My response to those Elf-Haters!
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Christmas
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I have seen lots of blogs lately with parents ‘dissing’ the Elf! Apparently, he brings out the worst in us and our children, creating competitive mums, spoilt kids and one more stress that nobody really needs.Well I am here to disagree!
I have lots of friends who have an Elf that visits in December, most of them more creative than I with their ideas and regularly creating new ideas which I haven’t found yet on Pinterest! And yes, I admit to the odd glint of ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ when I see a particularly brilliant Elf idea. So I guess there is some element of competition, but only in that I want to give my children the very best memories possible, the best laughs and the most amount of fun. It’s not competition as such, it’s more respect for other another parent’s efforts. And yes, I steal their ideas and quite happily credit them for it in the process.
As to spoilt kids: Yes, Jingles, brings my children the odd gift, a jar of Nutella with their names on being the highlight so far this year, but these are token gifts which I would give them as a treat every once in a while in any event. The Elf doesn’t have to bring gifts – the primary point of it as far as I understand it is to bring fun. And fun costs nothing except a bit of time in setting it up (and a bit more time cleaning it all up!).
In terms of the stress, yes, I admit that often, at around 11pm I do mutter some not so pleasant words that I have got to go and ‘do’ the Elf. But I have all the ideas and bits and pieces planned in advance and honestly, how hard is it to take the star off the top of the tree and put the Elf in it’s place for those days when you are really not in the mood.
If the Elf is not your thing, I get that, that’s fine. Everyone makes their own memories in their own way and there is absolutely no need whatsoever for an Elf in every child’s life. But me, I love the Elf. I love the fun and memories he brings. I loved sneaking ours to Santa on our recent visit to LaplandUK and watching the amazed faces of all 3 of my children when FC pulled Jingles out of his sack. I loved the nearly hysterical giggles of my children when Jingles wrapped up the door to the playroom last year. And I can’t wait to see their faces when I get round to putting googley eyes on everything in the fridge this weekend!
For me, the Elf is not weird or odd, he is not the greatest of hassles, and he does not promote greed (in fact I have a friend this year whose Elf sets a kindness task every day for her children to complete, promoting quite the opposite). For me, the Elf is nothing more than a tool. A tool to create magic, laughter and memories.
Happy Christmas
Love Jingles!
I have lots of friends who have an Elf that visits in December, most of them more creative than I with their ideas and regularly creating new ideas which I haven’t found yet on Pinterest! And yes, I admit to the odd glint of ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ when I see a particularly brilliant Elf idea. So I guess there is some element of competition, but only in that I want to give my children the very best memories possible, the best laughs and the most amount of fun. It’s not competition as such, it’s more respect for other another parent’s efforts. And yes, I steal their ideas and quite happily credit them for it in the process.
As to spoilt kids: Yes, Jingles, brings my children the odd gift, a jar of Nutella with their names on being the highlight so far this year, but these are token gifts which I would give them as a treat every once in a while in any event. The Elf doesn’t have to bring gifts – the primary point of it as far as I understand it is to bring fun. And fun costs nothing except a bit of time in setting it up (and a bit more time cleaning it all up!).
In terms of the stress, yes, I admit that often, at around 11pm I do mutter some not so pleasant words that I have got to go and ‘do’ the Elf. But I have all the ideas and bits and pieces planned in advance and honestly, how hard is it to take the star off the top of the tree and put the Elf in it’s place for those days when you are really not in the mood.
If the Elf is not your thing, I get that, that’s fine. Everyone makes their own memories in their own way and there is absolutely no need whatsoever for an Elf in every child’s life. But me, I love the Elf. I love the fun and memories he brings. I loved sneaking ours to Santa on our recent visit to LaplandUK and watching the amazed faces of all 3 of my children when FC pulled Jingles out of his sack. I loved the nearly hysterical giggles of my children when Jingles wrapped up the door to the playroom last year. And I can’t wait to see their faces when I get round to putting googley eyes on everything in the fridge this weekend!
For me, the Elf is not weird or odd, he is not the greatest of hassles, and he does not promote greed (in fact I have a friend this year whose Elf sets a kindness task every day for her children to complete, promoting quite the opposite). For me, the Elf is nothing more than a tool. A tool to create magic, laughter and memories.
Happy Christmas
Love Jingles!
