Shame, Shame, Mr. Bunny!

       What is it about Easter that makes people so nuts? Of all the holidays it should be one of the easier ones to deal with. All you should have to do is color some eggs, hide them in a yard. If don't find all of them, don't worry, you will smell it in a day or two.  But somewhere along the way, this simple game/tradition began to change. It all got complicated. Now we have plastic eggs, filled with everything you can think of, from mini Darth Vader's to Lego's. On top of that, you feel obligated to make your kids sit in the lap of a giant homicidal bunny, even though the kids themselves are terrified..

    When did it all turn to madness ?  When did it become so much about 'stuff'? Has it always been so crazy? Is it  normal  that I fought for a holiday ham with a lady three times my age today? I know the answer and will call like it is, yes... I am...a holiday whore. Where every tiny, little, thing has to be just right or my kids won't be happy. This is how my head works, simply ridiculous.      
    I wasn't brought up this way. Some of my best memories growing up are of Easter. We got ready for church and immediately went to my grandmother's house afterwards where all of her children and grandchildren would come and stay for the rest of the day. Cousins and Aunts and Uncles I hadn't seen since Christmas were all around me once again. A huge feast was set out, quickly devoured, and then it was time to play. Easter was a celebration. Not about candy or eggs, all that was cool, but really it was about being together. All the kids would play in the warmth of the sun only to be scolded later for tearing our tights or getting our 'Sunday best' filthy. It was great.
     I hope for all of you,the Easter's today aren't all that different from mine growing up.  You should be with your family and eat until you can't any more.  Maybe my grown up mom vision is getting  in the way of seeing the simple pleasures being played out right in front of me. The good news is,I found a support group and  I'm taking the first steps to recovery. My kids will get over the fact their baskets didn't come with soccer balls or new Lego sets, or that they each got one small chocolate bunny and some jelly beans. I know they will be satisfied for now, for as we all know, another glitz filled holiday, is right around the corner.