Why I Don’t Do Elf on the Shelf

There are many many posts and blogs floating around about the downside and dangers to Elf on the Shelf. This is not one of them. I have a different point of view on why I’m not down with this crazy charade.

Adri, my almost 6-year-old, lost a tooth yesterday. Seeing as it’s her 5th tooth, you would think that I would have the Tooth Fairy routine down pat by now. I remember when she lost her first tooth, we went and got a special wooden box from Michael’s (my happy place) that she painted and decorated with stickers and sparkles. The next morning, not only was there a shiny coin in place of the tooth, but a special certificate from the tooth fairy as well! We kept these traditions for the next few teeth, but I must admin lately the Tooth Fairy has been a bit distracted. And tired. And busy. Last night was another busy, distracted evening so I encouraged Adri to write a letter to the Tooth Fairy while I finished up some work. This was what she had to say:

Cute right? Hubby put the girls to bed, I finished up some more work before eventually going to bed myself. Of course this is the night that Aven, my 21 month old decides to sleep through the night. Of course this is the night that Aven ALSO decides to sleep in! I wake up at 6:30 am (yes that’s sleeping in around here) to a very sad little girl who wondered why the Tooth Fairy forgot to visit.

Thankfully she quickly had the thought that perhaps the Tooth Fairy didn’t realize that our family got up so early, so maybe if she played in the living room for a while, the tooth fairy would show up! After breakfast, I sent her to the laundry room to get some clothes for school, and snuck into her room with some loonies and a letter from the Tooth Fairy. Adri had put the whole ordeal so far out of her mind that I actually had to send her up into her bunk bed on the pretence of getting a stuffie for her sister in order for her to make her discovery!

The letter reads “Dear Adri, Thank you for the lovely tooth! I am VERY sorry that I was late, I got stuck in some bad weather when flying to your house and had to stop and dry my wings out! Love, The Tooth Fairy”

Give me a break, it was early. And clearly the Tooth Fairy isn’t used to Raincouver.

Back to my original point. This is why I don’t do Elf on the Shelf. I would be writing a million damn letters explaining why things didn’t happen the way they were supposed to. I am a sleep deprived mama of 2 who doesn’t have enough time to do house work, work-work or pee alone, forget about playing with this incorrigible imp!

Tell me, does the Elf on the Shelf make an appearance in your house? And how do you manage all of these things??