Dear Mom,
I see you in Target with the shopping cart filled with puzzles, stuffed bunnies and toys. I see that there is barely any candy in your cart and that basket that you picked out, while super cute is never going to hold that expensive haul of goodies. And I’m asking you to stop, Easter is not Christmas. Ignore the over achieving Mom down the street who is getting little Damien a new bike, ignore the blogs that are shouting 10 Great Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas! and for the love of all things ignore the ads that are filled with toys, Easter is not Christmas.
I totally get that you don’t want little Susie to have tons of candy. I get that in a world of make your own juice and kale is king that sugar is a big no-no. I get that it’s tough to ignore all those Pinteresting Easter ideas. It’s easy to let ourselves wander down I’m a Bad Mother Blvd when we think every kid in towns Easter will be bigger and better than our kids.
But let’s stop the insanity, let’s put the breaks on the bunny. Put back the toys and the games and for the love of all things spring put back anything that costs over $20. And instead do what my Mom did, buy your kids a candy that they only kinda like (I’m looking at you plain M &M’s) and a bag of candy that you like and call it a day. Let your kids eat chocolate for breakfast and then toss the stuff once Easter is over.
Let’s not make Easter in to a bigger event than it needs to be. Fight the good fight, we have enough on our plates between Santa, Elves, Leprechaun’s and the tooth fairy. Let’s take this whole holiday back to what is was, a basket and some candy.
Let’s take Easter back to what it used to be. Take back the bunny, Easter is not Christmas.
I will go another step further (just because I am religious) and say that all that crap also makes is lose it's TRUE meaning. I agree. Easter IS NOT Christmas for LOTS of reasons. 😉
Yes you are so right. And all that stuff really does take away from the true meaning.
Good post!
Thank you!
Haha. I sooo downgraded this year. There is ONE basket for both boys to share; they share all the candy anyway, why make separate baskets? They have plastic eggs full of jelly beans and mini peeps, some bubbles and rubber duckies. The baby is getting two stuffed animals because I am not giving him jelly beans LOL. No need for craziness.
One basket of candy is more than enough for two kids. My son is getting a small basket with some great dollar store finds (glow sticks, coloring book, sidewalk chalk) and some lollipops (the only candy he likes).
We only got candy when we were little. I remember stuffing my face with so much candy that I always felt a little sick by the end of the day. My son is still so little, so I'm going to get him candy, but I did get him a few small gifts. I don't think I'll go crazy- only what can fit in the basket, but I don't think I will want to just give all that candy. Technically, Easter is supposed to be the bigger holiday (for Catholics at least; I can't speak for others).
I totally get not wanting to give all candy. My son doesn't eat chocolate.
My son will get a little candy and a DVD. Last year he got a new lunch box. We really try not to go overboard.
We did a little candy and a DVD a few years ago. This year it's some snacks (since he doesn't like candy) and some travel activities for our upcoming trip.
Easter is not about toys and things to us and its not really religious at all to us either. However I do get her a basket and normally noncandy egg stuffers but mostly hairbows because lets face it those things disappear as quick as bunnies make more bunnies…. and earings for the same reason. Her basket has a few pieces of chocolate and grow your own garden stuff. She has a blast outside and its all ecofriendly and sustainable and it all must fit in the basket as a rule. HOWEVER, all that to say.. I agree but I still won't give my daughter candy either way just for the sake of candy.
I don't celebrate Easter, but more so observe its true origins and the Spring Solstice. I am not really on board with all the crap people feed their kids, but in this instance I agree to just let them have some jelly beans and Peeps (or whatever, I hate Peeps LOL) and call it a day.They're kids. Spend a few bucks, let them run around finding eggs or whatever and then crash. Eat their candy, drinks some wine and then with your husband raise your glass to Astarte and tire yourselves out. 😉
I was in Walmart the other day looking at all the overflowing carts saying the same thing. Our boys got some jelly beans, a chocolate bunny, some pb candy, peeps, a new plate and utensils (need them), bubbles, a book about the real meaning of Easter and then they each got a small toy : a $5 Lego set and a $6 little people set. i guess that sounds like a lot, but its really not. PEOPLE ARE CRAZY.
I agree with people going overboard on holidays but I have to wonder why you even care what others are buying/doing for Easter?? When I was a young mom , I let the little things bother me. I wanted my kids to have what all the other kids in the neighborhood had. Now that I am an old grandma I realize that was a big waste of my time. Don’t worry about the other mom’s and just focus on your family. Life will be so much easier and a whole lot more fun! Happy Easter!!
I never even had the Easter bunny when I was younger. Easter was a non-event – just a visit to church and a chocolate egg.