Elf on a Shelf put a spy in every child's home to see if they are naughty or nice.
The strangest holiday tradition that marketing has drummed up in recent years is the “Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition.”
For the uninitiated, the 2005 self-published book tells the story of how Santa finds out if girls and boys have been naughty or nice.
Basically, he sends an elf to each home to spy on the children.
The book comes with a small elf doll, which the children name, to hang out in their home starting sometime after Thanksgiving.
The elf watches what happens and uses magic to go to the North Pole each night to give a report then returns to a different spot by morning.
My mother graciously gave my children this elf/book package, and we’ve been faithful to its rules.
At first, it was a hit, particularly for my 5-year-old daughter.
Then, reality sunk in.
“Mom, we need to get that elf away,” she said.
“Why? He doesn’t hurt anything,” I said.
“What if I’m naughty? He’ll tell Santa, and I won’t get anything for Christmas,” she said.
“Then, don’t be naughty,” I said.
“I still think he still needs to go,” she said.
She got over her worries and is back to searching for the small doll every morning.
Skipper, the name of our elf, has been found in a martini glass, hanging by doorknobs, watching television, relaxing in a bathtub and reaching for food in the pantry.
After the conversation with my daughter, a friend of mine – Stephanie Ingersoll – wrote about her elf idea from last year.
It’s a much nicer version that keeps the elf moving each night.
She wrote a letter to her daughter from Santa, who asked her to watch the “mischievous elf” so she could teach him to be a good self since “she was such a good girl.”
My very talented fellow mother made an elf out of felt, pipe cleaners and wood beads.
For next year, I may try that route to ease any childhood stress.
Then again, if my daughter does cut down the naughty behavior, maybe this elf thing will work after all.
