A tactical mum has managed to get out of the 'elf on the shelf' tradition for two whole weeks thanks to her clever trick.
Courtney Boles told her children Buddy the elf had fallen and broken his leg.
Boles uploaded a photo to Facebook of Buddy wearing a cast on his leg, with the caption: "He has strict orders from Santa not to move for two weeks. Parenting win!"
Boles' children woke up in the morning to see Buddy the elf's leg cast with a note that read: "Oops! I fell off the star last night and broke my leg.
"Never fear, Santa set me up with a cast in my favourite colour. He also gave me STRICT orders not to move for two weeks to let my leg heal.
"In the mean time, Santa will be coming here to get his nightly report.
"That means you MUST go to bed when your parents say so you don't chance Santa seeing you! Sincerely, Buddy the Elf."
The photo, which was uploaded on 3 December, has been shared 31,000 times.
The majority of the parents commenting saw the funny side of the post.
"You guys are pure geniuses," wrote one person.
"You my friend deserve a reward. So trying this! Being the third Christmas it gets harder coming up with fast things to do," commented another.
However Boles said she also received some negative comments, asking "what's the fun in that", so she decided to explain why she did it.
She told TODAY Parents: "My four-year-old son has autism and has a hard time following the rule about kids touching him [the elf], as clearly stated in the book, so I am limited in my options on where he can move.
"Also, we were headed out of town for my daughter's soccer tournament and my younger daughter and son were staying with grandparents.
"Instead of trying to come up with an excuse why Buddy wasn't coming, we decided he should break his leg."
Boles said her daughter has been making Buddy 'get well soon' cards daily and her oldest daughter takes a daily selfie with him.
Buddy the elf will be back causing mischief by 18 December.
If your elf hasn't broken his leg and you're in need of some ideas to see you through to the end, click through the slideshow below.
Elf On The Shelf Ideas
'A very mischievous elf'(01 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Lou Prior/Facebook)
'The elf put the underwear on the tree'(02 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Sammy Gill/Facebook)
'Elves practising their wrapping'(03 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Sammy Gill/Facebook)
'Ernie the elf loves a bit of colouring'(04 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Jeanette Thorpe/Facebook)
'Elf made banana minions'(05 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Laura Halls/Facebook)
'The elf making the finish line'(06 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Laura Deena Halls/Facebook)
'Tired elf after taking the kids' letters to Santa'(07 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Laura Marlow/Facebook)
'Finding out how to get to Leicester to tell Santa'(08 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Laura Marlow/Facebook)
'Our elves got stuck inside some balloons'(09 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Carina Bramley/Facebook)
'Our elves were feeling peckish yesterday'(10 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Ruth Manton/Facebook)
'Having a snow party'(11 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Laura Marlow/Facebook)
'Ours didn't want to miss out on PS4 fun'(12 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Tracey Beaumont/Facebook)
'The elf stuck in the ice'(13 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Olivia Walker/Facebook)
'Our girls found this one hilarious'(14 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Aimee Butler/Facebook)
'Our elves put toilet paper on the tree last night'(15 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Annemarie Thayne/Facebook)
'Not got into too much mischief yet... but there's still time!(16 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Samantha Griffiths/Facebook)
'Ours ate the whole advent calendar'(17 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Annemarie Thayne/Facebook)
'Ours had a heavy night!'(18 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Nikki Milton/Facebook)
'Ours made a lot of mess last night...'(19 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Louise Jamal/Facebook)
'Greedy elves!'(20 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Louisa Jamal/Facebook)
'Ours is a daredevil'(21 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Caroline Hoggins/Facebook)
'Arty Billy the elf'(22 of22)
Open Image Modal (credit:Caroline Hoggins/Facebook)
Best Elf On The Shelf Names
Trixie (01 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:Melissa Hillier/Flickr)
Mischief(02 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)
Bobbert(03 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)
Boots(04 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)
Pixie Snowflake(05 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)
Chippy(06 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)
Elfis(07 of10)
Open Image Modal(Get it? Elf-is... Elvis) (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)
Remington(08 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)
Joy(09 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)
Periwinkle(10 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:mbaylor/Flickr)