I gave in this year and jumped on the "Elf on the Shelf" bandwagon. Which is funny considering I started to see this little elf-thingy pop up on my social media feeds (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) a couple of years ago and had NO idea what it was. I actually thought it was a really old tradition that I had never heard of and while it looked cute, I moved on and didn't think much more about it.
Then there was last year. Oh my goodness. It. Was. Everywhere. Due to a severe case of FOMO (fear of missing out), I decided to do some investigating. I started asking around, trying to figure out what all the cool kids were doing.
A friend told me that it's a newer thing and it's a set you buy: a book (that explains the story) and an elf. She also warned me that it's a whole production. The elf watches the kids. Makes sure they are good and reports to Santa nightly. Then returns in a new spot in the house the next morning. (Oh, and the rules! Do NOT touch that elf...it will take away the magic!)
Well, I thought, that's cute enough. And I'm certainly not above using bribery to (attempt to) make my kids behave.
So last year, on December 26, I took a little trip to Target. I thought maybe I could find one and maybe, just maybe, it would even be on sale since it was the day after Christmas.
But, no. It was not on sale and I was shocked to see the price. $29.95!
Before I continue, I am NOT judging you if you bought one at that price. I just had a hard time coming to terms with this new "tradition" I kept seeing pop up everywhere and the pressure I was feeling to participate (granted, of my own doing--certainly no one was forcing me to join in). Then, when I finally found this magical elf just to see the marketing machine hard at work, well, I felt a little disappointed. I decided it was just too expensive, for me.
So, that was that. We would not be participating. I was mostly ok with it. But I felt a little upset. Mainly because I really, really, really appreciate ANYTHING I can use to bribe my kids. ANY. LITTLE. THING.
Then a crazy thing happened! I went to a Barnes and Noble and there were the elves. For sale. $7. No book, but at least an elf.
I snatched one up, returned home and packed it away. Maybe I could make this work after all.
Fast forward to a few weeks before Thanksgiving and on a whim I posted to some online garage sale sites that I was in search of an Elf on the Shelf book. Just the book, no elf. And a day later a woman posted that she had one and I could have it. $3.
$3! So, if you're keeping score, that means I got the Elf on the Shelf book and elf for $10, total. I was feeling pretty proud of myself.
Until 2 things happened.
1. My kids were absolutely petrified of her (Sparkles) at first.
2. I realized my elf wasn't the "official" elf and started to have some insecurities about that...which I quickly got over because, come on. $7. Winning.
My kids lost their fear by the next morning, but that first day was pretty funny. After they refused to walk or stand by where I had placed her she had landed for the day, my daughter asked, "Is it real or a stuffed animal? Will it stay in the living room?" At bedtime she added, "Make sure my door is closed." And my son kept saying, "I scared. It scary."
So I wrote a note Sparkles wrote a note (due to the wonderful advice of a good friend) and the next morning everything was forgotten. They were excited. It was a new thing--and they loved the hunt each morning. Where would she be? 
All was well in the world.
Until 2 more things happened.
1. I kept forgetting to find a new place before I went to bed and would wake up in a panic.
2. I started seeing all the "Why We Don't do the Elf on the Shelf" and "Participating in Elf on the Shelf is Ruining Your Child" or "Elf on the Shelf: The Worst Thing in the World and You Should be Angry About It" articles/blog posts. (*I may have embellished one, or more, of the titles.)
So, with any "cool new thing" the critics eventually enter with lots to say. I could link up to an article that explained all that is wrong with this "tradition" and do a point-counterpoint approach, but I don't have time for that. Because you know what?
Elf on the Shelf isn't for everyone. I have no desire to try to convince you that it is. You know your family, your kids. You know yourself. And trust me--if you have a hard time remembering to do something everyday, especially at night, then you might not want to do this. I wasn't joking when I wrote that I kept forgetting. I forgot more than I remembered.
Furthermore, I really don't think this is a topic that warrants a point-counterpoint article.
Because, you know, it's a toy.
But I will say this. My kids loved it. They jumped out of bed each morning saying "I wonder where Sparkles will be today? Let's see if we can find her!" And they'd go together on a great hunt.
It made me so happy to see them excited and working together to find the elf. When my daughter was at her sickest she still wanted to find Sparkles. Which caused me to do some quick thinking because I, of course, forgot to move her and she went right to the old spot before I could adjust. I improvised and said she was so worried about E that she stayed the whole night and will be reporting to Santa that night. I think it worked, she didn't ask again. But then again, she was really sick. I could have probably said anything & she wouldn't have cared.
The moral of the story: Elf on the Shelf was fun. I'll probably do it again--or be forced to, since I introduced this new tradition to them...and because Grandma got Sparkles a Christmas present: some new clothes and a pet (yes, apparently the little elf gets a reindeer) for next year. The kids are already talking about giving her the gifts. 
But I'm not complaining. Seeing the joy on their faces each morning made any middle of the night scramble well worth it.
{P.S. If you like reading about my holiday craziness, check out the first time we visited a tree farm for our Christmas tree or all our picture-perfect visits to Santa over the years.}
xo Sara
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