To not buy my children anything for Easter

[AmyandPhilipfan]

I have 3 kids and I normally get them some kind of present at Easter - usually toys and/or clothes. But this year it seems like it would just be buying for the sake of buying something. Currently in our house we have 9 Easter eggs (3 each) from friends and family, plus a neighbour will be giving them a couple of small eggs each, and today they each received £10 from another relative.

The two oldest have had birthdays recently and the little one’s birthday is coming up so all have recently received or will receive loads of stuff (as they have lots of aunts and uncles who kindly all buy for them in addition to presents from us).

We’ve implemented a chore system for the 2 oldest in the last few weeks so if they choose to do all their chores they now each end up with over £20 a week to spend on what they want (normally wasted on Robux). And the little one gets things bought as and when really - just this week I’ve bought her a couple of jigsaws and a couple of books.

So I’d say they receive more than enough and I really think I shouldn’t buy them anything. The 3 year old won’t realise she’s missing a present from me but the 12 and 13 year olds will remember they have previously had quite substantial gifts. I don’t want to get them yet another egg as the 13 year old has become quite overweight so I don’t want him to have too much chocolate.

So, AIBU to buy them nothing?

[beginningoftheend]

@ImAlrightThanx

Lets please not commercialise Easter too.

You don't have to join in, we don't. I decorate for Easter but it is all hand made.

[GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing]

I’d get an egg even if they already have some. A small one if you think they’ve got enough already.

[GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing]

Got a wave of nostalgia at that Smarties egg!

[SleepingStandingUp]

Op seems to have dumped and run so not sure if they're just looking to cause uproar but like hell would I pay the kids £20 a WEEK to contribute to family life

[TheGlassBlowersDaughter]

I'm another one struggling with how much pocket money you're giving them. I'd give them less pocket money but buy them something for Easter. You seem to feel you've already spent money on them but actually they have nothing to show for that spend (apart from Robux).

Easter was always a big celebration in our house for religious reasons. Christmas, Easter and birthdays were the times our parents bought us new clothes. We do an easter egg hunt with our DCs but since they don't like chocolate, it's usually little stationery items/stickers, etc.

[Boom253]

We had a normal Easter egg from DP. There were also mini ones hidden in the house. There was also a new dress for Easter Sunday. We went to mass and saw family

[ApplyWithin]

I love Easter. Prefer it to Christmas. Mainly because of the lack of shopping! Church, egg hunts, arts and crafts, a special roast lunch on the day and THAT IS IT! It’s never even occurred to me to buy gifts.

[ForwardRanger]

£20 a week is a LOT.

But I disagree that spending on Robox is "wasting" money any more than if they spent it in another way. Why do you consider it a waste if it's important to them?

[Crowsaregreat]

I think presents start because parents are more conscious about chocolate now, relatives often want to give DC something so they get a small toy instead of an egg and it normalises Easter present giving.

[ImAlrightThanx]

@SleepingStandingUp

Op seems to have dumped and run so not sure if they're just looking to cause uproar but like hell would I pay the kids £20 a WEEK to contribute to family life

Damn right.
Old enough to do chores = old enough to understand that a family pulls together to keep the space they share clean and nice.

[DragonPoop]

My DS will get a cheap chocolate egg, a few little eggs to do an Easter egg hunt with, we will have a nice lunch and a walk, maybe a nice day trip out somewhere when things open up like the zoo.
Although I do think you’ve made a rod for your own back OP if you’ve usually made it such a big gift giving occasion and then decide to stop, it seems a tad unfair to set your children’s expectations so high- based on what they received on previous Easters.

[LindaEllen]

@Happycat1212

It amazes me that people buy their kids clothes and toys for Easter, I’ve seen it a lot recently but since when was this a thing! It’s suppose to just be Easter eggs it’s not Christmas

My mum always bought my brother and I something for the garden at Easter, as we both had winter birthdays. As we got older we didn't want garden things anymore but she'd got into the habit of buying Easter presents so we got to pick something up to about £30.

[DragonPoop]

And £20 each for doing household chores seems outrageously high!!

[Brainwave89]

Been a bit sporadic to be honest. Few Easter Eggs here and there, but generally the kids get loads of chocolate anyway, so we may have got them some, but never vast amounts- from a health perspective I do not think this would be a good idea. Never got gifts outside of chocolate. Easter is not Christmas.

[Tigerchips]

Letting a 12 and 13 year old spend £200 a month on Robux is shocking.

[MintyMabel]

DD asked us not to buy Easter eggs a few years back. She ends up with loads of them which we all end up eating.

We get one each now and thats that.

[FurrySlipperBoots]

Maybe you could set up a treasure hunt they have to work together to solve, with the eggs from their relatives at the end? That shows you're putting effort in to make the day special without needing to spend or accumulate more 'stuff'.

[Estasala]

Easter is also a spring festival, not just a Christian, celebrating new life, fertility, the vernal equinox. Bunnies and eggs have got nothing to do with Jesus.

[ClearMountain]

Seriously, who buys anything more than an Easter egg?!

[BlackCatShadow]

I'm wondering if it was a typo and the OP meant 20 pounds a month. That would be more reasonable.

I will make a nice lunch with cake and hide some chocolate eggs around the garden. We are doing an Easter egg decorating competition with the extended family. Everyone will upload a photo of their egg and we'll judge the best one.

[LoveDrunk]

I'm another one struggling with how much pocket money you're giving them.

You’re struggling with how much pocket money someone you don’t know gives to their children. Who cares. 🤷🏻‍♀️ People do things differently for many reasons.

[SleepingStandingUp]

@ClearMountain

Seriously, who buys anything more than an Easter egg?!

Lots of people on this thread, for all the reasons explained.

[BloodyHellAudrey]

@ClearMountain

Seriously, who buys anything more than an Easter egg?!

Me 🙋‍♀️

[bridgetreilly]

I think that's fine, but tell them in advance. It's not kind to let them wake up on Sunday expecting presents that aren't coming.

[Bananabuddy3]

Easter was always a special day for us growing up but not a commercial day. We were a Christian family, so like many it was a joyful Easter service and there would be a big family lunch / dinner. No new outfit specifically but best Sunday dress required. We always had an egg hunt. I wasn’t raised to believe in the Easter bunny - my family and friends bought the eggs as a celebration of Easter (I was given the magic of Santa).

Another one who is asking when presents at Easter became a thing. I’m seeing it now on FB - someone posted their Easter Boxes for their children and asking for last minute ideas to fill them up. Actual present piles (like on birthdays) being shown. I just personally think if you make Easter into a big present day you’re storing up trouble - and like the OP you’ll suddenly realise that it’s too much gift giving and will be unappreciated.

Just stick with eggs. I got eggs (quite a lot as a child) as I got one from parents, grandparents, extended family and some friends. As I got older these reduced. I now get one from parents and my sister - maybe a child at school if I’m lucky.

You can have a great day with chocolate eggs. A nice meal and some simple Easter craft if you like. I think a lot of the time children prefer less and simple.