SS8 being a drama queen about our elf on the shelf
We've had the dang thing for three years now, all the kids usually have fun and get excited waiting to see where it will be next, but this year SS8 has decided he's terrified of it and even last night went bed crying "I'm scared, I'm scared" that the elf would come in his room and get him.
Does this sound completely irrational and crazy to anyone else that an eight year old would behave this way? I know that there has been drama at his mom's house and that her boyfriend moved out last weekend so maybe that has something to do with it. When the boyfriend moved in with them 1.5 years ago SS developed a stutter that lasted for three months. He does not handle change well at all so maybe that is to blame for this newfound fear of the elf. It's hard for me to not be annoyed though, I know if it were up to DH the elf would go bye bye but my daughters still really enjoy it.
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That elf is creepy. My DIL2b
That elf is creepy.
My DIL2b hates elves, period. Her mother did (still does) their living room, kitchen and dining room entirely elves with 'life size' two about to climb up the tree. When DIL2b purchased first home with DS a couple years ago, her mother put an elf on a shelf in DIL2b's present. DIL2b tossed the elf in the fire pit and announced that was one tradition she wasn't bringing into her own home.
I'm not going to pretend to know what's going on with OP's SS8, but why force something on a kid? OP, if you want and enjoy the stupid (IMO) elf, put it in the other children rooms. Real or fake hang-up, SS wants no part in the elf.
Yeah, DIL2b has her hang-ups.
Yeah, DIL2b has her hang-ups. I can't fault her on the elf bit... entire 6weeks surrounded by elves. Everywhere. No escape. Who does that?! Well, her mother. DIL2b said she felt like hundreds of eyes were watching her.
But she's also afraid of cornfields. Think Children of the Corn, lol. Her mom and dad bought a house in a subdivision across from cornfields when she was mid childhood. When son and her were house hunting her main 'no way, ain't happening ' was cornfields. Son found rural house with timber in rear and nice rolling hill across the road. As long as she can't see them, she's good.
He was looking for attention.
He was looking for attention. He got a reaction by saying something irrational. He's going to keep saying it until no one reacts. Keep your elf out, girl. Hell, buy a bigger one!
Sounds like something I would
Sounds like something I would tell my kids. Good move, mama!
I hate that thing too.
I hate that thing too. LOL
Never had an elf, I would likely do what you did if I had one!
But I also told my kids that
But I also told my kids that the turkey was "Big Bird" and the Ham was "Miss Piggy".
The weird thing....They laughed and laughed at it. :?
Completely agree.
Completely agree.
Agree!
Agree!
It's not fair for your
It's not fair for your daughters to take it away if they enjoy it. Your DH needs to handle it. If the elf never got SS before, it's not going to get him now. Sounds like just being a brat for attention.
Our elf showed up this morning, but I use a different cute elf.. not that creepy elf on the shelf one. DH was being silly and telling BS6 that he was scared of the elf, that it was creepy and he didn't think he'd be able to sleep tonight. BS6 was like "whatever, you're a weirdo!!"
To be honest the elf is a
To be honest the elf is a huge hassle but my kids get so excited running into the living room every morning to see where it is, they read off their Christmas lists to it, my DD6 draws it pictures, etc. They don't remember a Christmas without the elf. SS acted just the same way until a few days ago. He also screamed and cried this morning when my daughter waved a cartoon dog keychain he is allegedly scared of (starting last night) in his face. I got onto my daughter for that but the ear piercing screech annoyed the crap out of me. Also, the elf craze has infiltrated their elementary school and all three of their teachers have an elf this year. Maybe if it comes down to it I will need to tell my DDs that our elf had to take a new assignment at an elementary school but maybe she'll be back next year.
Last year was the first year
Last year was the first year I did it. BS6 is a good kid, so it's not a aaughty/nice thing, he just enjoys seeing where the elf is each morning and honestly even though it can be a hassle by the end, I enjoy doing the antics each night after he goes to bed. Our elf came back today and BS6 was soooooo excited to see her!! Before we left for school, he said he was going to give her a quarter for being such a good elf. lol
I think you probably nailed
I think you probably nailed it. SS8 doesn't adjust well to change, poor kid. If he used to like the elf game and suddenly becomes fearful then it's not the elf. It's something else causing him distress and the elf on the shelf is a way for him to manifest that fear. Have his dad talk to him about what's going on. That might really help.
Try not to be annoyed. Instead, be concerned.
