Does anybody else think the whole “Elf on the shelf” thing is a little creepy? This thing has really taken off in the last few years. I am really grateful my kids are too old for this because I just don’t have the energy to pull off something like that. Even the tooth fairy forgot a few times around our house, which caused me to make up a late fee payable upon delinquent retrieval of teeth. While it isn’t my thing I can’t see why I would not want anyone else to do it if they are so deranged, but apparently somebody thinks this is a covert way to teach our children to be ok with constant surveillance. I know there is much discussion around privacy and how much is ok, but thinking some  tradition for helicopter moms is going to make our children approve of  constant watching by the government is a bit over the top. Perhaps it is my fear of clowns and dolls, with clown dolls at the top of the freak chart. The only thing I think the elf on the shelf will increase in our children is, bed wetting. Would you get up in the middle of the night if you knew some freakish elf doll was wondering around your house?