So the wife put out this elf on the shelf thing. She got it on clearance after last christmas and put it away with the decorations. I think she probably told me the deal with it, but I probably wasn't listening, plus, that's a year ago. Girls....what I needa know?
Basically the concept is this creepy elf quietly sits on the shelf during the day, watching your kids. He then reports back to Santa at night whether or not the kids behaved. The elf is supposed to move spots each night. Just a new threat to try and encourage good behavior.
Where parents went wrong is someone got the idea that maybe this elf gets into mischief when he comes back after reporting to Santa. So every night parents try to come up with ideas like have the elf zip-line from the kitchen cabinets to the sink or take a bath in the bathroom sink with marshmallows, or make snow angels in flour on the counter. Fun memories for the kiddos you know.
To be honest, I didn't need the added stress of one more thing to do during the holiday season so I never got one. Then a couple years ago our oldest decided our house needed an elf, so she drew one on paper and moved it around (she was about 9 and knew the whole Santa gig). Last year a stuffed animal became the elf, and is back this year. She is 100% in charge of it, but so far has needed some help. Which I am again not wanting to deal with.
anyway, some people love the elf. I hate him.
There are whole websites/blogs/Pinterest boards dedicated to ideas for the elf. Good luck, have as much fun as you want to with it.
