Sunday, December 7, 2008

Where's the Elf today?


To tell him or not...that is the question. Do we tell our 8 year old Joey the truth about Santa? We were all set to tell him this year (if he asked, that is). And, since he had started inquiring a bit, we were sure this would be the year.

But we succumbed to the appeal of the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition. An impish little elf (actually a plastic and felt doll that does not, in any way, shape or form, appear to be real), sits on a shelf (or in a plant) somewhere in the house and watches your children so that he can report on their behavior to the big boss, the fat man, Santa. The elf changes his location every night after he returns from reporting to Santa (except when mommy and daddy forget to change his location).

I thought for sure the whole elf on the shelf thing would tip Joey off. I mean, really. Come on.

Much to our surprise, the elf has strengthened Joey's belief in the jolly old elf himself. How do I know? He simply asked me..."Mom, did you move Stanley (our elf's name) last night?" I replied, "no Joey, I didn't." I wasn't lying...I didn't do it. Rob did.

So Joey's response was a hearty "I knew it. I knew it was all real! The elf, Santa. It's Christmas magic! Really it is." So now, I don't have the heart to tell him the truth. He's only 8. what's wrong with just one more year...

3 comments:

Laura said...

Don't tell him--go for one more year!!! And have you guys always done the elf thing? I don't remember you talking about Stanley before.

Denise said...

Awww, don't tell him! For starters, that kid will be dangerous with that kind of information! For the sake of all of the younger kids in the family (especially Sam and Lily), can you refrain from telling him for at least another year?!

Our elf "Twinkle" is also a big hit. So glad we found him this year!

Frank, Laura, Vince and Stella said...

I love the idea of elf on the shelf! I say don't tell him! I believed in Santa until I was maybe 11 and then my friend ruined it. When I came home and asked my parents, they said that he wasn't real. I cried, ran upstairs, and then came back down and yelled "I suppose the Easter bunny isn't real either!" My mom just burst into tears and said that she never wanted to tell my sister!