Why I hate Elf on the Shelf: Charlie O'Brien family blog
I have a feeling this blog is going to make me very unpopular!
But I’ve got to say it - I hate Elf on the Shelf!
It’s not a thing I intend to introduce to our household – but if I succumb to pressure in years to come, you have permission to remind me of this blog. And mock me.
So why am I not a fan of the little red suited doll? Here's why...
It’s creepy: If you’re going to design an elf to live in millions of homes around the world – at least make it cute! It's the stuff of Christmas nightmares. Those beady little eyes watching your every move from the mantelpiece.
It’s a tradition created to make someone A LOT of money: I’m a sucker for a Christmas tradition. Like my mum, nan and I partaking in a Cinzano with a cherry every Christmas morning. Like the aged aunt (who wasn’t actually an aunt) that we visited every Christmas Eve as children because she had no family. THEY are traditions. The rituals and funny little ways families develop over generations. Not a creepy plastic doll that retails at almost £30.
It’s sending a weird message to kids: OK, I feel a little bit hypocritical about this one, given that my husband told our son this week that Father Christmas is watching through our house alarm sensor. But is it really such a good idea to tell children that the only reason to behave is because an elf is watching them? OK I’m feeling slightly guilty about the alarm sensor thing, so I think I’ll move on from this point!
Parental pressure: There is SO much pressure on parents at Christmas, especially in the age of social media. Pressure to spend enough, to buy a huge pile of presents. Pressure to make Christmas Eve boxes, have colourco-ordinated trees and matching Christmas pyjamas. The creepy elf is just one more thing to add to the list and quite frankly who has time to keep coming up with cheeky, ingenious ways for their children to find their elf in the morning?! Not me.
The Facebook posts: I saw a message the other day saying “no one wants to see your Elf on the Shelf people!” Enough said. And yes I know people probably don’t want to see endless pics of my cute newborn either!
Charlie x
If you DO want to see my cute newborn - follow me on Instagram here