My son will invent something
My son will invent something to be afraid of when he wants to get out of something. His sister might be watching My Little Pony in the living room and all the sudden Pinkie Pie is scary. He may even work up a tear or two. In my own personal experience, completely ridiculous fears like being scared of a stuffed elf and throwing a tantrum over it, is just a brat move. Sometimes feeding the fear with coddling is the wrong thing to do.
My SS5 pretends to be scared
My SS5 pretends to be scared or acts out like he's terrified of something he's always liked before when he wants attention. Our solution was to tell him that if "this" scared him so much then he would no longer be able to play Xbox, watch tv or play on the computer since all of those things might have something so scary pop up on them and we didn't want him to be scared so off they go. And boy did he snap out of it quickly when he realized playing scared was going to leave him with just some old puzzles and a handful of action figures.
On the flip side, DH was working with SS to learn how to ride his bike without training wheels and he was doing great at it. SS excitedly told BM who rushed out to buy him a bike and took off the training wheels and tried to get him to ride. The next time Dh tried to get him on his bike he freaked out screaming and crying saying he was going to get hurt so he didn't want to do it anymore. Same goes for swimming. We take SS to a swim park during the summer. As a three year old they made him wear a life vest but last year (4) Dh coaxed SS to get in without one and they swam all day together practicing going underwater etc. SS told BM when she called that week what he could do now that he is 'a big kid now.' SS came back from BM's after her week scared of the water saying he needed floaties because he was going to drown and die.
My point is the kid could be traumatized but I don't know him so I can't say for sure. I will say that just because HE has decided to be scared all of a sudden doesn't mean the other kids who enjoy it should miss out. Try taking away some other potentially "scary" things and see if he snaps out of it before ending the Elf.
Thanks everyone for your
Thanks everyone for your opinions. The drama at BM's house was pretty intense from what I gather. Her boyfriend pretty much hated SS15 and the kids had to stay with BM for the whole thanksgiving week bc DH and I went on a cruise (planned waaaaay in advance and okayed by BM to keep the kids all week). Supposedly BM's boyfriend smashed up SS15's Xbox in a fit of rage which I'm sure was pretty traumatizing for SS8 to witness if he was there. I think he just feels a lot of anxiety and it's affecting him. DH did talk to both the boys but idk how their conversation went.
No. my kid would be getting
No. my kid would be getting the desensitization shots while taking Claritin or an equivalent.
It's NOT up to her whether she gets a shot or not. Her choice is which arm.
Of course not. Standards are
Of course not. Standards are important. No way would I be having sex let alone living with with any man that hated DD or treated her less than kind.
I don't understand it either.
I don't understand it either. We have a unique situation in that we live in the same neighborhood as BM 10 doors down. BM either rents or the house was given to her by her mom so even before it was their mom's house it was grandma's house. SS15 has been coming and going freely between our house and that one for years but I don't think BM's boyfriend could stand it. I know it was a source of conflict bc BM told us months ago to please not let SS15 come to her house on "our time" if she wasn't there. DH told her she'd be better off losing the boyfriend than expecting us to police a teenager's every move.
Where I work, we have an Elf.
Where I work, we have an Elf. His name is Tango. Last year, He found the vodka. He got into my Vicodin (I had it for a cracked bone in my foot). Later that week, he got into another co-worker's "green." He had to go to rehab. This year...He looks a little nervous as we are about to start the partying in the office.
They've asked this many times
They've asked this many times and I've always said no bc their room is chronically messy and the elf would tattle to Santa. But I guess it would be a great incentive for them to keep their room clean this month.
SD10, when she was 9, decided
SD10, when she was 9, decided her American Girl Doll was creepy and a witch.
She put her in a box (i.e. a coffin like thing) and left her in it under her bed. It's still there.
I have to make it disappear soon.
She also thinks some kids toys/characters are "creepy" now.
I think she's just growing out of them and it's her way of disregarding those kid-like things.
I'd sell it, they have a good
I'd sell it, they have a good resale value.
Hilarious!
Hilarious! }:) }:) }:) }:)
Great Idea! LOL
Great Idea! LOL
I would not change my
I would not change my tradition due to an 8 year old having a tantrum, but that's just me...
I love dolls and I would love a Chucky Doll and Monchichi does not want to send her SS to me!!!
I have this sort of doll in my passage (it's actually a door stopper and looks like a 3-4 year old girl), just in front of my room, minus the Teddy and it freaks the hell out of my 20 year old, since he was 3... I give a damn, I like it and it's my house, Deigma had to learn to live with my creepy doll
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/0a/b6/e7/0ab6e713043978649e9f7...