We've had strep and the flu, and other medical yuk in our house for over two months. Needless to say, the Easter Bunny has been pretty lame this year.

I even forgot to buy plastic eggs for our traditional egg-hunt. At 11:30pm last night, I was out putting quarters in the 25 cent Chicken Clucking Egg machine to get plastic eggs (no stores were open except one grocery store that had the machine, but no eggs).

Anyway, I had strep and a fever, so I had to enlist the help of my 13 year old and my 15 year old. The 6 year old was sleeping, thank goodness.

They have never seen me do their baskets or the eggs until this year. Therefore, now they know there isn't an Easter Bunny.

I know that they're old, and this is ridiculous, but my mother still sends my Christmas presents with a hearty "from Santa" written on them, and still insists that Santa uses UPS when his reindeer are tired.

I have kept to the tradition and stayed up until 2am or 3am every Easter Eve and Christmas Eve until last night.

I could tell that the 15yr old was in her glory helping me. The 13yr old seemed kind of quiet. I know that they're older, but it is a tradition. I've always told them that once they stop believing in the Easter Bunny and Santa, the gifts stop. They can say whatever to their friends, but to Mommy, the Easter Bunny and Santa are real.

I'm so sad. What can I tell them? Please help me think of a really good lie to cover this year fiasco about the Easter Bunny.

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 08:40 am:

{{{HUGS}}} I'm sorry you're sick! Hope you're better soon. I wouldn't lie to your kids. Besides, at their age I'm pretty sure they already knew the truth. My 8 yr. old DS has a clue but still chooses to play along. I think you handled it well by including them in on the preparations, however, why do gifts and goodies have to stop for them at this point? Heck, the Easter Bunny left ME a giant Hershey Kiss. You were sick and did the best you could. The Easter Bunny still visited your house! Don't worry about it. Your teens will understand.

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 08:46 am:

Almost forgot... My goodness, WHY have you been staying up until 2 or 3 a.m. every Christmas and Easter Eve?? I couldn't do it! LOL! My kids are always up before the crack of dawn on Christmas and Easter morning. The Easter Bunny was in bed sleeping by midnight last night.

This has nothing to do with Easter, but I'm saving the poem below for when my kids start questioning Santa.

A Child's Wonder

By Jann on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 09:38 am:

I would just take the two big kids aside and give them a big hug and say "the Easter Bunny really appreciates your help this year. Next year, I think the Easter Bunny will be feeling better and can handle this all on her own".

By Ilovetom on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 10:14 am:

Aww Jann- that is a great idea.

I guess I will keep on with the Easter bunny gig til mine are married. LOL.

By Mommmie on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 10:29 am:

Add me to your guilty bunny ranks. Once my son was rejected at the neighborhood easter egg hunt last week for being too old (he's 10) I just totally forgot to get him a basket. So this morning I told him since it's Easter I'll buy him a present (probably from GameStop) for Easter and he was perfectly happy. He said he was okay with it not coming in a basket. He's known about Santa and the bunny since 1st grade so that wasn't the issue (remember he's the one who was really really *mad* I lied to him about the existence of these things).

By Cat on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 12:04 pm:

How about special treats, just for them for being the "Easter Bunny Helpers"? My kids are 9 and 11 and they know the Bunny's not real. Randy (9yo) even said this morning, "Mom, I mean the Easter Bunny, left these!" lol They still say they believe in Santa, though.

By Jann on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 03:05 pm:

I didn't even know my dd still believed in the Easter Bunny till yesterday when she put our her basket, and an extra one for her 16 year old brother and said 'I can't wait to see what the EB brings us'. I looked and dh and said 'I can't either' LOL then raced to the grocery store.
It's never been a big gift giving holiday here or even played up that much. We always had easter egg hunts with all my siblings and their children, but that was after church and they knew the parents were hiding the eggs.
I don't have any problem with Santa and Jesus co existing, but for some reason never could truly wrap myself around Jesus and the Easter Bunny! LOL

By Imamommyx4 on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 07:22 pm:

My 4 yo asked this afternoon, "Is the Easter bunny real? I don't think so. It's kind of odd don't you think--a bunny delivering chicken's eggs?" I did not answer. I was too busy trying not to laugh hysterically. She went on with her business which prevented me from having to answer after that.

