Elf on the Shelf: Adorable Friend or Creepy Fiend?

We all know the Elf on the Shelf.  It seems to be the hottest holiday trend since overblown light displays.  You can find the EotS at Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart, Hallmark, pretty much so any store where parents might frequent.  There are whole websites and Pinterest boards dedicated to the EotS.  We just got our first this year at our house.  They are everywhere!  But let’s take a moment to think.  Is that Elf on the Shelf an adorable friend or creepy fiend? 

The over all idea of the Elf is cute.  A little friend, sent from the north pole, who you get to name and who gives naughty or nice reports to Santa.  From a parenting perspective, it can be a dream.  You can always threaten that the EotS will report back to the man in red.  I have already overheard Biggest and Littlest making sure that our elf, Pascal, is aware of the naughty behavior of the other sister and how good they themselves are being.  Plus, it is sometimes fun to come up with creative and silly places to put your elf. 

But let’s look at the flip side.  That creepy little elf reminds me of a clown, always smiling but not really.  A fake happy facial expression that seems to hide the idea that he really wants to hurt you while you sleep.  I have seen many websites dedicated to the naughty, even nasty things that the EotS has done to some people’s homes or Barbie dolls.  He can be a dirty, dirty elf.  And from the parenting perspective, there is nothing worse than realizing at 3:00 am that you forgot to move the damned thing….again.

Make your own decision regarding the Elf on the Shelf.  Find the joy in him or be creeped out.  Just remember, if you choose to host an EotS in your house, be cautious.  You never know what that little elf is really thinking or doing when you are not looking.