Is Easter the new Christmas?

[ZachnElli]

It's not the new Christmas here. Same baskets every year, just small toys. This year for 3 kids there was silly string, bubbles, deck of cards, lip gloss, and 2 Cars cars (like matchbox) for the 2 year old. And then candy. As for why do we care, well when your kids come home from school and are asking why the other kids got video game systems and bikes and other big toys for Easter, it's a bit of a pain. Kind of like when the kid down the street whose dad is a cardiologist had the tooth fairy leave $20 a tooth. No, it's not a big deal, but it is to the kids in kidland.

 

[CEDmom]

It's not the new Christmas here. Same baskets every year, just small toys. This year for 3 kids there was silly string, bubbles, deck of cards, lip gloss, and 2 Cars cars (like matchbox) for the 2 year old. And then candy. As for why do we care, well when your kids come home from school and are asking why the other kids got video game systems and bikes and other big toys for Easter, it's a bit of a pain. Kind of like when the kid down the street whose dad is a cardiologist had the tooth fairy leave $20 a tooth. No, it's not a big deal, but it is to the kids in kidland.

I can see your point but life is full of unfair moments. My feeling is the quicker children learn this lesson the easier it is in the long run. It can be done in a gentle way. On the rare occasion my DD asks why another child has something she doesn't I gently remind her of things she does have that many children don't. She isn't always happy about my answer but I know she gets it.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

We got DS a Nintendo DS & a Nintendog since both sisters have DS's already, some Thomas' and a bit of candy.
DD's each got a DS game,a Mix Max, and candy. 1 DD got a watch & the other got nail polish from LTD2. Easter has gotten smaller around here. My kids don't really care about candy.

 

[allison443]

As for why do we care, well when your kids come home from school and are asking why the other kids got video game systems and bikes and other big toys for Easter, it's a bit of a pain. Kind of like when the kid down the street whose dad is a cardiologist had the tooth fairy leave $20 a tooth. No, it's not a big deal, but it is to the kids in kidland.

On Valentine's Day, I gave my daughter an i-tunes card, candy, and earrings. Her friend received a Coach wallet AND Coach wristlet from her parents!! Did I mention the girls are 10 years old!! Oh well..life's not fair

 

[ZachnElli]

All I'm saying, is this is why it gets commented on. It's annoying, yeah, my kids get it. I never said it was unfair. There is one poster who made it obvious they don't understand why it gets commented on.

 

[lajones81]

Our family does eggs, baskets, etc. Our big $$$ purchase goes towards a fancy Easter brunch!! I stuffed myself silly this morning! YUM!

 

[Mermaid02]

On Valentine's Day, I gave my daughter an i-tunes card, candy, and earrings. Her friend received a Coach wallet AND Coach wristlet from her parents!! Did I mention the girls are 10 years old!! Oh well..life's not fair

Life is not fair- I don't have a Coach ANYTHING!

 

[EthansMom]

As a young kid, we'd leave our baskets (same ones year after year) out on Sat. night and the Easter Bunny would leave them filled with small toys and some candy (a la having our stockings stuffed). We'd also color eggs, have an egg hunt (with real eggs, not plastic ones), attend Mass, and go to Easter Brunch.

My young kids left their Easter buckets (plastic decorated ones from Walmart a couple years ago) out last night. The Easter bunny left them each a new Leapster game, stuffed animal, small toy (DD3 got stars for her ceiling and DS5 got toy torpedos for in the pool), a small box of Jelly Bellys, a small Lindt chocolate bunny and an Easter PEZ. They loved everything in their baskets. This morning, I remarked to DH how nice it would be if Christmas was such a simple event.

Guess I shoulda knocked on wood because then SIL called and asked if we could do the egg hunt here in our basement. DH and I scrambled around cleaning up the house and hiding eggs. We had eggs filled with candy, candy, candy, Hot Wheels cars, and small airplanes. Each child got 25 eggs. It was definitely tooooooo much candy. And the kids were happiest with the toy cars and airplanes.... trading with each other to get their favorites.