By Rayanne on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 09:37 pm:

I'm married and the Easter Bunny still gives me and my DH a basket every year. I will NEVER stop giving Rylee an Easter basket.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 10:04 pm:

Mary, I am sure your girls understand and I would just go back to business as usual next year. I got an Easter Basket until I moved out of my mom's house at 18, even though I hadn't believed for the better part of 11 years. I will do a basket for my children until I am not here to do them any more... Everyone loves to feel thought of and lets face it, it is fun... I think we make them grow up to quick and there is no harm in a couple of days of the year being about fantasy (Christmas, Easter, even Holloween) and letting them just be kids. And even when they are 20, 30, 40 they are still my children...

By Palmbchprincess on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 10:25 pm:

I agree with those who said just continue as normal. After I knew the truth about the EB and Santa, my parents continued to do the same rituals. My mom often gave me a basket of just Cadbury Eggs since they were my favorite, as her way of showing me she paid attention to what I liked. I would fill her Christmas stocking, since my dad often worked Christmas eve (police officer, major OT pay) and it was a special thing for me. Even though we know the "truth", the love and care that goes into the rituals are what matter most. (((Mary))) I hope everyone is feeling better!

By Luvn29 on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 10:38 pm:

OMG Mommmie!!! I would absolutely die if I forgot an Easter basket or a stocking or something. I have had numerous nightmares about that! Can you believe that!!!

My daughter is 8, almost 9, and is having her doubts, I can tell, but she would be devastated to wake up to no Easter basket on Easter morning, probably even if she was 17!!! That's just how she is, though...

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 11:43 pm:

My kids haven't believed in the Easter Bunny for years, and I still make them each a basket! They would be devastated if I didn't! Even though I was putting them together right in front of them! LOL!

By Vicki on Monday, March 28, 2005 - 10:21 am:

This is the first Easter that dd hasn't believed in the Easter bunny, but I still did the basket, coloring eggs and even an egg hunt! Even though she is 10, she still enjoyed the hunt. I numbered the plastic eggs and hid them and she had to find them in order. She couldn't pick up egg #2 until she found egg #1 and had it in the basket. She thought it was a blast! I agree that no matter how old she gets, I will always make her a little basket up. The biggest relief to me was not having to find the carrots at the store with the green stuff still on them. She was always insistant that we had to have those carrots for him!! LOL

By Kate on Monday, March 28, 2005 - 10:44 am:

I don't understand why the gifts stop once they know the truth. You don't intend to give them Christmas presents anymore when they know about Santa?? Don't you intend to give them gifts every year of their life? If you've really been telling them no more gifts when they stop believing, no wonder your teenagers have been 'believing' and no wonder your 13 year old was so quiet. She figures that's it for her now! And through no fault of her own, too. Think about it....SHE didn't come to you and say she stopped believing. YOU came to HER and made her see the truth. So thru no fault of her own she now thinks Easter baskets are a thing of the past for her.

I don't think enlisting their help was bad or wrong. I think it can be a new tradition for you. Maybe both teens can help you do the six year old's basket, and each teen can help you do a basket for the other. When the little one grows bigger maybe she can help, too, and you can all do baskets for each other and you'll have to guess who did which one. Or you can make up baskets for poor children or younger cousins.

If it were me I'd sit them both down and tell them how much you appreciated their help and that you've realized that giving isn't something that should end when fantasies end. Tell them everyone will continue to get gifts at Easter and Christmas only now they can become bunny and Santa helpers!

By Reeciecup on Monday, March 28, 2005 - 11:24 am:

My dd lost her second tooth on Saturday night. She was so excited because the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy would see each other that night. She made up a whole conversation about what they would say to each other when they saw each other that night. That kid cracks me up!!! My dd still believes in all of them and I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible. She goes to Catholic schools though so we are very involved in the religious aspects of all the holidays also.
I'm so sorry your holiday wasn't what you usually have but it sounds like you made the best of a bad situation.

By Maryg on Monday, March 28, 2005 - 03:34 pm:

Thanks so much for your posts. Yes, I told them that they really helped the Easter Bunny when he was so ill. However, next year he will be back.

Turns out that the 13 year old was quiet because she was coming down with strep. Took her to the doctor today. This has been a crummy year for us with the sickies.