18 of the funniest tweets from parents who regret introducing the 'Elf on the Shelf.'

Dec 7, 2022 | 2:27 P.M. ET

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Playing Santa is hard enough for parents to manage during the holidays without having to contort a mini elf doll into different scenes every day to trick your kids into behaving for exactly one month in exchange for presents you already bought them...

So, if you could certainly use a moment of cathartic laughter in-between rearranging your cursed surveillance elf, here are the funniest tweets we could find from parents who are about to stage a tragic shelf-related accident.

1.

not going to do elf on the shelf bc i don’t want to teach my daughter that living in a surveillance police state is ok but mostly bc i am lazy
— Lizz Adams (@Lizz) December 2, 2022

2.

I’m contemplating leaving a pile of ashes on the table and telling my son Elf on the Shelf spontaneously combusted.
— A.J. Schmitz (@AJSchmitzDesign) December 5, 2022

3.

My 7yo son has banned Elf on the Shelf from our house because he says he’s far too naughty and he’s sick of him making a mess and causing trouble.

Never have I loved my son more 😍
— Lea 🌈 Does LinkedIn (@leadoeslinkedin) November 30, 2022

4.

My son just told me he loves his elf on the shelf so much he wants to rip it open and see its insides. Feel like I'll be retelling this interaction to a detective in 20 years time.
— Naughty Zippo (@NaughtyZippo) December 3, 2022

5.

I explain to my son what our elf on the shelf is doing (watching him for Santa to make sure he’s good) my son goes “awwww maaannnn why he do that” lmfao bro
— big fai not the lil one (@23snrx) December 7, 2022

6.

I just told the kid Elf On The Shelf is fake, cuz I don’t want to do that ish every night.
— Malia Miranda (@JMaliaMiranda) December 6, 2022

7.

Is Elf on the shelf actually for kids or is it more for the parents so they’ve got daily social media content to post about? It’s hard to tell
— JAVFC 🍥 (@JasonTweets1980) December 3, 2022

8.

Lots of parents hate Elf on the Shelf but guess what, he doesn't have to be a narc or dress up in costumes or bring your kid a brand new bike every morning. You can just move him from the shelf to the windowsill while the kids are asleep and they will LOSE THEIR MINDS.
— Kristen Mulrooney (@missmulrooney) December 5, 2022

9.

Hoping no one tells my kid about this elf on the shelf nonsense, cos I simply cannot be arsed.
— Vicky (@vickyinatutu) December 2, 2022

10.

A full month of elf on the Shelf, god help us😂😂
— Colin Trimble (@trimble_colin) December 1, 2022

11.

Where are parents getting the energy at this time of the year to set up Elf on the Shelf scenarios, every single day?
— Eulogs (@Eulogs) December 7, 2022

12.

As a parent to a toddler my main goal this Christmas season is to continue our tradition of not having elf on the shelf
— thequestionablemom (@questionablem0m) October 29, 2021

13.

It’s our first year of doing Elf on the Shelf. I’m already filled with regret and it’s not even December until tomorrow 😂
— Lee Newbery (@leewhowrites) November 30, 2021

14.

The only regret I have in life is getting involved with this damn elf on the shelf.
— Princess Consuela Banana Hammock (@iluvtacos0822) December 12, 2021

15.

Unpopular opinion : elf on the shelf is the worst
— Nikki (@nikpat00) December 2, 2022

16.

My toddler is having a staring contest with our elf on the shelf. She’s a pretty sore loser. This isn’t going to end well.
— Rhyming Mama (@sarabellab123) December 3, 2019

17.

Uh ... you guys.... my toddler just realized her Elf on the Shelf is missing and she is NOT happy about it. Send help.
— Unfiltered Mama 💗✌️ (@UnfilteredMama) January 15, 2021

18.

I don't mind telling ya, having to come up with a new idea for elf on the shelf every night is a right pain in the hole pic.twitter.com/sUX6ZxqHtZ
— ᒍEᖇ ᗪI᙭Oᑎ (@JeremyDixonDJ) December 7, 2021

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