All that cake and candy is wreaking havoc on your Elf’s digestion. He didn’t want your child to catch him going to the bathroom, so the next best thing was to find the fastest spot, which was the one from yesterday.

Just like Momma, your Elf meant to move but was too tuckered out from talking to Santa to find a new location. She probably needs to sleep some more, so you should continue this conversation later.

Sure, he might be racking up those frequent flyer miles, but all of that traveling is taking a toll on your Elf. So he was bound to come down with a cold at some point or another. Ask your child to go get him a tissue so that he can blow his nose, and your kid will feel sorry for his Elf and forget that he didn’t move.

Your Elf on the Shelf is the champion at playing Statues in her hometown of the North Pole. So naturally, she wants to play with your child, too. Encourage your kid to freeze, too (and maybe you’ll be able to get something done).

Everyone has a favorite spot in the house, and your Elf is no exception. So the reason why he didn’t move is because he likes the way that the sun feels on his pointy red hat and white gloves when he's in that exact spot.

Rudolph was having a hard time seeing through all that fog, so your Elf just made it back to the house in time for morning. She didn’t have time to snag a new spot, so she went back to the spot from last night. Hey, sometimes reindeer aren’t a reliable form of transportation.

When you can’t come up with a reason why your Elf didn’t move, tell your kid that it did. Like, a whole inch. Trick him into thinking that he’s seeing things, and that should get you off the hook.

Your Elf on the Shelf is an expert at being able to move incognito. And since she probably heard someone coming, she dove for cover — and it just so happened to be right where she was last night.

When you think about it, the Elf on the Shelf is on duty for many hours during the day, watching over your child. So he might have been too tired to find a new spot. Tell your kid to cut him (and you, really) some slack.

Yep, your Elf saw when your kid pushed her little sister. And since she’s an appointed reporter for Mr. C. himself, she didn’t want his report to reflect poorly upon your child’s standing with Santa. So actually, she was doing your kid a favor. You’re welcome.

She only wants you to think that she hasn’t moved…but aha, she has! It’s all part of his reporting back to Santa to show that your child has excellent observational skills. Congrats, your kid passed with flying colors.

In an effort to give Santa the most detailed report ever, your Elf inadvertently missed his nightly flight to the North Pole. He feels terrible about it. No point rubbing it in.

Just like your child might prefer snuggling up on the center cushion on the couch, your Elf also has favorite spots throughout the house. Maybe she didn’t move because that location makes her happy—and you definitely want your Elf to be happy.

Your Elf isn’t all work and no play. In fact, he likes to shake things up with some of the toys (and elves!) when your child is asleep. And wrangling a bunch of pups from PAW Patrol and ponies from My Little Pony all night left him too pooped to move. He’s sorry.

Although the marshmallow tub time was lovely, it didn’t really help the Elf to see what was going on during the day. But being left smack dab in the center of the kitchen counter... again? Perfect.

Even elves need a day off, whether it be every weekend or a random Tuesday that week. Unless someone is paying for her overtime, the Elf ain't moving.

Sure, any old Elf can move from night to night, but your child’s Elf is super special. He didn’t switch his spot because he’s planning a super duper surprise for your child later. (And then it’s up to you to figure out said surprise.)

If you thought that the Elf was just lazing about while your child is in school, think again. She' got a lot on his mind, and as such, she forgot to switch up his spot.

It requires great agility to be an Elf. And sometimes, your Elf might pull a hamstring or hurt his back trying to get into a new position. Give him 24 hours to stretch, and he’ll be feeling his usual limber self tomorrow.

Just like Santa, your Elf can see when your child is sleeping or not. She can also tell what time your kiddo hit the hay, which was wayyy past his bedtime last night. So remind your kid that unless he gets to sleep at an appropriate hour, your elf won't have enough time to fly to Santa and back before the morning.

Sometimes, if your Elf on the Shelf knows he’s not going to make it back from the North Pole in time, he’ll send in a substitute Elf to replace him. Thing is, the sub might not know all of the Elf’s spots, so he accidentally chose the same one. Your old Elf should return home tonight.

Hopefully you'll never need to explain why your Elf on the Shelf is sitting squarely where he was from the day before. But in case you do, these excuses can be a lifesaver.