I married into a big family. Most of the members live within 20 minutes of each other. So, it’s rare to have a holiday or celebration without a house full of people. Easter, however, is different. Just our (now) family of five and a few of my husband’s immediate family members will spend this blessed Sunday at our home. Easter is our holiday.
Like any high-achieving parents, we set out to make Easter the best for our kids. The egg hunt, the pastel-packed buffet brunches, the baskets stuffed with a new tulle dress for church and of course the obligatory visit to the ‘why are his eyes so big and shiny’ bunny.
In the spirit of making memories—and not necessarily good ones—here are a few of our parenting fails over the last five years. Including how we are adjusting our expectations for a holiday celebration that doesn’t permanently scar our kids.
Because nothing says ‘Happy Easter’ like a home visit from the giant white rabbit! Here is my sweet husband dressed up as the Easter bunny, surprising our kids during an egg hunt in our woods.
Luckily my oldest would sell his soul for chocolate, so we did get some cute shots with him.
Maybe there are pants inside?!
We’d rather die than take our three kids out to a restaurant, but for some reason Easter brunch with a hundred other kids sounds like an awesome idea. Enter the mimosa I ordered to calm my nerves and the subsequent baby’s missing pants after he dumped it all over himself.
I blame my own mother for going completely overboard on mega Easter baskets. King-size chocolate bunnies, books, flip flops, sunglasses and costumes from the Disney Store. Because nothing says, ‘Jesus is Risen’ like a full-body Ironman suit. Especially when you wear it to church and proudly strut to the front row for children’s time with Pastor Ron.
Don’t worry about Santa giving you nightmares, this guy will haunt your chubby baby dreams ‘til at least kindergarten. Maybe you can ask him for new parents and some therapy.
Three kids and a whole hand of Easters later, we are kind of getting the hang of it. It’s about the kids. And church, because mama bear is a Christian. Other than those two priorities, I don’t stress about the matching Gymboree outfits. We passed on the $35 mall bunny visit because the baby gets flutter chin from crying so hard. Easter brunch is potluck, and there will be wine.
This year we’ll strip off our church clothes after service and hide the eggs while the ham is warming. The littles will sneak some chocolate for breakfast and every single minute of the day. There will be family and food and happy kiddos. And that is enough.
Happy Easter from SheintheCLE! We’d love for you to share how you’re making memories this holiday.
Your husband looks a lot like Dr. Riggs from “Grey’s Anatomy.”
What a great reminder of what holidays (and family times in general) are really about and how it helps to lower our expectations as parents. I was so bummed we didn’t have the lovely evening of egg coloring I had planned for my family, but who says we can’t do it after Easter, right?! Funny how kids teach us the importance of both schedules and flexibility!