“Don’t touch that,” was the quick response from more than one voice. I expected to see M.C. Hammer when I turned around.
The foot long doll didn’t look like it would bite or break, and it was smiling. What was so special about this?
That was my first encounter with the now legendary “Elf on a Shelf.” We didn’t have the Elf at our house when our kids were little because Elf on a Shelf didn’t appear until around eight years ago when the toys appeared in stores and a book came out explaining who the elf was and why you don’t touch it.
It is like a game in a way. A family purchases an elf, which magically gets “powers” when it is named. It keeps an eye on the kids during the month of December and reports back to Santa every night to let him know who has been good or bad. Then the elf returns to the house before everyone wakes up in the morning and does some sort of mischief or cuteness, and ends up in a different spot for the day.
All is fine and good unless the elf is touched, which causes it to lose its power. Restoring its power is an involved process. Not good.
Sure am glad I was able to restrain myself and not pick it up. I wouldn’t want to cause a power failure.
Friends and neighbors have been telling me about their adventures with their elves. In the morning they find the dolls in the most unusual places. Elves do silly things and sometimes they make a mess. Sometimes the elves clean up the kitchen, just like Mom does. They’ve also been known to fold laundry. Now isn’t that convenient?
While working her magic on a customer’s hair, Carrie Stott at Designs by Tanya in Enon filled me in on the latest Elf on the Shelf adventures at her house.
“We watched the movie last night,” said Stott, stopping to explain that she and her children had watched Elf Story not Elf. “And this morning he had forgotten to move.”
She made a face.
Her children had been convinced that their elf named Buddy would do something fun after they watched the movie. Over breakfast the children were accusing each other of touching him, but everyone denied it.
Their mother, Carrie, has a sincere belief that Buddy will do something fun tonight to apologize for not moving today. Maybe Buddy had just stayed up too late watching the movie with the children? Who knows?
I love this idea. It’s all done in fun and is an extension of the stories my generation was told about how Santa peeks in the windows to watch you.
Long ago my grandmother thought it would be fun to put on a Santa mask and tap on the window when my cousins and I were being too rowdy in the living room. I remember there was lots of screaming, a group yell for “Mommy” and a thundering herd of 6-year-olds that wouldn’t go back into Grandma’s living room alone for days.
Yep, this Elf on the Shelf idea is a big improvement over that. It helps parents keep excited kids under control and still helps Santa know who has been naughty or nice.
Just don’t touch the Elf if you want to be on the Nice List.
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