As the holiday season approaches, so does the inevitable question: “Where’s the Elf on the Shelf?” This seemingly trivial toy has become a fundamental Christmas tradition, sparking both excitement and annoyance in households worldwide. While the craze around the Elf on the Shelf is undeniably insane, my family loves it (our way). We ignore the elaborate poses and social media pressure, focusing instead on simple interactions that foster a sense of wonder and anticipation. Instead of spending hours meticulously crafting elaborate scenes, we let our creativity flow spontaneously, allowing our elf (or really elves) to embark on everyday adventures that mirror our own family’s activities. The result is a more relaxed and enjoyable experience, one that doesn’t feel forced.
Elf on the Shelf done the Sanchez way
I love the holidays — any holiday. And I make sure my kids feel special for each one (Halloween, thanksgiving, birthdays, and especially Christmas). I didn’t jump on the Elf on the Shelf bandwagon until our second child, and I don’t regret it at all. Now as a mom of six, our family has grown since Snowflake (our first Elf) and so have our elves.
Snowflake brought a lot of imagination and magic into our family. Unlike all those Pinterest boards of crazy elf shenanigans, ours doesn’t arrive and cause a mess or added chaos. I am not against that but, frankly, this mama is tired. I enjoy seeing other families and all the mischief their elves cause but it doesn’t work for our family. We celebrate added Christmas magic. Snowflake brings us peace and early morning laughter and cheer. 
Our Elves come the day after Thanksgiving with a cookie present and play hide and seek with my children. Every night they move around to different places around our home and they wake up and look for them. They still do not touch them and I help by not placing them where the children can reach. Sometimes they bring little gifts for the kids; sometimes they just play. But each morning, my kids love to look all over the house for all the elves.
Elf on the Shelf as a bonding moment
Elf on the Shelf has now become a bonding moment between my husband and I. We tip-toe around the house and decide where to place them and enjoy the magic in the eyes of our children as they seek them every morning. To hear their little conversations about where they may be brings a bit of nostalgia into my heart.
My oldest is 12 and she helps her younger siblings search around — that is beautiful in my opinion. I mean, she brought the Christmas magic into our home.
The Elf on the Shelf is an activity we recommend but do it your way! Make it work for your family and throw those mainstream rules out the window!
Elf it Up!
