AIBU?
Easter eggs- how would you react
Oilpyi · 04/04/2021 10:02
Asking for perspective, neither DH or I grew up with Easter Eggs or much in the way of things- it already seems indulgent, but I’m aware our perspective isn’t always the norm with the world the kids grow up in. That’s why I’m asking...
We’ve had a crazy amount of eggs this year. DH as a key worker was gifted a very generous pile. I got some through volunteering, kids got some from family and from clubs. I was planning to give some away as it seemed so many. They’d weren’t little or cheap either, ones with Lindt bunnies in, London, fancy M&S stuff etc plus some smaller ones with mugs. Not little eggs.
The ones from work etc were in a stack on a sideboard, along with some boxes of chocolate where they’d been for days. A box or two was open and we’d been sharing them already. Neither of us eat much chocolate ourselves and we generally have no issue with the kids slowly eating their way through it, which is what we normally do with gifted chocolate. Open one at a time/ one each at a time and let them eat.
This morning I had left the eggs from family on an armchair and said ‘Easter bunny’s been’ and left the kids while I showered. Fine them opening and eating.
When I came down they’d collected all the eggs and chocolate boxes from both rooms and had opened the lot, a huge pile of ripped boxes obviously frantically opened. They’d then made a pile each of eggs and chocolate sharing it out. Rubbish from boxes everywhere and they’d opened chocolate each and already the carpet was covered in chocolate bits (whilst I’m not Usually precious it was an instant Hoover need or they’d be chocolate stains over a wide area). The floor was a sea of boxes.
It just looked so wasteful they’d rip in like that, so presumptuous we’d not want any given to us (we normally eat a little of what we get ourselves, but not much) and just so expectant they could do it without even asking. I felt sick walking in and seeing such an expensive pile of chocolate just all opened and piled up carelessly- it was more that than either adult wanting any. It seemed so spoilt. No concept of any value or appreciation of it.
The kids are a range of primary ages from the oldest to the youngest spanning yr 1-6. I’m generally a bit irritated anyway with the older ones being messy and lazy and everything being a fight.
So- how would you react?
Say it’s Easter- enjoy and have fun
Or yes, that’s overly wasteful and spoilt behaviour.
DonLewis · 04/04/2021 10:05
I think the issue is that you let young kids alone with a pile of chocolate. Of course they're going to get stuck in!
If you wanted the situation to be better manages, you ought to have managed it.
That said, it is easter, everything had been shit for a long time. Jsut know how you'd like it to be ready for next year. Now, just laugh and relax and let the kids enjoy their expensive pile of choc. Watch out for the brown sick though...
Tinydinosaur · 04/04/2021 10:08
You weren't really very clear were you? You should have said if you didn't intend for them to have all the eggs. Although it sounds a bit spoilt that you're complaining you didn't get any of their easter eggs.
You should have managed it alot better. You threw a bunch of kids at a pile of chocolate and they unsurprisingly got excited.
Oilpyi · 04/04/2021 10:09
@suniscoming they had a big pile on a chair expressly pointed out and surprised with. Told the bunny has been, pointed out and told to enjoy.
They other lot was in another room piled up and they’d seen it come home from work etc in drive and stand over the last week. They went and got it while I showered.
Allllchange · 04/04/2021 10:09
Old enough to know better. If I'm right, you left them with a stash they could eat and they took the others and decided they were theirs? I would say that some support is needed with empathy and realising mum and dad have feelings and need to share too otherwise you could end up with spoilt thoughtless adult kids. Plenty of time to work on it.
I did let mine eat (from their stash) as much as they wanted in one go. They now moderate it as they felt so sick they learnt a valuable lesson lol.
Magnificentmug12 · 04/04/2021 10:10
God they are kids and it’s chocolate! Instead of spending today, Easter Day, a day kids accosicate with chocolate, teaching them about waste, being selfish and where is their moral standing.......just let them be kids!!!
You sound like a heap of fun, one day fgs!
Dilbertian · 04/04/2021 10:10
You gave an unclear message.
They know that Easter chocolate is building up in the other room, and that eating it is permitted. Your "Easter Bunny's been" did not in any way indicate that only this specific pile is available right now.
Besides, they'll have been hearing all about egg hunts, perhaps even doing them at school, so quite likely they thought this was your version.
Saz12 · 04/04/2021 10:11
I wouldn’t like that behaviour - it’s right to expect children to realise that not everything is theirs, wait until offered, etc, rather than an over-excited frenzy of grabbing stuff, assuming it’s all for them.
But I can imagine them getting a bit giddy with the mountain of eggs and getting totally crazily carried away with excitement.
Tell them “the ones on the sideboard weren’t yours, you all knew that. Wrap them up and put them back. You have plenty of your own”.
winewolfhowls · 04/04/2021 10:11
Take some pictures and have a laugh about it. Its a lovely memory for them.
Bake with the spare chocolate if an excess and gift to relatives.
Next time give them a pile each from the start and a clip box to store opened chocolate, and tell them it is one at a time.
MagnoliaBeige · 04/04/2021 10:11
I’d be cross too but also accept I could have been clearer when I said “the Easter bunny has been”. Just make them clear up the mess, nab some chocolate you fancy for yourselves and move on, kids getting over excited at Easter isn’t the end of the world after all the crap they’ve endured over the last year 
islockdownoveryet · 04/04/2021 10:12
Young children open Easter eggs yes and your surprised . I’d be more surprised if they opened one . Why didn’t you let them choose one then put the rest away ? They are young children excited about Easter and got all giddy . Next time just give them one egg and put the rest away .
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