Any other parents, besides me, doing this somewhat odd holiday tradition this year?

that just sounds so naughty.

XxAxX said:

that just sounds so naughty.

No but is an odd thing to add to the holiday season.

Basically you sit a toy elf (ours is named Chris) at various points throughout the house, changing his location each night. He is Santa's "eyes and ears", an observer of all behaviors naughty and nice, and children cannot touch him or he will fly away for good. There is a real creepy kind of home surveilance feel to the whole thing.

The elf, by the way, is about 4 inches tall and comes ina book that you are supposed to read but I don't think anyone actually does. Retal value: $29.95.

[Edited 11/30/12 10:21am]

GottaLetitgo said:

XxAxX said:

that just sounds so naughty.

No but is an odd thing to add to the holiday season.

Basically you sit a toy elf (ours is named Chris) at various points throughout the house, changing his location each night. He is Santa's "eyes and ears", an observer of all behaviors naughty and nice, and children cannot touch him or he will fly away for good. There is a real creepy kind of home surveilance feel to the whole thing.

The elf, by the way, is about 4 inches tall and comes ina book that you are supposed to read but I don't think anyone actually does. Retal value: $29.95.

[Edited 11/30/12 10:21am]

Seriously?

That's really creepy!!!

And aren't kids pretty much too smart for that kinda thing nowadays?

CarrieMpls said:

GottaLetitgo said:

No but is an odd thing to add to the holiday season.

Basically you sit a toy elf (ours is named Chris) at various points throughout the house, changing his location each night. He is Santa's "eyes and ears", an observer of all behaviors naughty and nice, and children cannot touch him or he will fly away for good. There is a real creepy kind of home surveilance feel to the whole thing.

The elf, by the way, is about 4 inches tall and comes ina book that you are supposed to read but I don't think anyone actually does. Retal value: $29.95.

[Edited 11/30/12 10:21am]

Seriously?

That's really creepy!!!

And aren't kids pretty much too smart for that kinda thing nowadays?

Yeah my first thought was that it's a little on the creepy side.

My kids would probably find a way to throw a blanket or something over him.

Not doing it. It's not a tradition in my family at all, past or present that I know of.

It just seems like a real waste of time and energy during an already hectic holiday season.

I will say though, I've seen some Elf on the Shelf ideas on Pinterest and they are funny.

CarrieMpls said:

Seriously?

That's really creepy!!!

And aren't kids pretty much too smart for that kinda thing nowadays?

Actually this is hugely popular. And it allows children to believe in the magic of Christmas.

Or it teaches them that stalking is okay.

Ok, I'm scarring my children for life, aren't I?

GottaLetitgo said:

CarrieMpls said:

Seriously?

That's really creepy!!!

And aren't kids pretty much too smart for that kinda thing nowadays?

Actually this is hugely popular. And it allows children to believe in the magic of Christmas.

Or it teaches them that stalking is okay.

Ok, I'm scarring my children for life, aren't I?

I should not do anything ever before I run it by the Org.

Damn my independent thinking...

GottaLetitgo said:

I should not do anything ever before I run it by the Org.

Damn my independent thinking...

My sister does it. Her kids are 4 (twins), 6 and 9. The twins and the 6 year old love it and that's the first thing they do every morning is look for the elf.

Our daughter used to get an elf each year. I'd write these cool letters of introduction for them.

Adria said:

My sister does it. Her kids are 4 (twins), 6 and 9. The twins and the 6 year old love it and that's the first thing they do every morning is look for the elf.

This morning was the first morning that we brought it out (we just started the tradition last year) and my girls were so excited. To them it meant that Christmas was really here, you know, and inevitably both of them behaved better this morning.

But I see the side of those who think it's some bizarro form of behavior modification.

Their cousins and a lot of their friends had elves. It's peer pressure, damn it!

RodeoSchro said:

Our daughter used to get an elf each year. I'd write these cool letters of introduction for them.

This is why I'd make SUCH an average parent. I'd never consider doing something like that. It all just sounds like a lot of work.

I'm far too non-whimsical to have kids.

GottaLetitgo said:

Adria said:

My sister does it. Her kids are 4 (twins), 6 and 9. The twins and the 6 year old love it and that's the first thing they do every morning is look for the elf.

This morning was the first morning that we brought it out (we just started the tradition last year) and my girls were so excited. To them it meant that Christmas was really here, you know, and inevitably both of them behaved better this morning.

But I see the side of those who think it's some bizarro form of behavior modification.

Their cousins and a lot of their friends had elves. It's peer pressure, damn it!

You know that we're kidding right?

It actually sounds cool.

The ex used to do the Twelve Days of Christmas thing with a wooden calendar in the shape of a house, and she'd put candies in there for each day.

PurpleJedi said:

GottaLetitgo said:

This morning was the first morning that we brought it out (we just started the tradition last year) and my girls were so excited. To them it meant that Christmas was really here, you know, and inevitably both of them behaved better this morning.

But I see the side of those who think it's some bizarro form of behavior modification.

Their cousins and a lot of their friends had elves. It's peer pressure, damn it!

You know that we're kidding right?

It actually sounds cool.

The ex used to do the Twelve Days of Christmas thing with a wooden calendar in the shape of a house, and she'd put candies in there for each day.

I know. I am not as angst ridden as I sound. The girls enjoy it but it is odd.

Full disclosure: I do enjoy hiding the thing, finding a new creative place to put Chris each morning. I try to put myself in the mind of the elf...if I were a magical creature sent by Santa on a recon mission where would I best position myself.

Fuller disclosure: Chris is actually Chris II as we lost the elf from last year and had to go out to B and N and purchase the book and elf AGAIN and make sure we got the brown eyed one and not the blue eyed one because Chris I had brown eyes.

GottaLetitgo said:

Full disclosure: I do enjoy hiding the thing, finding a new creative place to put Chris each morning. I try to put myself in the mind of the elf...if I were a magical creature sent by Santa on a recon mission where would I best position myself.

Fuller disclosure: Chris is actually Chris II as we lost the elf from last year and had to go out to B and N and purchase the book and elf AGAIN and make sure we got the brown eyed one and not the blue eyed one because Chris I had brown eyes.

Look on pinterest, if you haven't already. They have websites dedicated to EotS ideas.

Just wrong

I just got home from work at B&N...

I sold a few tonight.

They are really popular. There are a boy and a girl, and they come in "dark skinned".

The woman who bought the last one that I sold (@ 10:00) got it because her son was crying for it.