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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Easter eggs- how would you react

456 replies

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.

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 04/04/2021 11:28

I wouldn't like it but I wouldn't be surprised either. They are young, life is dull at the moment and you left them unsupervised.

ancientgran · 04/04/2021 11:29

Hope the rest of your day is better.

KisstheTeapot14 · 04/04/2021 11:29

Good idea up thread to bake some nice things for friends and relatives, or something you want to support like a PTA event etc.

I often feel the same about Christmas OP but I don't want to spoil it for DS so I keep quiet. I do have chats round the year about sharing with people who don't have as much as us.

Plan ahead next year and do something like donating excess to food bank. I often wonder about kids in care too, wonder if there's some way of raising cash/eggs to supply a children's home locally?

itsgettingwierd · 04/04/2021 11:30

I'd be annoyed they went and got the pile from the kitchen without expressly being told that's theirs.

I bring home chocolate from work and ds always asks before he has some. Although I work in education so he knows Xmas, Easter and end of year is a choc fest here and builds himself up for what will come home - he's 16 HmmGrin

He would never help himself to something not expressly gifted to him without asking though and I think you need to tell your children this but kindly.

daisypond · 04/04/2021 11:30

I think it was greedy and wasteful and I would have been shocked too. My DC would simply never have done this, not because they good as gold, but because we always do any sort of present opening as a joint event with everyone there - the same at Christmas and birthdays.

TippledPink · 04/04/2021 11:30

@Flowers24 But she didn't leave them all out- she left a pile on the chair, told the kids to enjoy and they went and got more eggs from another room that they weren't told were theirs! I would have been really angry, they already had a pile of eggs to eat why steal them from the other room as well.

Flowers24 · 04/04/2021 11:32

oh i missed the bit about going into the other room and taking the extra ones, that is very wrong and yes id be really annoyed at that part!

Hidehi4 · 04/04/2021 11:33

You left children from age 1-6 years on their own while you showered and you wondered why you came down to a mess and you are blaming them. Poor kids needs to be supervised

dementedpixie · 04/04/2021 11:34

@Hidehi4

You left children from age 1-6 years on their own while you showered and you wondered why you came down to a mess and you are blaming them. Poor kids needs to be supervised
Can you not read? They are age 6-11
itsgettingwierd · 04/04/2021 11:34

@Hidehi4

You left children from age 1-6 years on their own while you showered and you wondered why you came down to a mess and you are blaming them. Poor kids needs to be supervised
No she left children 6-11 alone (school year 1-6).

I'd expect by that age children know not to take stuff that isn't theirs.

Biscuitsdisappear · 04/04/2021 11:35

You told them to enjoy and they did. You'll get it right next year.

expectopelargonium · 04/04/2021 11:35

So you're the one who's got all the bloody eggs this year!

dementedpixie · 04/04/2021 11:36

@Biscuitsdisappear

You told them to enjoy and they did. You'll get it right next year.
She told them to enjoy their own eggs not the ones in a different room
Excilente · 04/04/2021 11:37

im a bit shocked at the amount of people who think this is your fault, and would be 'its kids & chocolate, what did you expect'

Funnily enough, i'd expect my kids not to be greedy and to have some bloody manners.

I'd be SO pissed off if mine did that, the lot would be getting confiscated, but we're always VERY clear about who's eggs are who's and you do not touch anyone elses, and they're rationed out.

If they decide that they want to divvy their own out, then fine, the mess would still have fucked me off, but the taking the other chocolate? Thats stealing and absolutely, 100% NOT OK, and punishments would be happening.

DigitalGhost · 04/04/2021 11:38

I'd be pissed off too.
Especially with the eldest tbh

Sansaplans · 04/04/2021 11:39

@Excilente

im a bit shocked at the amount of people who think this is your fault, and would be 'its kids & chocolate, what did you expect'

Funnily enough, i'd expect my kids not to be greedy and to have some bloody manners.

I'd be SO pissed off if mine did that, the lot would be getting confiscated, but we're always VERY clear about who's eggs are who's and you do not touch anyone elses, and they're rationed out.

