big brother?

i was at estelle's art class this week and the mums were talking and i mentioned that estelle hasn't exactly been bringing her a-game lately. (we all have our moments)  i was told about this little christmas tradition called elf on a shelf. heard of it? no i hadn't either, but apparently its a long standing tradition in some families (in fact my mum even bumped into a lady who said her elf came with her to florida from home.)  here is the premise as far as i know it. this elf (whom you can name) is one of santa's helpers and he comes with a book that you read at the beginning of the christmas season. it outlines that he is here to keep an eye out, on santa's behalf, that the kids in the house are behaving.  each night he scoots back to santa's workshop and reports the deets to the big guy, and each morning he returns to a different spot in the house (think birds eye view)

so the kids remember to be good so that the elf doesn't snitch on them. well i am liking this cute concept and then i wonder...is this a bit "big brother"? should i have anyone "watching" my kids? but i suppose thats what we say about mr c. himself. and don't we try not to encourage tattling? i am sure i'm over analyzing.  i love the fantasy and nostalgia that come with christmas but as i have said before, i'm feeling a touch conflicted about the honesty factor surrounding the whole rig-a-mo-roll. don't get me wrong, there will be no three-year-old bubbles burst in our house this year...but somehow i feel better just knowing that i am conscious of what i'm doing. (like that makes it better somehow...riiiight)

oh and ps mum is bringing the elf back for me...so any judgement here applies to me as well...lets see how it goes.

pps lyndon and i just agreed that we will try the elf out...but spin it...so not that he is here to report on whether or not she's good, but rather, that he heard she is such a good girl and he wanted to come see for himself...somehow i feel better that the threat has been eliminated non?