The Easter Festivus

What I'm thinking about this morning is way too profound and deep, too thought provoking and life altering.  About how much life can change in an instant, and how rarely we are ever in control of those moments.  Big stuff.

Be grateful that someone gave me a topic to write about already, and I'm not writing about any of that nonsense.

My friend Ginger over at Spicey Mom wants me to take on Easter, which could very well be her least favorite holiday...which makes sense if you know that she's an atheist.

Her beef with the holiday is that, like everything else it seems these days, it gets bigger and bigger, more and more commercialized, filled with more expectations and demands every year.

Gone are the days when the "bunny" drops off a modest basket with a few bucks worth of candy and calls it good. Now, baskets are huge and toy filled, kids make requests for what they want, and start asking to go see the bunny to make good with the big guy.

Aren't baskets supposed to only have actual eggs in them anyway, if we're being technical?

If the bunny has failed to meet expectations, you're sure to hear about it within a few days after the kids go back to school, because there is some kid who inevitably got a bike or a scooter or an actual rabbit for Easter.

Your kid is pissed, wonders why they didn't get anything cool like their friends did from the bunny, ponders the unfairness of the magic world of the seasonal gift-givers.  As a parent, you just feel like you're a failure.  Like no matter what you do, it's not going to be good enough.  Some other parent is always going to get their kid something more awesome.

Here's my take on it.

Ready?

Stop caring.

Seriously.

I've never worried too much about what other people get their kids, whether it's Christmas, birthdays or random Tuesdays.  My children's basic needs are met, they are well fed, there is a roof over their head, and they've acquired enough crap already to basically be hoarders.  If they don't get a basket full of stuff they're only going to play with for five minutes, it's no one's loss and it saves me money.

Besides, I've never done the traditional baskets.  I'm cheap and practical, and my kids know that.

I get them a seasonal toy like sidewalk chalk or a butterfly net or a kite, but most of what is in the basket is even more practical.  Like a new swimsuit and a pair of sandals, which they get every year.

Don't worry, I buy them a package of Peeps and a chocolate bunny too.  They aren't completely deprived, but they'll get even less candy this year than usual because of the little boy and his sugar issues.

Sometimes we go see the bunny, some years we don't.  I happen to think a six foot tall rabbit is terrifying, and don't blame the kids when they hesitate.

Occasionally, the kids will mention something about someone getting something better than they did, and I just tell them that life's not fair.  Because it's not.

I'm not going to try and compete with other parents.  Even if I wanted to, I don't have the financial means to do it.

Why?

Because life's not fair.

^^^see what I just did right there?

I tend to think that we aren't doing anyone any favors by perpetuating the idea of keeping up with the Joneses, even when the Joneses are wearing bunny ears and poofy tails.

St. Patrick's Day is a bigger deal around here anyway.

What about you?  Is Easter a big deal for you?  Do you celebrate only the religious aspects, or does the bunny come to visit?