Dad: Ugh, your bedroom is a MESS!
Kid: I didn’t do it. It was the Elf. I swear I saw him taking toys right off the shelf.
He took my pillows and he threw them on the floor, unmade my bed and when I said “no more”,
He said “Listen, don’t get upset, I’m an elf and I get messy what exactly man did you expect?”
Kid: Soooooo I’m not in trouble am I?
Dad: “Hmmm, I guess not”
Kid: “Whew”!!!
Dad: Get in here…your bathroom is a zoo!

Kid: I didn’t do it. It was the Elf. I swear I saw him take my toothpaste off the shelf.
He took the cotton balls and threw them on the floor, didn’t flush the toilet and when I said “no more”
He said “Listen, don’t get upset, I’m an elf I and I get messy what exactly man did you expect?”
Kid: Soooooo It’s not really MY fault.
Dad: “Hmmm, I guess not”
Kid: “Whew”!!!
Dad: Oh No! The kitchen! What did you do?

Kid: I didn’t do it. It was the Elf. I swear I saw him take the pans right off the shelf.
He took the popcorn & and threw it on the floor, got crumbs on the counter and when I said “Mo more”
He said “listen, don’t get upset, I’m an elf and I get messy what exactly man did you expect?”
Soooooo I’m in the clear, right?

Dad: I’m beginning to think it wasn’t the elf. I’m beginning to think you’ve made the mess yourself.
Kid: It was the dog! Dad: Uh Huh.
Kid: It was my brother! Dad: I don’t think so.
Kid: It was MOM! Dad: Yeah, right.
Kid: I guess it’s time that I tell the truth, I know that it’s the right thing to do.
Ok, I did it. I’m just a kid. But I’ll try real hard to clean up everything I did.
I’ll put my toys away and wipe the counter clean and flush the toilet, and make my bedroom gleam.
And then next time, when there’s a mess. I won’t blame it on anyone.
It’s not the elf I guess. And I’ll try my best to never make a mess.

* As a very young child, my brother used to blame his messes on his imaginary friend “The Elf”. Jon, thank you for inspiring this clean up song. Parents/Teachers- remind children to clean up after themselves, instill honesty and responsibility.