If they decide that they want to divvy their own out, then fine, the mess would still have fucked me off, but the taking the other chocolate? Thats stealing and absolutely, 100% NOT OK, and punishments would be happening.

Agreed, explains why there are so many entitled children about though if it's fine to be so greedy without consequence.

l

Hidehi4 · 04/04/2021 11:40

Jeez I’m so sorry it’s yr 1-6 not age. Well yes go and enjoy your shower and you shouldn’t expect to come down to that mess

LondonJax · 04/04/2021 11:41

I'm with you OP. Eating the ones on the chair is fine, that's what you pointed out. The ones in the other room should be left alone - you didn't say they were the eggs for the family. You could have been collecting for charity or giving to some food bank for all they know.

I wouldn't go off at them - it's done now. But at 6 to 11 years old they should know not to touch what 'isn't theirs' and I'd be disappointed too. I'd probably sit them down quietly and explain that you did say the ones on the chair were theirs. Not the ones in the other room - they may have been for someone else and they needed to wait to be told they could have them. Simple as that - no big drama but they need to learn for next time.

Did they help to clean the mess up - because that's part of it too and they should be old enough to put stuff in the bin.

HalfTermHalfTerm · 04/04/2021 11:41

@Hidehi4

You left children from age 1-6 years on their own while you showered and you wondered why you came down to a mess and you are blaming them. Poor kids needs to be supervised
Hmm

They are in school years 1 to 6, not 1 to 6 years old.

I am amazed by the amount of people basically saying “they’re children, what do you expect?” like they’re dogs that have been left alone with a roast chicken Confused They knew the eggs weren’t theirs (because they had been given to their parents as gifts and the OP had discussed this with them) but they opened them anyway. My partner’s youngest daughter is 6, I wouldn’t expect to have to say to her “Don’t open my Easter egg” because she should know that you don’t take things that don’t belong to you!

MoiraNotRuby · 04/04/2021 11:41

I wouldn't be annoyed, its just a bit of a misunderstanding all round. Maybe the best attitude is 'ok kids nice try, now let's split them into piles including mum and dad, and let's recycle the packaging together.' Just find a friendly way to move on.

Stroller15 · 04/04/2021 11:41

I would be cross too OP. All our eggs are out but my DCs know which is theirs. Nothing to do with giving clearer instructions and everything else that's the parents' fault according to this thread. Saying that, I am glad you're not letting it ruin your day. Perhaps address the selfish behaviour when something else happens if it's a repeat pattern.

Ninkanink · 04/04/2021 11:42

@Excilente

im a bit shocked at the amount of people who think this is your fault, and would be 'its kids & chocolate, what did you expect'

Funnily enough, i'd expect my kids not to be greedy and to have some bloody manners.

I'd be SO pissed off if mine did that, the lot would be getting confiscated, but we're always VERY clear about who's eggs are who's and you do not touch anyone elses, and they're rationed out.

If they decide that they want to divvy their own out, then fine, the mess would still have fucked me off, but the taking the other chocolate? Thats stealing and absolutely, 100% NOT OK, and punishments would be happening.

I’m shocked at the many people who don’t have the reading comprehension to actually understand what happened and the ages of the children involved.

But I absolutely agree with you - it’s unacceptable to behave that way and my children wouldn’t ever have done it and if they had they would absolutely have been pulled up on it.

jessstan2 · 04/04/2021 11:42

DonLewis Sun 04-Apr-21 10:05:56
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!
..
That. You can't blame them, they are very young children.

Next time hide them away and just give a bit at a time over a longer period.

Easter eggs are pretty, tasty and fun, I've always loved them and bought them for others, but there has to be moderation in all things.

HalfTermHalfTerm · 04/04/2021 11:42

Sorry @Hidehi4, cross post!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 04/04/2021 11:43

I would have been irritated too - greedy, wasteful and selfish. Not to mention thoughtless and careless of the mess!

I guess the problem here is that you weren't specific enough that the eggs they'd been dipping into were NOT for Easter Day consumption.

I'd take some off each of them - how rude of them not to consider their parents in the share-out! - and then make them clear up all the mess and THEN ration out what they've got to make it last a reasonable time (I.e. so they don't eat too much in one sitting)

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