Elf on the Shelf

Ok, I guess my kid is still too young for me to understand what the Elf on the Shelf is all about. Some 21- year old salesgirl at Nordstrom (yes, she did tell me her age while she was telling me how much she loves the toy) was trying to tell me all about it and I didn't quite get it, but I do understand that my house is the last house on the planet not to have one. The Nordstrom Youngin', as I will call her, was filling me in on all the "fun" activities they can do, like make snow angels in powdered sugar (Really? This sounds like a disaster in the making to me) or turn water in the toilet green (Uh, ok? Sounding more and more like a great toy to me...). I can only imagine my blank stare in return. But it looks cute. And I guess it's a pretty convincing way to get bigger kids to behave. I'd like to have an Elf watch over me -- especially if said Elf helps bring me presents! (Is that how it works?) And I admit it, I'm seeing pictures everywhere of people's Elves on their Shelves...and I'm jealous. I want to partake, even if I don't get it. Kind of like Kentucky Derby (yea, not really, but go with it) - I want to wear the big hats, drink mint juleps, and participate, even if I don't quite understand the point.