we bought him. A magical elf arrives at your house during Christmas time to sit and watch the children of the house. Each night the elf travels back to tell Santa if the child was good or bad that day. Perfect ploy for parents to curb their children’s behavior during an entire month!
My kids have all been swayed by this elf’s presence at some point in their lives. I have “shushed” a fight or two pointing at Arthur. I have broken up a few fights by pointing to Arthur. His daily presence was an unspoken motivator for good behavior!
So, I thought I had the magic of the elf all figured out. Until the meltdown happened.
It was a game of hide and seek to which Declan lost.
And before things really erupted, I pointed to the elf – “It’s okay, Declan. Just take a deep breath. You don’t want the elf to see and tell Santa!”
I’ve made a lot of parenting mistakes in my day – let’s just say this was a big one. By pointing to the elf, I placed a mountain of fear and anxiety on top of a meltdown that could not be swayed.
I realized later the elf is different for Declan. It is a symbol of the Christmas season. It is a daily game of hide and seek. It is a motivator for good behavior. There is even an elf in his school classroom present for the same Christmas fun.
But it is never to be used as a threat to take Christmas presents away.
Did he make some bad choices? Yes. But he is human. And he is a little guy with autism trying to figure things out.
And he doesn’t need a silly little elf tattling on him.
Where my big kids respected the elf’s powerful presence, my little one LIKES the elf.
He leaves him candy canes to enjoy. He gave him a middle name. He laughs at the funny places he turns up. He even bought the elf plush so he could actually play with him and watch YouTube videos with him.
And with a great guffaw Declan saw the elf on the shelf at our local store. In great wonder as to how you could just BUY one, he has asked for it – so HE could move it around our house for fun.
For us, the elf on the shelf is just another piece of Christmas. Something fun. A game of hide and seek. A friend.
Not an evil little tattler to take away Christmas cheer!
I never like when i hear parents complaining about these poor elves. If it gives the child joy of magic and extends that short innocence just a bit longer it should be done without much grumbling. My daughter who’s been struggling with a sassy attitude and ‘growing up’ and wants to be a cool big kid like these youtubers she sees, and still every morning she loves solving the mystery of her elves and wants so much to believe in this special magic. I’ll take it because it unfortunately won’t last forever 😔
Yes, I agree – I like the magical fun of the elf. We ended up getting Declan an elf for himself to play with. He loves it. He insists it still has magic and will fly it around the house to see everything. We still move it at night, with Arthur our original elf – and it bring D big joy to come running down the stairs to see where they are that day. It’s fun for him – and if it keeps the magic alive in the house, then great – I’m with it! (Sorry so long to respond – your comment got lost and I just found it! 🙂 )
I never heard of the elf on the shelf when I was a kid. I wonder where and when it started. Was it a thing when you were little? We avoided it with our kids because the whole concept seemed a little creepy. Plus, we would forget to move it every night. But we REALLY got into leaving out cookies and a Guinness for Santa on Christmas eve. He usually put the cookies back in the box, but he always drank the Guinness.
No, the elf was 20 years after my childhood as well. And it is a foe of mine – because I forget to move it as well. In two weeks we have already forgotten 5 times! We stink at it. That’s funny 🙂 My guys (Big Bob) like to leave Santa favorite foods to see which one he will eat. One year he liked pizza over hot dogs, another chicken nuggets over some sandwich. The fun never ends 🙂
Our son was petrified of the elf – I though it would have been a nice touch (found one on Amazon) but he went missing, But recently I found the rather battered elf in the garden. Clearly the dog had taken a liking to him. Now he has become the elf in the garden. And now strangely our son likes him.
Since our son was a toddler my fall back technique was to count to 5. On 5 I would call Santa to tell him of the naughtiness. Never got past 3. No idea what I would have done if our son called out my bluff.
Your dog cracks me up 🙂 I bet there is a whole bunch of stuff buried around your yard! That sounds like a good plan – because I totally messed up by pointing at the elf. I might have to start the count!
I’ve lost my glasses, I suspect they are getting the same garden treatment as the elf.
You have an elf
on the shelf
and, he’s not there for his healf…
Haha…see? You ARE a poet!
I still don’t know what elf on the shelf is.
I do know that if my youngest daughter thought someone was watching her she would freak!
I’ll have to have a google and then this may make more sense 😂
My husband and I saw one at the store and thought it would be fun. Turned out to be a challenge! We have the worst time trying to remember to move it, let alone make some of the funny setups other parents work out with their elf’s – some are pretty funny! But yeah, when you think about it, it is a little creepy 🙂
Our elf is Krystal and even though the girls no longer believe she still makes an appearance every year. The challenge for me is remembering…and trying to stay up later than they do! 😂
I hear ya! I always forget to move it because he goes to bed when I do – I have to do it in the early morning hours when he is still asleep (if I remember!)
Should have expected Declan to see the elf differently than the rest of the world! He always seems to put a new perspective in my way of thinking. Learn something new in each of your posts about him!
I know I should have – he always has a new perspective….thank you!! 🙂
It is for fun. You should get him his own. It won’t be the same as The Elf you have. It’ll be his toy elf to play with. I think everyone has fun with this.
I did – he loves it! He likes to point out that his elf is still magical even though he touches it. He plays with it flying it through the house – it’s super cute!
I love it! Our elf is a sweetie too! Arthur and Millie might be good buddies… 🥰❤️😊👍🏻
I agree! I love seeing Millie’s adventures!
Thanks, it’s been lots of fun!
I’m still on the fence about getting an elf. My 8 year old loves the idea, but it creeps out my 12 year old! Hahahaha
Too funny! 🙂