Care and Feeding

We’re caught in the middle.

Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Elf on the Shelf.

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Care and Feeding is Slate’s parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here .

Dear Care and Feeding,

My wife, “Aubrey,” and I have two kids, “Jacob,” 3, and “Iris,” 6. Even though it’s not yet October, Iris is already excited about putting up the Elf on the Shelf in anticipation of Christmas.

The trouble is that once we told Jacob what the elf is all about, he freaked out at the prospect of it watching him and doesn’t want it around. Now Aubrey and I are caught in the middle, where Iris is going to be upset if the elf isn’t in his usual spot in the family room, while Jacob starts crying if he sees him.…