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You are here: Home / Parenting / To Elfie – An Apology to Elf on the Shelf

To Elfie – An Apology to Elf on the Shelf

12/18/2014 By Tammi 58 Comments

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It’s been some time since I talked about our Elf on the Shelf, Elfie. 2012 in fact. Wow.

Yet, it’s always been the usual. Move the elf, forget to move the elf – etc etc. It’s relatively routine when it comes to Elfie, the girls still love him to bits, eager to jump out of bed each morning to see where he is. Sure makes getting ready for school easier, versus the ‘I want to sleep more’ hassle I usually deal with. So, they look forward to Elfie’s stay each year, and for the most part it’s about a dear friend and fun {albeit just a bit of work for myself}.

Yet, when something memorable happens with parenting twins +1, I just have to share.

This is an Elfie story that happened last night.

Elfie spent yesterday in a bath of marshmallows and a rubber ‘duckie’, one which the twins think inspired the Poker Face song. As I walked past Elfie after dinnertime, I glanced down and noticed that a ton of the marshmallow bubbles were gone.

To Elfie - An Apology to Elf on the Shelf

“Who ate Elfies tub bubbles?!“, I said while looking at the twins, of course.

At first they denied everything, as always, yet with a ‘we got caught’ look on their faces.

I thought of dropping the issue since it IS marshmallows and they ARE just 6 years old. That’s a pretty big temptation just sitting on the table, and I don’t really enforce the policing side of Elfie.

But then I decided that this was a good time to reinforce the fact that not everything in this house, is theirs. We all need to respect each others items and space, and ask before taking something that is not yours.

So, I started in .. “WOW, I can’t believe you stole from Elfie, right in front of his face. He’s gonna tell Santa tonight. And so close to Christmas? What were you two thinking?! I sure wouldn’t have done that …”

You guys, the look on my twins faces made me stifle a smile and break my heart, all at the same time. Absolute puppy dog eyes with tears forming at the bottom, the look of true regret all over – and I do believe their ears dipped a little too. My husband had to walk away because he hated them looking so completely sad, like every single kitten in the world died at one time.

So, it worked yet maybe a bit too well though.

Then I wondered what I do, as Elfies mover. Do I not move him that night or does he stay put because they were ‘bad’? Do I leave a letter from Elfie stating that he saw them, and wasn’t impressed? Maybe a reminder from Santa to be respectful and not steal? Ugh, so much work for me.

So, I suggested the twins write a note to Elfie, apologizing for their behaviour and maybe, just maybe – Santa won’t bypass them on Christmas.

Hard at work in the office, with a table-full of paper and crayons, the twins handed me their letters later that evening.

Seriously, the cutest letters. Ever.

Here’s Sophia’s apology, a folded card with writing on the outside and inside.

An Apology to Elf on the Shelf

Translation: {outside} I’m Sorry. {Inside} I’m so sorry. Sophia

 

And this is Katelyn’s apology to Elf on the Shelf, Elfie:

Apology to Elf on the Shelf

Translation: I’m sorry for doing about marshmallows. I’m very sorry. I love you. {and then on the right side} Elfie I love you.

Awwww!!! Seeing this was amazing. My twins have had past struggles with speech and language, which also carries over to letters and spelling – for them to do this completely on their own, is remarkable. 

Ok, so at this point of absolute cuteness with such a genuine and heartfelt apology, all was good again. In fact, this whole experience made me very proud. 

Do you have Elf on a Shelf? 

 

 

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Filed Under: Parenting, Twins Tagged With: Life

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Comments

  1. Robin says

    12/18/2014 at 10:09 am

    We do have an EOTS and I will be happy when he decides to go back to the North Pole. Permanently. It’s too exhausting to keep up with.

    Reply
    • Tammi says

      12/18/2014 at 5:18 pm

      AGREE! … already wondering where he should go tonight. lol

      Reply
  2. Jennifer Sikora says

    12/18/2014 at 10:55 am

    My daughter who is 17 wants one of those things because she thinks they are cool. I am SO not ready to jump on the bandwagon. NEVER! Love your idea though and I bet your boys learned a very valuable lesson.

    Reply
    • Tammi says

      12/18/2014 at 5:18 pm

      I debated for a year before I did, and it is fun. Like I said, they find it fun and consider him a great friend for the holiday season. That being said, every store sells them – so it’s kinda ruined the whole ‘sent from Santa’ thing. Oh well.

      Reply
  3. LILLIAN BROWN says

    12/18/2014 at 12:55 pm

    My grandchildren love their Elf

    Reply
  4. Catherine R. says

    12/18/2014 at 12:59 pm

    Their letters are adorable, I think you handled the situation wonderfully. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Tammi says

      12/18/2014 at 5:17 pm

      Well thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Sharlene says

    12/18/2014 at 1:32 pm

    I don’t have an Elf – I never heard of an Elf on the Shelf until last year (yes, I’ve been living under a rock, lol). It’s great that the girls wrote a note – my daughter also writes the word sorry like that!

