Much as I love the idea of "elfing" I decided not to do it with my daughter. My main reason was that I thought she'd realize it was me early on, and that might kill some of the magic and make her question Santa. She is a very serious, analytical type, and it seemed to me like it is a lot easier to believe in Santa than a stuffed elf coming to life at night, and she might believe longer without it. She already has questions about God asking me things like, "Why would he even invent germs?" She said several times this year, "Mommy, you're Santa." She had just turned four. I had told her elves leave coins in your shoes on St. Nicholas Day if you're good, and sticks if you're bad. She seemed to believe the next morning, but I figured the elves were better sight unseen.
Anyway, the problem now is that every kid she knows has an elf and they talk about them, and adults even asked her during the Christmas season what her elf was up to. She wondered why she didn't have an elf. If I do introduce an elf, she is still going to wonder why she didn't have one before and why he's waited until this year to show up.
I wonder if there is a way to do it where she knows it is me but still enjoys it. Maybe I could tell her the elf is just a stuffed animal, but he's there to remind us that Santa and the elves are always watching, or something like that. On the other hand, if she knows it's me playing the games, I don't want her to tell other kids and ruin it for them.
Any suggestions?
Anyway, the problem now is that every kid she knows has an elf and they talk about them, and adults even asked her during the Christmas season what her elf was up to. She wondered why she didn't have an elf. If I do introduce an elf, she is still going to wonder why she didn't have one before and why he's waited until this year to show up.
I wonder if there is a way to do it where she knows it is me but still enjoys it. Maybe I could tell her the elf is just a stuffed animal, but he's there to remind us that Santa and the elves are always watching, or something like that. On the other hand, if she knows it's me playing the games, I don't want her to tell other kids and ruin it for them.
Any suggestions?