Elf Resigns! Goes Off Shelf!

Elf resigns. Says controlling children with threats is just wrong.

Dear Santa,

After working for you in the capacity as Elf on the Shelf for quite some time, it is not without some regret that I resign my position. I will miss my visits to the North Pole but I must say I will be relieved to not have to report misdeeds of children to you each night.

In addition to the wear and tear of such travel, I have discovered a new way of looking at and relating to children that no longer allows me to threaten them into goodness. I’ve discovered that coerced goodness is not goodness at all, but is in fact a dynamic that breeds mistrust, cynicism and deeply interferes with real learning.

Rather than helping the children that depend on me to learn to be good, they are simply learning to appear to be good. That is a huge difference and puts them at risk for doing bad or even dangerous things behind my back.

I really like the kids I live with! Why would I want to have a relationship with them based on fear and mistrust? We are now having great discussions about my thoughts on goodness and theirs. I’m learning so much from these talks too; about them and about myself. Plus I am modeling goodness rather than being a nasty tattletale.

Santa I know how much you love kids, now it’s time to learn to respect them as well. It’s a new era Santa, where adults need to be trusted advisors to children and not behavior police. It makes us all kinder, smarter and happier.

Sorry for the short notice, have a great holiday!

Yours Truly,

Elf off the Shelf