    Reply
    • Tammi says

      12/18/2014 at 5:17 pm

      All the time! I took the girls to school and when I got home I found a note from one of my twins that said ‘mom I’m sad’ … it bothered me all day, it made me sad all day thinking about it. I mean, she was fine when I dropped her off! Turns out she had a hole in her fave pair of socks … yep, my girls wear their hearts on their sleeves that’s for sure!

      Reply
  6. Paula Dumont says

    12/18/2014 at 2:14 pm

    OMG – that is the cutest story, ever! I, however, happen to detest the Elf, but still, your girls are very sweet and obviously had a lot of guilt.

    Reply
  7. Brenda Roy says

    12/18/2014 at 3:44 pm

    Aahh those poor kids! I mean; what 6 year old can resist mini marshmallows!

    Reply
    • Tammi says

      12/18/2014 at 5:15 pm

      Haha, it’s ok Gramma. They are perfectly fine, all is good. A little tough love is ok now and then. lol

      Reply
  8. gvenny says

    12/18/2014 at 3:47 pm

    We don’t have an Elfie in our home but I’ve enjoyed seeing what other families o with theirs on Facebook.

    Reply
    • Tammi says

      12/18/2014 at 5:15 pm

      Ha, I love it too. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Amber Edwards says

    12/18/2014 at 5:10 pm

    I can totally see this as a great learning experience. I love how Elf on the shelf is fun, but also helps to teach kids to be good. We don’t have one, simply because I would never remember to move him. But I think he is cute.

    Reply
  10. Soozle says

    12/18/2014 at 5:34 pm

    Awwww 🙂 That is too sweet.. and yeah, who could have resisted those marshmallows 🙂

    Reply
  11. Dawn says

    12/18/2014 at 6:04 pm

    We don’t do Elf on the Shelf. My only child is a 14 year old teenage boy, so we’re pretty much past that stage.

    Reply
  12. Kelly Hutchinson says

    12/18/2014 at 6:15 pm

    I love how you handles this and the girls reactions. The letters are just precious and so are your daughters.

    Reply
  13. Kelsey Apley says

    12/18/2014 at 6:28 pm

    My niece does this and loves her elf Susie! I think if we had kids I would make it a tradition!

    Reply
  14. Tammilee Tips says

    12/18/2014 at 6:29 pm

    What adorable story! Also what a great lesson for your twins!

    Reply
  15. Kristy says

    12/18/2014 at 6:46 pm

    I have one, but it’s still in the box. I wasn’t sure that my 2.5 year old would “get it” quite yet and with 2 month old twins, I didn’t think I’d have the time or energy to do it right. Maybe next year.

    Reply
  16. caryn s says

    12/18/2014 at 7:05 pm

    Too cute i love their letters! I don’t know if i could make it with the puppy dog eyes!

    Reply
  17. Mama to 5 BLessings says

    12/18/2014 at 7:41 pm

    LOL! That is going to be one “clean” elf! What a cute shot!

    Reply
  18. LauraOinAK says

    12/18/2014 at 7:49 pm

    No Elf on the shelf at our house. I love how they apologized, though.

    Reply
  19. Darlene W says

    12/18/2014 at 7:57 pm

    Looks like fun for everyone

    Reply
  20. Chelley @ AisForAdelaide says

    12/18/2014 at 8:25 pm

    We have an elf, but she just watches for fun. I am scared that if I use her for discipline it will go too far!

    Reply
  21. Liz Mays says

    12/18/2014 at 8:30 pm

    Uh oh! They got caught! Their apologies are adorable!

    Reply
  22. lisa says

    12/18/2014 at 9:25 pm

    We love elf on the shelf here!! We have him every year

    Reply
  23. Kristin says

    12/18/2014 at 9:38 pm

    oh my gosh those letters are priceless! We don’t do the elfs but we have fun watching everyone else and what their elf is up to.

    Reply
  24. Erika Belanger says

    12/18/2014 at 11:07 pm

    Awe I bet they felt so guilty! I know all about wanting to laugh and cry with them at the same time lol. Kids are so awesome. Their letters are adorable!!

    Reply
  25. nicolthepickle says

    12/19/2014 at 5:31 am

    Aww, what a cute story. I don’t have an elf on the shelf, no Santa either, but I do understand the puppydog faces.

    Reply
  26. Amy Desrosiers says

    12/19/2014 at 7:05 am

    Aww, this is so cute! My son ripped our Snowy out of our stocking the other morning and the girls freaked!!! The baby would not give it back either lol!!

    Reply
  27. Cheryl says

    12/19/2014 at 7:32 am

    Aww too cute. The wonder in a kids eyes is just amazing 🙂

    Reply
  28. Judy Cowan says

    12/19/2014 at 8:19 am

    We don’t have an elf, even though I do like seeing some of the ideas that people come up with for them. Very cute apology letters and I am sure Elfie will forgive them 🙂

    Reply
  29. Stephanie LaPlante says

    12/19/2014 at 8:59 am

    HAHAHA OMG so cute! I would’ve loved to see a picture of those adorable puppy dog faces! I really want an Elf on Shelf.

