Individualized advent, Elf on the Shelf, Polar Express rides, over the top Santa visits

[Anonymous]

The kids aren't interested in the Elf this year because ours is "boring" compared to what they are hearing from kids at school regarding what their elves get up to at night.

I'm not paying for these pre-planned elf kids nor am I spending tons of time concocting these elaborate scenarios/scenes for the elf.

I now get why so many parents do extravagant gifts from mom & dad and tiny Santa gifts. It's rough when the kids don't understand why Julian's elf brought him hockey tickets and our elf only managed to get himself stuck in a vase.

My kids are still enjoying their generic, store-bought advent calendars that dispense a piece of chocolate daily.

My DD, who is the oldest and age 8, has been telling me about how her best friend's mom made her an advent village. She gets to open a paper house each day that contains a treat (toys, socks, huge candy hauls, etc.).

Social media is ruining all of society. These parents are only going over the top so they can post about it and brag about it online. I stand by this statement.

[Anonymous]

We told our kids from the start that Santa was a fun make believe. So obviously don't do the elf/shelf thing. We put up a tree and decorate it. I climb on a ladder and put up some lights outside. We have dinner with my parents and brother/SIL on the 24th. Kids open presents on 25th. That's about it. Tree comes down that week, and we prepare for a new year.

[Anonymous]

Look, if you spend your time on social media then you get what you get. This is a self inflicted wound. Don’t go to Rodeo Drive and complain that you feel poor; you could spend your time literally anywhere else! If you choose to go somewhere that makes you feel bad, that’s on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're obviously not sincerely asking if you're a bad mother for not doing things, but rather judging those who do, right? Why do you care? Look, I'm 60 years old and parented little ones before Elf on the Shelf became a thing. I lamented quite a bit that I didn't have more time or money to do more special things for my children over the holiday season, but I certainly never judged or looked down on those who did. Why do any of you care that some people enjoy Christmas and wish to make the most out of what for them is a special time?

This is exactly the reason for the post. OP will be back to deny it, of course, and whine that it’s just a QUESTION and she just WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, but of course that’s BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the norm in our house. But we purposely don't put a lot of emphasis on the whole Christmas thing. DH and I believe it should be a day, not a season.

But is is a season. Firs you have the 4 weeks of Advent, leading up to Christmas Day, and then the Feast of the Epiphany in January.

If you celebrate it that way, that’s cool. Millions of people celebrate secular federal holiday Santa Christmas. They care not a jot about Epiphany, and many don’t care about Advent. You’re not one of those people from the Religion board who whinges endlessly that they caaaaaaan’t dooooooo thaaaaaaat, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the norm in our house. But we purposely don't put a lot of emphasis on the whole Christmas thing. DH and I believe it should be a day, not a season.

But is is a season. Firs you have the 4 weeks of Advent, leading up to Christmas Day, and then the Feast of the Epiphany in January.

You do you boo

Not the pp, but whether you choose to celebrate it or not, Christmas is in fact a season. It’s a Christian holiday. Saying it isn’t is like my randomly choosing to redefine a Jewish or Muslim holiday as something they aren’t.

We know that’s what you believe in your religion. We don’t care.

You’re really going to have to learn to cope with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids aren't interested in the Elf this year because ours is "boring" compared to what they are hearing from kids at school regarding what their elves get up to at night.

I'm not paying for these pre-planned elf kids nor am I spending tons of time concocting these elaborate scenarios/scenes for the elf.

I now get why so many parents do extravagant gifts from mom & dad and tiny Santa gifts. It's rough when the kids don't understand why Julian's elf brought him hockey tickets and our elf only managed to get himself stuck in a vase.

My kids are still enjoying their generic, store-bought advent calendars that dispense a piece of chocolate daily.

My DD, who is the oldest and age 8, has been telling me about how her best friend's mom made her an advent village. She gets to open a paper house each day that contains a treat (toys, socks, huge candy hauls, etc.).

Social media is ruining all of society. These parents are only going over the top so they can post about it and brag about it online. I stand by this statement.

So don't use social media. Problem solved.

I couldn't care less what people on Instagram are doing. You're choosing to be upset about this. And if you're going to say that your kids hear about someone's mom doing a leprechaun trap, then use that as a moment to teach your kids how different families do things differently. That's going to come up regardless of social media (i.e. they spend the night at a friend's house and friend's mom lets them do X).