what's the story of elf on the shelf

Ah, the story of Elf on the Shelf! Well, it's a charming Christmas tradition that began many years ago. It all started with a mischievous elf named Buddy, who was sent from the North Pole to keep an eye on children and report back to Santa Claus. But Buddy wasn't like other elves, he had a heart of gold and couldn't bear to see children's faces fall when they heard he was there to spy on them. So he disguised himself as a toy and stayed with the family, watching over them without ever letting on that he was there.