We all were captivated by the story of the magical Elf on the Shelf. What a great idea of another way to bribe your children to behave an entire month before the holidays! I mean the threat of Santa watching never worked, so why not create another good behavior extortionist? I was lost in the pageantry of the Elf, it was so much fun coming up with different places for him to land every morning. And boy was he naughty!
The first year we did it, our three year old was super excited, but our baby was cognitively clueless. Last year though as Christmas drew near, it seemed like we all grew tired of the Elf named Chuckie (don’t ask) and all of his ridiculous mischief. Plus the kids weren’t behaving any better with the Elf leering in the distance. I was going to blame Chuckie for not doing his job, but really it’s our fault. They keep misbehaving, we don’t appropriately discipline, therefore they are spoiled rotten.
This week our five year old asked me about Chuckie coming after Thanksgiving, and I inwardly groaned thinking…’do I really have to keep up this charade for at least five more years?’
It’s bad enough we’ve lied about the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Clause, but a magical flying Elf too? Enough is enough!
So I began to ponder ways to rid our house of the creepy little Elf forever, and I think we’ve come up with five different ways to off the Elf on the Shelf. You may not agree with them, and before you send hate mail, please consider these are just suggestions of different tactics parents may employ if they too want to exterminate this tradition.
5 Ways to Off the Elf on the Shelf
- The Positive Praise Story – Chuckie was such a good little Elf that Santa promoted him and he’s now in charge of all the other elves. Hooray for Chuckie! So while he can’t fly and visit us anymore, he’s still sending in reports to Santa.
- The Elf Time-Out – Chuckie was so naughty last year taking bubble baths with Snow White, and eating all of our cookies, that Santa put him in time out indefinitely. So this year he isn’t allowed to fly to us, but Santa still loves you and is watching.
- The Shortage – Perhaps elves use pixie dust to fly back and forth to the North Pole and there’s a shortage in Pixie Hollow? Or maybe the world’s impending chocolate shortage, that the elves need to consume to fly, has caused a no fly zone? Or could it be the helium crisis, which fuels the elves, is keeping them all grounded this year? Use your imagination folks… if you already introduced the elf, the sky is the limit for lies to destroy them.
- The Cold & Heartless Method – If you want to use horrific guilt, in the throes of the next tantrum shout, “That’s it, your behavior is awful. I’m writing Santa and telling him no more elf!” Boom, gone forever.
- Elfie Got Run Over By a Reindeer – This could be the meanest thing ever, but you could always sing, “Elfie got run over by a reindeer!” and stage your first funeral. Or just feed him to the neighborhood vicious Rottweiler. (Again, just a suggestion.)
And if you choose to continue this holiday charade, I mean tradition, have fun looking for ideas on Pinterest! I’ll instead be watching Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving Night, and smiling because no, I don’t have to see that freaky little face ever again.
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YES! I love this so much! It’s the #ElfFreeHome revolution!
LOVE the hashtag Echo! I’ll use it on twitter!
So…. which one are you going with?? You’re making me happy that I never started the Elf. He’s creepy anyway.
Since we have had so many tantrums lately the cold and heartless method was effective. Oops!
OMG – PRICELESS. You are so creative my friend. We have TWO elves who have been making an appearance for probably 4 years now. We started with one elf but the next year, the kids decided that Avery needed an elf to visit her family when they get older. They each see their respective elves staying with them for their children. I honestly couldn’t resist that logic. I am a sucker for tradition.
I know Tara -so am I! And I had so many cute ideas for Chuckie this year….but I can’t keep up! ANd as you said in one of your awesome quotes, when things don’t add up start subtracting!
I thought Jingle Bell was gone last year when the kids decided he needed to stay. But noooo. He’s going back this week. They’re only little for a bit, so I guess he can stay.
Good point Jeanni – it does go by fast!
haha!! #5!! That is hilarious.
I told you I’d come and read this! I just get sick of all the debates about them on Facebook and in the news. Do them or don’t – but don’t spend so much time defending yourself!!
Now in your case, you actually provided tips. Way cool.
We never started one so we don’t have to quit one.. yet. But I’m keeping this link in mind.
No debate here Tamara! Do it – don’t do it…whatever floats your boat. But if you’re tired of him (or her)…you are now armed with 5 different ways to off the elf!!
This cracked me up! The Elf on the Shelf didn’t come out until my kids were older. I was a little jealous of parents getting to come up with cool ideas for the Elf every night. I guess a month of doing this every would drive me batty too! You have to let us know what you decide to do!
Haha! Someone gave us an Elf and so i did it for a few years and it’s just kind of creepy, but my kids like it and the olders now are responsible for moving him. Whew, I really stank at that job!
OMG you are so lucky to have older kids to help!
I think my toddlers are too young to get this..so we’ll do without this year..maybe next…seems kinda stressful though to have to come up with new ideas to keep it going!! eek!!
Last year I wrote my own post, “Yes. It is True I Hate Elf on the Shelf.” I love this. My situation isn’t so easy since I am the stepmom, but oh I can fantasize…
I have to READ it! I didn’t know so many people loathed the concept of the elf!
