There’s no doubt that The Elf on the Shelf has quickly become one of the most popular Christmas traditions for families with young children! I was anti-Elf for years, but I now consider myself an Elf on the Shelf convert. I happily embrace the tradition that brings my two young children so much joy!
When The Elf on the Shelf became popular, two of my four kids were beginning to ask a lot of questions about Christmas. I knew introducing the adorable little elf was not a good idea, plus as a mom of four, I just didn’t have time for that! Why on Earth would I need to add one more thing to my To Do list during the busy holiday season?
A few years went by, and my two older children stopped believing in the magic of Christmas. My third child, Lily, who was in preschool at the time, told me all about the elves that her friends had in their homes. She begged me to invite an elf to our house, but I was firm with my decision. Four kids was plenty to worry about!
Another year went by, and Lily, who was now in Kindergarten, started telling me about the elves who were arriving at her friends’ homes. She begged again, and this time I gave in. That year, an adorable little Scout Elf, which Lily lovingly named Christopher, arrived at our home and kicked off a tradition that I quickly grew to love!
One thing you should know about me: when I choose to do something, I go big. So I took The Elf on the Shelf tradition to the next level. Not only was Christopher the Elf getting into trouble, but my toddler tornado was causing mischief along with him. This momtog happily captured each moment!
Don’t tell Lily, but sometimes Liam the Elf did it better…
What do you think?
At first the task ahead of me seemed very daunting, but I soon fell into a rhythm. What I discovered was that I actually LIKED the Elf on the Shelf tradition, and even my two older children got involved! (Anybody who has a tween knows just how rare that is!)
I’m not one to give in to my kids all the time, or do everything that other families do just to follow the crowd. (Trust me…my son just got a cell phone on his 13th birthday, and he was one of the last kids in his grade to get one!) I choose my battles carefully, and fighting against the Elf on the Shelf just wasn’t a battle worth fighting.
Lily asking for an elf to visit our home was one simple request in a fleeting childhood, and it was one I couldn’t deny. I’m a busy mom, but setting aside a few hours for 25 short days didn’t take much from me. My kids are growing up much faster than I would like, and someday, I’m going to be wishing these simple, innocent moments back!
Ultimately, the joy Lily experienced each and every morning made all the hard work worth it! Every morning, she would race out of her bed in search of Christopher the Elf. I would often hear giggles from another room before I would hear her tiny feet pounding on the floor as she ran to find me. She always explained the Elf shenanigans with so much excitement! Her enthusiasm about our little elf only increased the Christmas magic within our home!
The first Christmas with our Elf on the Shelf was so much fun, and Lily was very reluctant to say goodbye on Christmas. She talked about his return often, and we eagerly welcomed him back this year with a North Pole Breakfast! Christopher has already been with us for nearly two weeks, and the excitement is still going strong!
Did Christopher ever forget to move? Nope…but he cut it close! Was he ever caught in action? NEVER! Did I ever witness him scrolling through Pinterest for ideas? Of course! There’s no doubt about it, though: Christopher brings a lot of fun into our home during the holiday season! It’s even more fun now that little Liam on the Shelf is starting to enjoy our elf’s antics!
It’s true…I’m an Elf on the Shelf convert, and I’m proud of it! The main reason I stand behind The Elf on the Shelf is because I know just how fleeting time is, and how the magic of Christmas dissipates far faster than I ever imagined. I often wish I could bring back Dylan and Lexie’s innocence, so I will savor the moments that I have left with Lily and Liam. If a magical Scout Elf adds to the excitement and the magic of the season, so be it. I will happily be a loyal fan!
Does your family have a Scout Elf or do you choose to skip this popular tradition?
Stefanie shares about motherhood and life with Down syndrome on her blog, Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too. She can also be found sharing her family’s daily adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
