Christmas. The decorations are in the stores before Halloween. Thanksgiving seems to get lost in the ads and sales that are advertised each day on t.v. and in the paper. To quote Lucy from the Charlie Brown Christmas special, “We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket.”
That’s kind of how I felt about a certain elf I heard about last year…and that was before I saw it was 30 dollars to adopt the elf. And then there was the whole kind of creepy factor… I remember worrying that my baby dolls would get jealous when I picked one to take to my grandparents, so I made sure to have them take turns each week. Kids can have quite the imagination; why add to it by having a toy that “moves on it own at night?”
And then the past month came and went, with the 5 year-old getting into my lotion, the toothpaste, the soap…taking the nail polish from the medicine cabinet, swiping the keys I had put up on the kitchen sink to keep out of her reach, scribbling on furniture… And did I mention the 3 year-old? Whoever called it the terrible two’s should have come up with something for the three’s… We’ve had plenty of hot tempers and toys flying through the air.
What is right is not always easy, and what is easy is not always right…
I admit it, I was tempted by an easy answer. I was looking for my own commercialized Christmas miracle to help keep the kids in line.
It was just a random search on Ebay, where I stumbled across an elf that had 15 minutes left for bidding, and was only 12 bucks. (Not THE elf, but a magic one none the less….) I was on the phone with my sister, who had just gotten such an elf for her own little almost 5 year-old terror, and I mentioned it in passing.
We chatted, and I decided I was going to make my first Ebay big. There was a minute left… That’s when my sister asked if I was logged in. Huh?
Next thing I knew she had put in a bid and won the darn thing and was having it shipped to our house.
That’s when I realized what I had just done.
It seemed wrong to just leave Eli in the envelope he arrived in. I debated just having him appear for St. Nick Night just as another Christmas decoration for the kids to play with.
It was close to midnight when he found his place on the wood stove and I climbed into bed, still wrestling with what to do with the notorious elf.
Morning person that she is, my daughter bounded from her bed in the morning. “We have an elf on the shelf!” she cried in glee.
Still trying to wipe the sleep from my eyes, I asked her how she knew what it was. After all, she doesn’t go to preschool or daycare where other kids may have mentioned them… She looked at me like I was stupid and then said, “I heard you talk about it once.” (Kids are always listening!)
I read them the letter that accompanied the elf. There were tons of questions, which I wasn’t really sure how I wanted to answer. And that was it.
Until I caught her later that evening, showing the elf a picture of her and Santa from the year before…
Sigh.
So, now we have an elf. At least it’s just for a couple weeks. And then I have a whole year to struggle with whether or not the thing comes back.
Maybe next year I’ll be strong.
(Want to see what happened the next day? Read this post.)
Shared on Things I Can’t Say
J.S. says
If it gets too creepy, it can join a certain other doll….
OneMommy says
Thank you, honey… I’ll remember that!
Ashley Ellis says
OH! I caved this year as well! My oldest is ten and I worry I don’t have too many years that a threat of “he’s reporting what he sees back to Santa” of a little stuffed elf will have much effect. I love all the ideas on Pinterest and have the best intentions. But. Yesterday, I threw “Thomas” into a basket of unfolded laundry when I realized he hadn’t moved and the kids were coming down the stairs. Good luck!
OneMommy says
The 5 year-old looked at me today after they found the elf had moved and asked if I moved it. At first I tried to let her think it happened on it’s own. But she was insistent and told me to “tell the truth.” When I told her I had, she was happy.
I’ve left it as a game that Santa left for us to play together each day to help remind them both to be good, and she seems a lot happier with that, and so am I. (I was kind of afraid she’d start to question the whole Santa thing if I didn’t fess up about the elf, and I”m not ready for my 5 year old to give up on that one.)
cindy says
I honestly think that all parents need a little help from time to time in their efforts to teach children self discipline. It doesn’t matter whether it comes from dad, grandma, Aunt Cathy, or the elf on the shelf. The important thing is that kids get into good behavior patterns. What starts as good behavior that stems from fear of the elf telling Santa when they behave badly develops into self discipline with practice. I personally think the elf on the shelf is a great idea 🙂 It isn’t a terrifying monster and it stays in place long enough to get kids into good behavior habits. With proper encouragement it could have a prolonged effect. I think the elf on the shelf is like any other tool parents have to work with their children…It can be good or bad depending on the child and how the parent implements it.
OneMommy says
I went to bed last night, still wrestling with the idea — wondering if I should move it or just let it stay in the same place. I did move it. And my daughter knew right away it was me. She likes the idea that the elf is there to remind her to be good, but I think the idea that it could move on it’s own was a bit much for her. My son? He has no idea how it moved. He just had fun looking for it.
Chris Carter says
Welcome aboard the crazy train of Elfish Land. I can’t give you hope for a few weeks of fun, but I can encourage you through as we moms must stick together!!! 🙂 Godspeed, dear friend. Godspeed.
OneMommy says
Thank you. LOL. Off to read your latest post about the elf.
My daughter knew the next day when it was moved something was amiss, and I told her the truth. Now it’s just a game she and I play… Not sure what the youngest thinks right now.
jen says
I don’t have little ones but the people that I do know that have and Elf run between thinking it’s a good idea to that it’s a chore to move each and every night. I guess if there is some lesson the kids could be taught by it then it may be worth it. good luck with it!
OneMommy says
My daughter was very suspicious when ours moved overnight, and I wound up telling her the truth — that I moved it. It takes off the guilt and so far means it’s just something I can have fun with hiding while they brush teeth at night so they can find him in the morning.
Kristen says
I can’t help it. I love our elf! He makes each morning so much fun for our girls. This morning he was tangled up in one of their boa constrictor stuffed animals and they giggled forever! I love the joy it brings them. It’s hard work to be creative but that is what Pinterest is for. 😉 Oh, and ours is not a tattle tale. Ours is just here to spread Christmas magic.
OneMommy says
I have to say I’ve been having fun being creative with ours… My daughter actually has been putting in ideas she’d like to see happen, lol.
Shell says
We don’t do the Elf here.
Just read your follow up- sounds like it worked out for the best!
OneMommy says
I think so! 🙂
OneMommy says
LOL — love it!
Heather says
My 6 year old loves the Elf – my 10 year old too. I am not sure if it helps them behave better. Honestly I don’t really think to use him when in the midst of discipline, but it is a fun holiday tradition!
Good luck with your Elf!
OneMommy says
My son loves to look for the elf each morning. He is a really good hunter when he wants to be! (I need to remember that next time he wants me to find his missing toys!)
OneMommy says
My son loves to look for the elf each morning. He is a really good hunter when he wants to be! (I need to remember that next time he wants me to find his missing toys!)