Haha I am happy to see there are more than I thought! Here is my post from last year:
http://lifeofatravelingnavywife.com/2013/12/yes-its-true-i-hate-elf-on-shelf/
Oh my gosh TOO FREAKIN’ FUNNY!! I’m going to have to keep these tips in my back pocket 🙂 We were a little late in the elf revolution, we “adopted” last year. I thought the little elf would help bring joy {and good behavior} during our transition from IL to SC. We spent last Christmas in corporate housing, my husband’s company relocated us. We were in a small apartment, so I needed all the help I could get, yes I thought a magical elf would help, actually he kinda did 🙂
The littles are asking when he’s coming back. However, we all forgot his name 😀
XOXO
Well you are now armed with ways to banish him forever…if you choose!
NEVER. DID. IT. and not planning to start! I have enough to do much less moving elves in 3 bedrooms every night. And we are such Scrooges, our kids don’t believe in Santa either (even though we read stories, etc.) I know–sounds heartless-but our kids really do have a good Christmas; they just thank us and grandparents for their gifts and not Santa :).
I wish I would have never introduced Santa either – well done Tammy!
I applaud you! I never had Santa and I am so grateful my parents were honest about it. My siblings and I turned out just fine. 😉 For the most part…
totally get it. he does bug. but it works for us over here. y’know i just feel like they’re only young once and the “magic” will be gone soon enough… harsh reality sets in fast. we can all use a little more wonder in our lives – and if that PITA elf can provide it. so be it.
I hear you Nicole – and we do Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc. But working and my husband travelling…it just gets to be too much. We’ll see if we actually follow through with it.
I had never heard of this until a few years ago. By then our kids were to old to put this in the tradition box. So glad. It would give me nightmares. I clean all day then would have to make a mess? I pass.
This is the BEST! Thankfully I never went too overboard with our Elf, so it’s not that big of a deal to me. (and it definitely worked for our oldest last year) Someday I’ll be coming back to this post, though…….
I never understood why the elf gets to be naughty… he doesn’t set a very good example. Lived this post, it gave me a good smile.
Oh gosh, we do the elf, and it creeps me out. I wish I could off it, but my daughter would cry.
Ours hasn’t asked for it…yet. But I did mention a few weeks ago that he probably wasn’t coming. We’ll see…..
Based on this post, you seem creative enough to provide your kids plenty of other entertainment options aside from Elf on the Shelf. 🙂
Ha let’s hope so! They were asking about Elfie this morning…hoping the kids at school don’t yap about hteir elves everyday!
The tooth fairy has been late to our house a few times – my kids seem to accept the idea that sometimes she gets a little over scheduled and can’t get to every house. They are probably very used to that concept.
So, I have been thinking of ways as well…with all the adds on TV and having them available in toy stores. I am thinking that when it comes time, I will have our Elf and Santa send a letter with the Elf on Christmas eve. This letter will tell my daughter that because she is growing up,such a big girl, and such a good girl, that Santa decided to make the Elf into a toy doll for her to keep forever, so the real Elf can go watch over another little kid. passing the baton I suppose, but she gets to keep the elf. Hoping that will work???
I think it’s brilliant! THat way she can actually touch the doll…way to go mama!
Priceless! I shared this on Science of Parenthood.
THANK YOU!!
My 6 year old asked where our elf was just today. Sigh, he’s in the attic. I hate the elf since I work nights I always forget to move him when I get home and just want to crawl into bed, but in the spirit of the holiday I told my son that he was so bad lately the elf won’t be back. Or he might, it just depends on the kids behavior.
I did the same thing! How about bringing the elf down with a note that he’s so busy this year so he can only come a few times – but he’s always watching from teh north pole? Then you only have to do it 4-5 times?
This is exactly why I NEVER got an Elf. Like I need ONE more thing to keep up with! (or screw up!) HA!
Right? Good MOVE!
Okay, I do not partake in this but oh my goodness did I ever laugh at this! Ha! Hilarious.
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop)!
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Thanks for having me! And yes – sometimes it’s fun to get silly!
Oh man I love this, especially Chuckie getting run over by a reindeer. Totally made me giggle this morning. Thank you 😉
This is super cute. We have two elves, Percy & Sheldon, and they will soon be returning to create mischief all over the house. My four year old loves it! I have to admit I got into it too 🙂 Happy Friday!
I never did the elf. And I think #5 is funny.
We got an elf when all the cousins (same age as my kids) got one. I am so sorry that I ever did it!
{marches out to check for ideas on Pinterest}
I love this. we were actually thinking about doing it this year because I seen on facebook that your a crappy parent if you don’t and I’m all like crap I suck at being a parent anyways I dont need to suck anymore. I may rethink this whole thing.
This is hilarious! Luckily I didn’t get the elf on the shelf when it first came out, then I saw how much work they were and there was no way I was adding that to my holiday to-do list. But now I wish I would have just so I could off him 🙂
I love this. You’re hilarious! (personally, I find the elf creepy too… but the photos people post online of his shenanigans are entertaining!)
just kiding thats why my name has kid in it like kidding