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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:
aSofaNearYou · 04/04/2021 11:44

I think they've been very cheeky going next door and getting the others. I don't think YANBU to be annoyed. But in future I would give clearer messages, if you didn't already. I would tell them they should open Easter Eggs one at a time, or they start to go off (this was always a basic rule for me growing up). I would have told them the other eggs were getting donated (though as an aside, why didn't you do this sooner, so people would have them for Easter?). And I would get them to clean up the mess.

The 11 year old would be in trouble, given your updates about his explanation.

ImAlrightThanx · 04/04/2021 11:44

I wouldn't be too happy either, but I'd probably let it go.

Horehound · 04/04/2021 11:45

I think you made a mistake keeping eggs in another room and also kinda spoils the fun of a bunny if you just have eggs laying around Hmm
I think what they did is not a surprise...

LaBellina · 04/04/2021 11:46

You’re expecting too much of them at that age. My DH is 41 and doesn’t even know what Lindt chocolate is, leave alone that it’s expensive 😅. I would use this opportunity to educate them on wasting food and sharing with others but cut them some slack, they’re little children, it’s Easter and they thought they could have all the chocolate as most kids that age probably would think if nobody had told them otherwise.

Mylovelyhorsee · 04/04/2021 11:46

I’ve kept Easter eggs in a different room that I’ve ear marked for other people, I’d be really annoyed if my kids found them abs ripped them open. I don’t like the sound of what you’ve described, it sounds as if they already had quite a big pile of eggs?

Thewinterofdiscontent · 04/04/2021 11:52

Mine wouldn’t have done it because Easter eggs are a special one off treat. Any chocolate in fact would be considered a treat food but the fact it’s packaged nicely would imply it’s treated with a bit of respect.

I know these days it’s just cheap chocolate but mine still consider it a bit special.and they have pudding after every meal , biscuits freely available.

itsgettingwierd · 04/04/2021 11:57

@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.

Spot on and well said.
GreyhoundG1rl · 04/04/2021 12:01

Bloody hell, you said “the Easter Bunny’s been” and walked away! Why wouldn’t they think it was theirs? Why did you walk away?
Ridiculous.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 04/04/2021 12:03

‘Why did you walk away?’

Erm, because they’re not toddlers and OP is not shackled to them? She went to have a shower Confused

dementedpixie · 04/04/2021 12:03

@GreyhoundG1rl

Bloody hell, you said “the Easter Bunny’s been” and walked away! Why wouldn’t they think it was theirs? Why did you walk away? Ridiculous.
She pointed out the eggs on the chair She did not say they could go into another room and steal all the eggs from there too
daisypond · 04/04/2021 12:04

I’m shocked that people think it’s the OP’s fault. Children are aged between 5 and 11. They are not babies. I’m not surprised the OP is disappointed. I would be too.

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 04/04/2021 12:05

@GreyhoundG1rl

Bloody hell, you said “the Easter Bunny’s been” and walked away! Why wouldn’t they think it was theirs? Why did you walk away? Ridiculous.
I wish people would read the thread properly. She said ‘the Easter bunny’s been’ and pointed to their eggs on the sofa. They went and helped themselves to the chocolate their parents had been given, which the children were aware had been given to their parents, from another room.
daisypond · 04/04/2021 12:05

it’s Easter and they thought they could have all the chocolate as most kids that age probably would think if nobody had told them otherwise.

Most kids would certainly not think that.

Bluntpencil · 04/04/2021 12:06

You should have supervised

aSofaNearYou · 04/04/2021 12:06

@GreyhoundG1rl

Bloody hell, you said “the Easter Bunny’s been” and walked away! Why wouldn’t they think it was theirs? Why did you walk away? Ridiculous.
Because she showed them the one's that were theirs and these were different one's in a totally different room? Is this how you would normally behave if you saw gifts elsewhere in the house, just assume they were also yours and help yourself?
MargaretThursday · 04/04/2021 12:07

I think it's rather nice they were sitting there sharing them out rather than grabbing as much of the share as they could get and protecting it vigorously.

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 04/04/2021 12:08

@Bluntpencil

You should have supervised
Bloody hell, if I feel the need to supervise my children every minute so that they don’t smash open other peoples chocolate and eat it when they’re aged 11 I’ll think I’ve done something wrong as a parent. Mine are 7 and 5 and are currently in a room alone with their Easter chocolate. Bar the egg they asked to open this morning they haven’t touched it.
PurpleRainDancer · 04/04/2021 12:08

‘Felt sick’ OP get a grip.
Must have been a long shower.

aSofaNearYou · 04/04/2021 12:09

@MargaretThursday

I think it's rather nice they were sitting there sharing them out rather than grabbing as much of the share as they could get and protecting it vigorously.
No real reason not to share when they've helped themselves to a ridiculous amount 🙄
starsparkle08 · 04/04/2021 12:10

The oldest is only 6 and the excitement of seeing all those eggs must have been so overwhelming. I wouldn’t be cross . I think you should have only placed out the ones you were happy for them to open . The chocolate on the carpet is unfortunate but at least you were able to Hoover it up with no melted / squashed in bits . Again leaving them in the lounge with them this was bound to happen as children can’t help but make a mess breaking open eggs at this age

starsparkle08 · 04/04/2021 12:12

Just realised it is year 6 sorry

KarenMarlow3 · 04/04/2021 12:12

No they were given SOME eggs, then then helped themselves to a pile of eggs from the sideboard (not the chair where the others were that the 'Easter bunny' had delivered, that they knew were not theirs
At no point were the children told "these are not yours." The OP said she "indicated,' whatever that might mean. She did not give clear instructions, and then was surprised/shocked when the children opened all the eggs. Let me repeat. It's Easter Sunday. Easter eggs in full view. Children. What did the OP expect?

GreyhoundG1rl · 04/04/2021 12:12

Because she showed them the one's that were theirs and these were different one's in a totally different room? Is this how you would normally behave if you saw gifts elsewhere in the house, just assume they were also yours and help yourself?
I don’t know, really. If I was a little kid who’d just been told the Easter Bunny had been, I might assume that, yes?
Besides, it’s not clear she showed them which ones were theirs.
The op says she put some extra ones on an armchair, called to the kids and then left the room 🤷🏻‍♀️

Mellonsprite · 04/04/2021 12:13

This is why I write names on the boxes otherwise it’s too easy for it to descend into chaos, followed by feeling sick snd stomach ache!
It’s too much excitement, too much chocolate and a bit of ‘normal’ childish greediness thrown it for good measure.

starsparkle08 · 04/04/2021 12:13

I still think the excitement would have taken over though with them all .