Last year, my son (who was 9 at the time) decided the Elf on the Shelf wasn’t real when he had a friend over. He touched it, picked it up, threw it on the floor, and then taped it to a robot vacuum. My youngest saw it and laughed, and I thought, “Finally, no one believes in this annoying elf anymore.” So, Pinecone the elf disappeared after that. This December, my youngest asked if the elf would be coming back, and I told her no—pretty sure her brother had permanently “killed” him. Honestly, I don’t even feel guilty because the holiday season has been so much less stressful without it. To all the parents out there: don’t get caught up in the Elf on the Shelf. It can become the bane of your existence for years.
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Once my daughter realized her elf wasn’t real, she asked if she could still set it up every year. So now, she interacts with it as much or as little as she wants each holiday season.
One time, I hid the elf in the oven, and no one noticed him that morning, so I completely forgot he was there. Later, as I was preheating the oven to bake cookies, the smell of burning plastic filled the room. Elfie the Elf was only slightly melted. The next morning, my six-year-old found him and said, “Ooof, Elfie had a rough night.” 😂
He hasn’t been seen since, and no one asks about him anymore—it’s understood that he suffered some serious injuries.
The Elf is a lot of work, and definitely a big undertaking. I understand and respect your position.
That said, my kiddo will be 14 this coming Christmas and the Elf will be back Dec 1 regardless. My child is mature for their age in most ways but loves the tradition our family has with the Elf even tho they know it is me behind the antics and little gifts/treats. Our Elf has been on a cruise ship and two other vacations taken over the holidays, and I already know that our Elf will be arriving at a college dorm somewhere on Dec 1, 2029.
Long live the Elves of those who love keeping the magic of Christmas alive. And may the souls of the dearly departed Elves live on to give joy to the next generation of kiddos.