Easter isn’t ‘Christmas with chocolate’
The Easter Bunny won’t be leaving big clutches of eggs for Tara Shaskey’s sons.
OPINION: If the number of chocolate eggs I hand out to my children on Easter Sunday was a measure of my love for them, you’d probably think I wasn’t very fond of my kids at all.
That’s because when the Easter bunny visits my house the little hopper doesn’t leave them with a lot, compared to their pals at least.
Usually they get just a handful of mini eggs and one average-sized bunny. But that’s only because there are so many others who buy eggs for them. And anyway, I’m trying to teach them there is more to Easter than chocolate.
Every year I remind the grandparents not to break the one egg per child rule. That’s specifically one boxed egg - and not a onekilogram mammoth pig you can guarantee at least one cheeky grandfather will hand over while saying: ‘‘well, you did say only one.’’
The limit on sugary treats is not because I don’t like indulging my two sons, it’s simply because they don’t need, and shouldn’t need, an endless supply of confectionary to celebrate Easter.
I don’t practise religion much nowadays, but was raised and educated embracing Christianity and that is now reflected in my own parenting.
So, presumably like every other person celebrating Easter (otherwise why are you even acknowledging it) I try to remind my children there’s more to the holiday than just gorging yourself with sugar until it comes back up.
The other reason I limit the Easter egg spend is because my 7-year-old and nearly-2-year-old just can’t eat their body weight in chocolate.
Practical concerns such as this have no influence on my sons’ grandparents who tend to ‘‘forget’’ the one egg rule and lavish the boys with eggs aplenty.
So what happens is I take half the chocolate they get and put it away for later.
Putting it away for later generally means me, on the couch, by myself, on a Saturday night munching increasingly stale chocolate eggs while watching reality TV reruns. Don’t feel sorry for me, I enjoy the peace and quiet.
Chocolate isn’t the only thing that bugs me about Easter. The holiday has become Christmas’ spoilt little sister and I think we all just need to calm down a bit.
Who even has the time or money to buy Easter bunting, bunny themed sleepwear and specialised egg carrying baskets? Then do you choose the boxed eggs, or the meshed bags, or the licensed chocolate with the toy or dinner set?
Throwing a few eggs in the garden and letting the kids go nuts hunting them out will totally suffice, and you’ll also find yourself with five minutes peace to enjoy your morning coffee.
Easter and how it is observed will obviously differ between households.
But, I think, whatever your belief and whatever your income, the holiday should mostly be about spending your time off with people who matter the most to you.