https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 07:17:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf/page/2#post-2921464 Sun, 13 Dec 2020 10:56:40 +0000 bakingdoodle 2921464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just got the dreaded question from my daughter. I think it came because we facetimed with my friend and her son ... and she asked my DD... what's on your Santa's list? We don't do Santa AT ALL because my husband is super against it. I love Christmas because I get to see my family ( they are in Canada so we can't see them right now). So this morning, DD said... you know what I want to ask Santa??? We don't have an Elf like my friends at school. So I said... we don't need an elf, we will bake elves cookies. She got super excited about putting mini chocolate chip as the eyes of the elves... and the conversation ended. this is a WIN for me! (my theory was applied successfully! yay!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf/page/2#post-2667603 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 16:33:05 +0000 Alexandra603 2667603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just say - that's not something we do. we have other christmas traditions like.... I also don't feel any obligation to uphold the story about how the elf is real or whatever. If my kid was asking more about it, I would just say, "it's fun to pretend and something some families do to celebrate and have fun at Christmas but it's just a story." I don't think we have to create these elaborate lies for our children to have a magical christmas season. That said, I'm also not super against it and think a lot of the things I've seen the elf get into on my friends facebook pages are funny. To each their own! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf/page/2#post-2667099 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 19:48:52 +0000 azjax 2667099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah we're not doing that. Christmas isn't about "gimme gimme" in our home and proper behavior isn't about whether or not someone is observing you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf/page/2#post-2666952 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 23:46:51 +0000 ALV91711 2666952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never thought about DS asking about having an elf. It is not something I plan on doing. I don't have the desire or interest, I'd just rather email Santa directly!</p> <p>DH asked me about it last year. I told him I thought it was creepy but if it was something he wanted to do then he could buy it and go ahead and do it. He hasn't spoken of it again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666901 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 18:58:11 +0000 maddyz 2666901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to look it up, it's not a thing i grew up with.</p> <p>what @SARAC said was how i felt reading about it. i dont really like the be good or that comes with santa already. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666830 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 11:16:15 +0000 keychain 2666830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: This is the best answer I've seen! "I have Santa's direct email address" -- Love it!! Plus, this way LO won't tell her friends "she doesn't need an elf, because she behaves" or anything like that. Thanks for the great tip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666719 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 17:44:55 +0000 mrswin 2666719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This popped up on my Facebook mommies group tonight and I had a good chuckle. Thought some of you ladies might appreciate it! </p> [attach=1414/16/oiav6w.337x600.IMG_2044.PNG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666537 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 12:56:38 +0000 mediagirl 2666537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: seriously. I remember one year when I was a complete a** to my parents right before Christmas. Christmas still happened. It's not Santa or nothing in our house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666501 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 11:48:07 +0000 cascademom 2666501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Awesome reply to that answer. We can email Santa and tell him how good he's been.</p> <p>They're doing Elf on the Shelf at preschool. I'm fine with that. I don't like the Elf on the Shelf and don't have time for scenes. I'm forever impressed with those that have the time to do it. Busy Phillips IG is great this time of year for her dedication to it. Sarah Michelle Gellar rocks it to for her kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666484 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 11:21:06 +0000 travellingbee 2666484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: I LOLed at that! Yeah, we definitely are never doing the damn elf. One more thing pushed on us by retail and Pinterest. No thanks. We don't do the whole, Santa only brings presents to good kids thing either because does that mean less fortunate kids were naughty?? Also, I fully plan to have Christmas whether my 3 year old throws a tantrum one day in December or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666440 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 10:30:11 +0000 BlueWolverine 2666440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD's day care has one. Her name is Sweetie. They do it a school and now I don't have to do it at home (not that I would anyway.). Yeah! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666416 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 10:01:52 +0000 catomd00 2666416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one because someone gave it to us as a gift, but it's just a regular toy in our house. We won't ever have one because I'm not a fan of the naughty/nice concept and bribing our kids to behave. We also aren't necessarily planning to do Santa either though, we will see how DD1 goes about it when she's a little older. So far she doesn't really mention him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666391 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 09:49:22 +0000 mediagirl 2666391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: ha, last night I stole an idea from @looch and told her I had Santa's email address and could keep in touch with him that way. I obviously had to email him our new address since we moved this year. ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666388 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 09:47:17 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2666388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>El came home this week asking, "What's our elf's name?" I just kept saying, "Elf? Not sure what elf you're talking about buddy. I guess we don't have one." They must have been talking about the blasted thing at school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666297 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 02:23:28 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2666297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank goodness this isn't a thing here. I actually like the idea, but I hate the commitment involved. There's way too many things going on for Christmas already. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666243 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:54:09 +0000 sarac 2666243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would tell my child that I find the idea of normalizing constant surveillance creepy as hell. Also, that I have better things to do with my time. But if she was really into it, I'd find a way to do it that wasn't so weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666236 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:30:55 +0000 Greentea 2666236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no interest in having one, personally. I gather the concept is a Santa helper to report on behavior? I guess I'm more for intrinsic motivation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666234 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:27:54 +0000 ShootingStar 2666234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: 😂 Love this answer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666210 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 20:44:42 +0000 skipra 2666210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man I use the threat of the elf to get the kids to behave. I tell them that if they don't we will have to get a creepy elf that will watch them all the time and report back to Santa. I totally play up the creepy factor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666207 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 20:39:01 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2666207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been getting this on and off the past week from DS. He has one at school and I guess his friends have been talking about their elves. I just told him that we won't always have what others have, and they may not have what we do. He kind of grumbled at that but accepted it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666192 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 20:23:46 +0000 caterw 2666192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Woolly Mammoth: lol that teacher is a genius! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666149 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 18:54:14 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2666149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO's preschool teacher says the answer to hard questions from kids is "What do you think?" :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666126 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 18:00:58 +0000 lemondrop 2666126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm too lazy to initiate this, if I can avoid one more thing between now and Christmas, the happier I am. But I really do like @looch: 's explanation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2666096 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:19:44 +0000 Cherrybee 2666096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You could say:</p> <p>- You do have an elf watching, he's just shy and prefers to hide (so he gets a better view all around the house) </p> <p>- You don't need a elf because your LO is really good (they only send Elves to children who might do naughty stuff) </p> <p>- You have a hotline to Santa so you don't need an elf</p> <p>- Not everyone gets an elf, it's just one of those things.</p> <p>FWIW, we have an elf but he only does good, helpful things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2665958 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:07:11 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2665958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yea we dont do Elf. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2665952 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:00:12 +0000 youboots 2665952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's counter productive to have a naughty figure to tell kids to be good. Plus I'm not really into pushing Santa so the whole concept is not for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2665951 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:59:50 +0000 NorthStar 2665951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: LOLOLOL - perfect answer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2665948 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:57:45 +0000 lawbee11 2665948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just not a fan of the idea. We already do SO much around this time of year (holiday events, parties, exchanging gifts, etc.) that I just think it's too much. We don't do an advent calendar for the same reason. I think Christmas is magical without those things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2665944 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:56:08 +0000 looch 2665944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son asked why we don't have an Elf and I told him that I don't need an Elf to watch and report to Santa if he's (my son) been good or not, I have a direct email address for Santa.</p> <p>I cut out the middle man and my son accepts it, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-dont-we-have-an-elf#post-2665940 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:53:30 +0000 JerricaBenton 2665940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do the elf - but it's definitely been a big topic of discussion at preschool. I think a few teachers even have their own classroom elf! Lo asked me why some kids didn't have one and I told her that even though the elf is magic and from the north pole (obviously we do it so I want her to believe) but parents still have to invite the elf into the home and some parents don't. She was satisfied with that. If I were in the no elf camp I'd say the same thing but add the 'you are already well behaved' etc. </p>