Dilemma- Easter morning away w/kids

[mom2boys]

We just decided to spend Easter at an out of town relatives. Our boys are 7 & 9 and still believe in the Easter Bunny. The bunny will deliver their baskets to their cousin's house. Here's my dilemma - our family is relatively conservative regarding Easter baskets. Typically they a little candy & some small toys, activities, maybe a tee shirt. Their cousin is in middle school and will probably receive a much more generous basket. My boys are old enough to realize that their cousin received a lot more. DH & I do not feel the need to give them a bunch of stuff for Easter. So, if they mention the inequities between their baskets & their cousin's, I am not sure how to handle it. What would you tell your kids in such a situation?

 

[aahmom1]

I probably wouldn't put myself in that situation. I would spend the holiday at home and got the cousins house on a different day.

 

[mom2boys]

I guess I should add that the cousin is 400 miles away. They are really the only extended family we have. DH & I feel that it is important to spend the holiday with them.

 

[dianeschlicht]

OOh, tough one! I guess I would talk to the other parents, and see if they can give the older child some of his Easter things on the side so his "basket" looks more like your kids baskets look.

 

[CamColt]

I would leave the baskets at home and tell the kids that the bunny will be going to your house like he always does. Maybe you could have a little something there for them that day either from you or the bunny, but let them know the "real stuff" will be waiting for them.
Thats sort of what I plan to do. We are going to WDW over Christmas and there is no way I plan to lug all of Santas gifts on the plane with us. Santa will come to our house like always and it will give the kids something to look forward to when we get home. I cant see us opening gifts and the kids wanting to play when we are trying to get out to EE at the MK, LOL!

 

[kejoda]

I would do as Camcolt suggests and leave the baskets at home. Once we went to my folks for christmas when my sister was living there and we ended up watching my nephew open gifts. Kevin was 4 at the time and did not understand at all. How do you explain to a child that some people have no sense about money and doesn't think its wrong to go deeply in debt for Christmas?

 

[Karel]

I'm like you, I don't go crazy at Easter but I have a lot of friends who make Easter look like Christmas. I would talk to the cousin and see what they are buying. Maybe just this year you can spring for something more - something you may end up buying anyway for the spring. I wouldn't leave the baskets at home because I think it would be even worse to watch the cousins digging through an Easter basket when you don't have anything. If you don't want to spend a bunch of money, go for lots of inexpensive stuff. I find with my own kids that they look at volume but have no idea how much it all actually costs.

 

[DisneyMim]

My kids are older but thought I would throw in my little ole 2 cents. I would take the baskets with you. I agree with Karel that it would be worse for your kids not to have anything and wonder why the Easter Bunny forgot them. I used to tell my kids that Santa, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy would come to them anywhere they were so personally I think it would be hard for little kids to understand why they didn't get anything. I noticed that your nephew is in middle school. I would almost bet that he doesn't believe any longer. Maybe you could talk to your relatives about talking to your nephew and they could give him his "big" present (s) after you leave. Just would seem more equal to me. This is a tough question and one that pulls at my heart because I remember my kids watching their grandfather and his wife giving Easter gifts to my neices and nephews and they got nothing. I just HATE to see any children get hurt. Good Luck and have a Wonderful Easter!!

 

[DisneyMim]

I just wanted to add something and can't get the edit thingie to work. I really should become more computer wise!!! Anyway, if this was Christmas or some other BIG gift giving thing I think I would probably not take the presents and just tell the kids to wait. It would be hard to carry tons of stuff, but as this is Easter and I am with you, no big gift giving holiday, I think bringing them would work.

Whatever you choose to do I'm sure will be OK. Remember, as I have always told my kids, holidays are not about gift giving they are about spending time with family.

 

[disneychrista]

Oh tough one. I am still trying to figure out how to bring the easter stuff w/o my kids knowing.

I think I would bring the basket with the goodies you were planning on buying and maybe "plump it up" just this once. Like someone else mentioned, maybe buying things you would normally buy for the spring / summer.