Being Pregnant
Is the Elf On Your Shelf?
After much deliberation, Jackson named his elf "Jack." Very creative, this one.
Thinking that Jackson was at the “right age” (is there ever really a right age for anything?) for Elf on a Shelf, my husband and I decided this was the year to do it.
So we ordered one and I waited with bated breath for the bum-kissing of my 3 and a half year old to begin. I thought certainly this child who understands the concept of Santa would be on HIS BEST behavior once he realized how this Elf on a Shelf works.
And, as per usual, I was wrong.
Our box arrived, we announced it to Jackson as though it were sent to us by Santa himself. He was interested, so we started to read the story. The first thing you are asked to do, only a few pages in to the book, is to give a name to your elf. This is when Jackson decided he wanted nothing to do with us and this gig.
In his superbly manipulative ways, my 3 and a half year old son, put off naming his elf until it was PAINFUL for us to be sitting on the couch with him, awaiting his decision. And he milked it for everything it was worth.
So we took a break. The elf went back in his box, the box went in the hall closet, and we decided to bring it back out when Jackson seemed interested in it again.
Which was never.
With some time and coaxing, we eventually got Jackson to decide on a name for his elf… Jack. An eye roll from me and a pat on the back from his dad, Jackson had skeptically invited Jack into our home for the holidays.
Turkey day arrived, and my mom shared an article from her local paper that she had found about Elf on a Shelf being on CBS Friday night. We went ahead and DVR-ed it thinking that Jackson may just come around to embracing this thing with the help of television.
C’mon, we all know that tv cures all.
And that’s exactly what happened. Something about seeing the entire concept in animated form with songs got Jackson excited about his Elf on a Shelf, and he has asked to watch “the story of Jack” numerous times since. He’s even talking to Jack more and genuinely enjoying having this little kiddie stalker around.
What do you think about Elf on a Shelf? Is there one gracing your house? Does it creep you out? Does it work? Will I finally get my bum-kissing from my kid for the next 3 + weeks?
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4 Comments
LisaUnfiltered commented on Nov 28 11 at 10:16 amAside from my kids not believing in Santa (that’s right, I’m the jerk who wants credit for all that we do for them at Christmas), CREEPY! I have a thing about dolls. I’m fine if my kids want dolls in the house, as long as they stay in their room. I don’t like painted-eyed humanoid toys, especially ones that you are supposed to talk to and that “magically” go to Santa and return. Nope. Nu-uh. Hope no one tries to give it to us.
Dana commented on Nov 28 11 at 12:39 pmDolls wig me out, so much so that both grandparents were expressly told NOT to buy dolls for any of our children. But the elf, good gracious, he’s cute as a button. My oldest named ours Bixbean when she was 3 and Dr. Seuss was in heavy rotation at the house. My children love him and start talking about his return to the house (always the morning after Thanksgiving) some time around the end of the summer. They adore him. The problem this year is that they adore him a little too much and now they’re competing to see who can wake up first to discover his new location.
erniebufflo commented on Nov 28 11 at 3:37 pmHe creeps me the eff out.
mybottlesup commented on Nov 28 11 at 3:47 pm@ERNIEBUFFLO- HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! fair enough.
@LISAUNFILTERED- you make a good point. do we give the idea of “santa” too much power?
@DANA- i don’t even have a proper response for you. your kids are just too smart. xoxoxo
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