We then went over to SIL and BIL's house this afternoon for Easter Dinner. SIL and I were both pretty tired from cooking (I took over three dishes, including deviled eggs made out of the eggs the kids had colored yesterday) and doing everything for Easter. SIL remarked that we needed to start going out to eat for holidays... I told her I would be willing to split the bill to go out for Thanksgiving dinner so that neither of us would have to cook/clean.

Also, the kids each got a basket with toys/candy from their two local sets of grandparents (my kids have four sets of grandparents). So, add more toys and candy.

In general, the small toys weren't too bad. Each kid got 5-10 small toys today, mostly stuff that they actually like and will play with. The candy was out of control, though.... seriously too much candy.

 

[allison443]

All I'm saying, is this is why it gets commented on. It's annoying, yeah, my kids get it. I never said it was unfair. There is one poster who made it obvious they don't understand why it gets commented on.

Oh, I hope you know I was commiserating with you...I must have heard about that Coach gift four times, finally I said to my daughter,"do you think her parents love her more then?" All my kids have had to learn that all families handle things differently..

 

[Bichon Barb]

It wasn't a simple question, it was a vent about other people's spending and gift giving habits.

Since this an OPEN forum, that means not everyone has to agree.

And my question was never answered, why does anyone care? What's wrong with stcking with your own traditions instead of worrying what everyone else is doing?

And why do you feel the need to comment on the OP's opinion instead of just sticking to your own traditions instead of worry what she thinks?

My own opinion is that I think it's sad that so many holidays have turned into reasons to get more "stuff". My boys (11 and 13) announced that they wanted new hoodies for Easter this year instead of candy. Sure! Jesus's ressurection and hoodies -- I see the link there! BTW, they didn't get hoodies, but their dad did go out and pick up some candy. Palmers chocolate and peeps. At least they don't have to worry about me sneaking anything from their baskets. YUCK! LOL.

 

[aprilgail2]

Also, the kids each got a basket with toys/candy from their two local sets of grandparents (my kids have four sets of grandparents). So, add more toys and candy.

.

Besides what I get my daughter her uncle comes over with a gift, her grandma gives her a gift usually money since she gets overloaded with other things), 3 of my neighbors all come over with things, this year she got a basket of candy and small toys from one, a couple books from the other (I LOVE that gift and so does she, she was sitting onthe bed all afternoon reading one!), and a webkinz and book from the other neighbor. Its the same thing on Valentines day and on Halloween she comes home with gift bags from those three houses, not just a candy bar, an actual gift bag full of toys, games, candy etc...she also gets gifts in the mail for all those occassions form my brothers ex girlfriend....guess we just do things big around here....

 

[MrsPete]

I think we -- collective we -- are going overboard on holidays.

When I was a kid, we always left our Easter baskets out, and the Easter bunny'd come hide the eggs and leave candy and a few trinkets (coloring books, pencils, yo-yos, Hot Wheels) in the basket. That's exactly what we do with our kids today. Thinking back to my childhood, I have great memories of dying eggs and going to my grandparents' house with my cousins -- the basket wasn't a focus.

Here's what I have a problem with: We met the family for Easter lunch after church, and EVERYONE ELSE had Easter goodies for the kids! My mom, my aunt, my grandmother . . . the all brought loads of junk for the kids. My kids already received a chocolate bunny each and a couple trinkets at home, and this extra stuff was definitely overload. Once we were home, the kids didn't care one hoot about it because they left the gift bags lying on the floor -- they didn't even look at the stuff.

Too much is too much.

 

[horseshowmom]

On Valentine's Day, I gave my daughter an i-tunes card, candy, and earrings. Her friend received a Coach wallet AND Coach wristlet from her parents!! Did I mention the girls are 10 years old!! Oh well..life's not fair

I know this comes up from time to time, but it still amazes me that anybody's 10 year old would even want a Coach anything! That would have been the last thing on my DD's mind when she was 10. Now that she's almost 20 and watchs waaaayyy too much "fashion TV", she's a lot more interested (but she doesn't get them now either ).