    Reply
  30. Anne Taylor says

    12/19/2014 at 11:10 am

    Aww so cute! A good time for a lesson is never to be overlooked imho! Good for you!

    ps I can’t stand that elf lol

    Reply
  31. LILLIAN BROWN says

    12/19/2014 at 12:05 pm

    Love the Elf stories

    Reply
  32. Ali P says

    12/19/2014 at 12:19 pm

    We have one, and my girls think she’s pretty awesome! Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it’s only for a couple weeks, and the look on their faces when they find her in the morning is priceless!

    Reply
  33. Jenn Andrews says

    12/19/2014 at 12:53 pm

    We have an elf, and we move it nightly when we remember as well, but ours does not get into things. He loves to hide.

    Reply
  34. Susan T. says

    12/19/2014 at 1:26 pm

    That is super cute! I’m really glad I don’t have kids because I find the elf really creepy!

    Reply
  35. Maureen Anderson says

    12/19/2014 at 4:09 pm

    These are so cute. Love how kids minds work.

    Reply
  36. Carmen B. says

    12/19/2014 at 4:10 pm

    hahahaha….that is so cute! I love it!! I can’t wait for my boys to get a little bigger so that I can cherish all their cute little notes! It is too adorable! Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  37. Alena Belleque (The Homemade Creative) says

    12/19/2014 at 5:31 pm

    Awww ♥ Your girls are too sweet! We don’t do Elf on the Shelf, but I’m thinking about doing a variation next year, as my daughter will be three and a half. We don’t do Santa, so the original doesn’t really make sense for us to do.

    Reply
  38. Gabriel Bregg says

    12/19/2014 at 8:05 pm

    Last year was our first with an Elf, and he was the usual mischievous kind, but this year, Santa sent him back with a mission – He’s been leaving notes for the kids to do good deeds and volunteer work and it’s been fun for everyone. We have it a little lucky as two of ours go to their dad’s three days a week and the little little ones are much easier to impress than the bigger kids.

    Reply
  39. Candace Evanisky says

    12/19/2014 at 8:31 pm

    Don’t have an elf on a shelf but know alot of people who do

    Reply
  40. Ginger Mommy says

    12/19/2014 at 9:06 pm

    What a cute idea having the elf in a bath with marshmallows. I can not blame the girls for eating the marshmallows as I would as well.

    Reply
  41. Lee-Ann says

    12/20/2014 at 10:02 am

    I actually find the elf on a shelf a bit creepy…don’t think I could ever have done it in my house….kudos to those that can – I have sure seen some very inventive activities!

    Reply
  42. Rick F says

    12/20/2014 at 3:43 pm

    I must be living in a cave. This is the first year that I am aware of the Elf On A Shelf. I’d love one of these.

    Reply
  43. Anna W says

    12/20/2014 at 7:21 pm

    We do not have an elf on the shelf yet, my kids want one so bad but I don’t think I could remember to keep up with it!

    Reply
  44. Kristin Wheeler (@MamaLuvsBooks) says

    12/20/2014 at 11:39 pm

    Very cute! We have Chuck and Charlotte. Two Elves to remember to move each night! LOL

    Reply
  45. Silvia D says

    12/21/2014 at 1:39 am

    What sweet girls! Just love it! We donot have anElf on the Shelf but reading and seeing all the stories and pictures maybe next year!

    Reply
  46. Tiffany (A Moms Take) says

    12/21/2014 at 6:03 am

    The kids have been asking about their Elf, and I’m just too lazy to do it this year. I made up some story as to why their Elf hasn’t come to see them this year.

    Reply
  47. mongupp says

    12/21/2014 at 1:37 pm

    I have never understood Elf on the Shelf! But i love the movie Elf!

    Reply
  48. Mishelle says

    12/22/2014 at 9:11 am

    The whole Elfie thing weirds me out to no end so we don’t have one here. I heard some stories about Elfie with a knife to really weird out the children which just makes me even more happy not to have one!!

    M

    Reply
  49. Holly says

    12/22/2014 at 9:16 pm

    Aww the letters are adorable! It is very hard to resist marshmallows! lol. They sound like great kids!

    No Elf on the Shelf here, but I do enjoy seeing everyones photos of their Elf and the mischief he or she gets into!

    Reply
  50. Jenn says

    12/23/2014 at 11:03 pm

    That is such a cute little story! Great idea using marshmallow as bubbles too!

    Reply
  51. Laurie P says

    12/26/2014 at 9:28 am

    Those letters are priceless! I think it was a great idea to have them write letters…

    Reply
  52. Amanda MF says

    12/31/2014 at 2:00 pm

    Oh my goodness, how adorable is this? 🙂

    Reply

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