I’m Boycotting Elf on the Shelf & Taking My Kids to Meet Santa’s Reindeer Instead
What is Elf on the Shelf?
It starts out cute- a tiny, mischievous elf who magically moves around your house each night and reports back to Santa about how everyone is behaving while creating some holiday debauchery. Adorable. Especially with names like "Buttercup, Sunny, Misty, and Snowflake." But by December 5th, it becomes every parent’s nightmare. Suddenly, you’re scrambling at 11:59 p.m., trying to remember if your elf has moved, wiping flour “snow” off the counter, and staging some new elaborate stunt worthy of Broadway or reaching out on your mom group text for HELP! After a few years of hearing about this annual chaos from sisters and friends, it was finally my year to decide- get on the train or boycott letting the elves into my house? After careful thinking and being the family gatekeeper that I am, I decided a plastic doll will not be running my holiday season. Stand with me parents- enough is enough.
So What are We Doing Instead?
Instead of letting an elf dictate my December, I’m taking my kids to the North Pole to meet Santa’s reindeer. Why Finnish Lapland? First, because the Northern Lights are on my bucket list (and momma wants a fun trip too), but also because there’s nothing like feeding Dasher and Dancer in their natural habitat, touring Santa’s workshop, visiting the post office where all Santa letters arrive, and hiking to Santa’s secret cabin in the woods to meet the man and Mrs. Claus themselves. Bonus: the bragging rights will be unparalleled when comparing naughty elf notes.
Planning for Finland
Planning this trip wasn’t cheap (yes, it’s going to cost me thousands), but if it spares me thirty days of midnight elf panic multiplied by the next 5 years, I think I will actually come out ahead. I mapped out flights to Helsinki, an overnight train to the North, family-friendly accommodations including a glass igloo, and activities that will give the boys a full-blown North Pole experience. They are at the age when they are starting to remember and I think this trip will be a core memory for childhood.
Timing is also key. The boys are at that perfect age when magic is real and wonder is boundless. If we wait too many years, the magic might be gone and the twins will know where the actual North Pole is on a map, along with "ya I guess it's cool" teenage tones. We’re taking advantage of their preschool awe and raw excitement for anything candy cane decorated.
Things To Do When We Get To Lapland
So, what’s on the itinerary after making the trek above the Arctic Circle? Feeding Santa’s reindeer, exploring the workshop where toys are magically made, visiting the bustling post office that handles every letter to the North Pole, sleeping in a glass igloo, hunting for the Northern Lights, husky sled rides, and hiking to discover Santa and Mrs. Claus’s secret cabin in the woods. We're also going to add on a 2 day cruise to Stockholm, because if you’re going to ditch an elf, you might as well go big and stopover in a second country.
What I Hope This Experience Creates
At the end of the day, I want our family to have an amazing Christmas season this year with awe, wonder, a sense of adventure, and memories that will outshine any Pinterest elf stunt. I want them to remember the magic of Christmas in the flesh- the snow, the reindeer, the warmth of Santa’s cabin, bundled up and catching snowflakes on their tongues. I’m choosing stories over stress, magic over mess, and memories over everything.
Happy (upcoming) Holiday Season friends. Show that Elf who's boss.