 

[Chloe'sMom]

I think we -- collective we -- are going overboard on holidays.

When I was a kid, we always left our Easter baskets out, and the Easter bunny'd come hide the eggs and leave candy and a few trinkets (coloring books, pencils, yo-yos, Hot Wheels) in the basket. That's exactly what we do with our kids today. Thinking back to my childhood, I have great memories of dying eggs and going to my grandparents' house with my cousins -- the basket wasn't a focus.

Here's what I have a problem with: We met the family for Easter lunch after church, and EVERYONE ELSE had Easter goodies for the kids! My mom, my aunt, my grandmother . . . the all brought loads of junk for the kids. My kids already received a chocolate bunny each and a couple trinkets at home, and this extra stuff was definitely overload. Once we were home, the kids didn't care one hoot about it because they left the gift bags lying on the floor -- they didn't even look at the stuff.

Too much is too much.

That is what we did as well - we set out baskets on the dining room table and the easter bunny would fill them and then hide them. Typically we got things like jump ropes, kites, matchbox cars and some candy. A white chocolate bunny for me and a milk chocolate one for my brother. Our aunts and uncles also gave us things - hair barrettes, small toys, etc. Also it was cool because I used the same Easter basket that my father used when he was little. So we sort of carried on a tradition there.

~Amanda

 

[Cool-Beans]

For the OP -

Lighten up, MzDiz! It's a holiday, people want to share their joy. Some do it in the form of gifts for the kiddos. Even you were moved to buy some little darling something, right? Don't make me start praying for YOUR soul, now. I've got my hands full w/Amity!!!!

Me, myself, I give one gift. When they were little, it would usually be a stuffed animal. Now they'll get, say, a video game or a purse or something.

As a kid, I got gifts on birthday and Christmas ONLY. Well, when I was 11, I found a book called "What's Happening to Me?" on my bed - that was the extent of my sex education. But most years, it was Christmas and birthday only. I'd have LOVED another holiday with gifts!!!

And I can sure think of worse things than buying presents for kids. Like, 2 feet of snow on Easter, for one!

Happy Easter, MzDiz!!!!!

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

My parents always bought me lots of stuff for easter I would spend the entire day hunting up my easter baskets full of stuff, it could have something to do with the fact that im an only child.

I buy toys for my cockatoo to put in her easter basket and I still get presents from my mom on easter.

I think maybe more people are spending more for easter now days.

 

[MzDiz]

Lighten up, MzDiz!

Err, I'm good, but thanks anyway, you weird bean, you.

 

[aprilgail2]

I know this comes up from time to time, but it still amazes me that anybody's 10 year old would even want a Coach anything! That would have been the last thing on my DD's mind when she was 10. Now that she's almost 20 and watchs waaaayyy too much "fashion TV", she's a lot more interested (but she doesn't get them now either ).

The kid across the street got a coach pocketbook recently, she is in 5th grade and at the bus stop one of the other girls said "oh is it real"- her response "of course its real I wouldn't be caught dead carrying a fake"...uggg...

 

[hentob]

The kid across the street got a coach pocketbook recently, she is in 5th grade and at the bus stop one of the other girls said "oh is it real"- her response "of course its real I wouldn't be caught dead carrying a fake"...uggg...

I feel so sorry for these children when they grow up. There are more and more of them out there. They will be in for a BIG surprise when they realize money doesn't grow on trees and credit card bills HAVE to be paid

I blame the parents.

 

[mickeyfan2]

DH gets a small package of Peeps.

I was a bad Aunt on Easter. I showed the nieces and nephews that you could microwave a peep. Sad to say all the adults wanted to see the peeps in the microwave too!!