There are many Christmas traditions that we may pass down from one generation to the next. One that has been popular for quite some time is the elf on the shelf. Parents will spend an extraordinary amount of time positioning the elf so that the children can be delighted on a daily basis. It becomes something that is a great memory but at the same time, it can be a little bit of a hassle.
Many parents enjoy having their children feel as if the elf is keeping an eye on their behavior and reporting everything back to Santa Claus. The problem is, moving the elf from one night to the next can be very frustrating and if you miss the night, it can be devastating. What if there was a way to make them feel as if somebody was checking in on them but you didn’t have to do all of the work? That time is now.
I’d like to introduce you to a new friend of yours, Santa’s Lazy Gnome, designed by Julie DeForest. She is a mother who was tired of moving the elf around so she created this lazy version that simply sits there and does nothing. He doesn’t move from one spot to another and he isn’t mischievous, he is just there to keep his eye on the kids. In fact, he doesn’t even have eyes!
The lazy gnome was developed because one mother was a little lazy herself. The website takes things a step further, however, and says that the elves are busy making toys so Santa sent over this gnome to take care of business. “These mysterious friends report to Santa if you’re naughty or nice, even when you’re out of sight,” DeForest says.
The best part about this is that the gnomes are not necessarily hands off. “We’re delighted to find that we were allowed to actually hug our gnome,” according to one mother. She also said she will be sending out a paperback version as the demand grows.
Many of us have had the same elf for years and at first, it was a lot of fun to find new hiding places and we would look forward to moving him around at night. He would show up around Thanksgiving and wouldn’t leave until Christmas.
Pete the lazy gnome is only here for the month of December and he stays in one place because he’s just too tired to move. Maybe it’s time for you to make the move to Pete.
They come in Argyle, polka dot and snowflake fashions. All of them are cute.
DeForest is nothing short of a genius. She took her frustration as a mother and created something that is a huge hit. Well done.