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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the Easter bunny leaves an egg for morning

290 replies

littleloopylou · 16/04/2023 21:40

Just found out that the Easter bunny didn't come to my ex's. My child was taken to an Easter event where the bunny had hidden some eggs for many children to find. Ex also mysteriously discovered some eggs in his car that were left by the Easter bunny, a few days after Easter.

My child thinks that the Easter bunny forgot them.

AIBU to think that ex totally dropped the ball on this?

OP posts:
Smartiepants79 · 16/04/2023 21:43

I think it’s a bit like Father Christmas. Every family does it their own way.
What your child had doesn’t sound that bad. Her dad didn’t forget did he? He took her to a special event for an egg hunt and bought her and egg himself? Can’t really see what there is to get worked up about.

Forgetaboutme · 16/04/2023 21:47

I agree with Smartiepants. Different households do different things. In our house he usually leaves a note that has clues for an egg hunt for little eggs hidden round the house / garden. Doesnt always happen first thing in the morning though.

Original poster
littleloopylou · 16/04/2023 21:49

@Smartiepants79 ex didn't buy any eggs. The ones in his car were just little eggs that have been knocking around his house for a long time. My child said "Daddy lied about the eggs. He's a liar." (He is a liar - though I certainly don't encourage my child to say things like this)

OP posts:
Lamelie · 16/04/2023 21:52

Poor kids. Grow up.

modgepodge · 16/04/2023 21:53

I think the Easter bunny is even worse than Santa in terms of differences between households! We never had it as kids, parents and grandparents just gave us eggs. We might sometimes attend an arranged hunt somewhere but never at home. The last 2 years I have set up a little hunt in the garden for my daughter (now 4) but I don’t think the Easter bunny has been mentioned. She did meet him at a farm park the other week though so she’s aware of the concept.

if your child is genuinely upset that the Easter bunny forgot them I think it’s time to tell them the truth, he doesn’t exist and dad just did Easter a bit different to how you do it 🤷‍♀️

Forgetaboutme · 16/04/2023 21:54

But surely if they went to the egg hunt thats the same sort of thing? It wasnt like there was no eggs or Easter Bunny at all?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/04/2023 21:56

I just don't think this is worth nitpicking a grievance over.

MargaretThursday · 16/04/2023 21:56

We never did Easter bunny growing up.
We were always at Gran's for Easter and when we were younger she got a Smarties Easter Egg each, which she would fetch off the top of the wardrobe. When we were older we got £1 to choose our own.
When we got home we'd get a box of chocolates from Mum and Dad (they'd normally ask us what we wanted, so no secrecy there) and a huge box of something like Roses from the other grandparents to share.

And I don't do it for my dc. They do get a set of clues leading to their egg, but they've always known it was me.

Hugasauras · 16/04/2023 21:57

It all sounds a bit dramatic! Just do a Easter egg hunt or an egg downstairs at your home the way you want and let ex do whatever he wants? Easter is like two weeks of build-up and then post-Easter stuff, there are plenty of days to do Easter stuff.

Original poster
littleloopylou · 16/04/2023 21:57

Lamelie · 16/04/2023 21:52

Poor kids. Grow up.

Grow up? My child thinks that the Easter bunny forgot them. It's horrible.

OP posts:
Greydogs123 · 16/04/2023 21:57

Agree with pp, Easter is really different for everyone - we’ve never even said the Easter bunny exists. My child has always known and been excited for the egg hunt that I set up. Your child had Easter treats and if you wanted it done a specific way then you should have communicated that to ex.

ilovesooty · 16/04/2023 21:58

The Easter Bunny? Never knew it was a "thing" until I read it on here. He went to some kind of Easter event and got some eggs. I don't see what the problem is.

flutterbyebaby · 16/04/2023 21:58

Sounds like you just want a reason to bash your ex. Did you go to church over Easter too

Original poster
littleloopylou · 16/04/2023 21:58

My child has always known the Easter bunny to bring an egg overnight. Ex knows this. Ex would not let me have Easter. I did not fight this, but I also assumed that ex would fulfill our basic family expectations of Easter.

OP posts:
Hugasauras · 16/04/2023 21:58

Why do they think the Easter bunny forgot them? What were they expecting to happen? Did you not have a discussion with ex if it was built up to be this big thing/event? Why didn't you just do something at home instead another day?

CrotchetyCrocheting · 16/04/2023 21:59

If you kid is really upset just tell them the easter bunny isn't real. It's a game some adults like me like to play. It isn't a game that your dad plays though.

DoesItHaveKosovo · 16/04/2023 21:59

What have you told them to make it better?

Albiboba · 16/04/2023 22:01

littleloopylou · 16/04/2023 21:58

My child has always known the Easter bunny to bring an egg overnight. Ex knows this. Ex would not let me have Easter. I did not fight this, but I also assumed that ex would fulfill our basic family expectations of Easter.

I mean really? Your child has always known the Easter bunny comes overnight?
How old are they now then?

Ive never come across an actual child to thinks the Easter bunny is real.

Freetodowhatiwant · 16/04/2023 22:01

I had no idea until recently that the Easter bunny was actually a thing. If your child is really upset and thinking the Easter bunny forgot them then you need to tell them that the Easter bunny isn’t real and yes maybe it would have been nice if daddy had got an egg for the morning but he did take them to an Easter egg hunt and honestly Easter really isn’t that big a deal to a lot of people. If this is part of a wider thing about the dad being an arse or neglectful than that’s a separate issue but as regards the ‘Easter bunny’ I am sorry to say I think you’re over reacting.

Pixiedust1234 · 16/04/2023 22:01

I never grew up with an Easter Bunny and neither did my children. No easter egg hunts, nothing. But my parents bought me a chocolate egg and I bought my children theirs. It just isn't a thing. Neither was the Elf on a shelf or Christmas Eve boxes. However we did Father Christmas but he never left presents under the tree as that was family presents but he left a couple on the landing; and we did the Tooth Fairy but she only did teeth and not dummies.

Every house is different. Make your own traditions, let him make his own (or not).

Bk1000 · 16/04/2023 22:05

my kids have never believed the Easter bunny was real, we had Easter eggs and egg hunt this weekend as we were busy over official Easter weekend. Unless you are celebrating the Christian concept of Easter then I don’t think it really matters when you have the easter bunny and chocolate!

SlippySarah · 16/04/2023 22:06

Part of navigating co-parenting successfully is understanding that you can't control what happens when your ex has the DC. Just like he can't tell you how to do things. Assuming she is safe and cared for and all her needs are met you are going to have to overlook this sort of thing. Even more so you are going to have to say "Wow! The Easter egg hunt with daddy must have been so much fun! I bet that was a great day out!" And help your DC believe that you and your ex are vaguely on the same page.

mastertomsmum · 16/04/2023 22:06

I think the whole Easter Bunny thing has got out of hand. I don’t think it should be springtime Santa. I don’t think kids should be thinking there is an Easter Bunny, just a tradition around eggs and hunts and bunnies or even a bunny representation

missingthewinchesterboys · 16/04/2023 22:07

I think you are looking for things to beat your ex up over.
He took them to an egg hunt.
They got eggs. It's not really his problem you are building Easter up to be another Christmas where the only thing that matters is what they get, when and from whom.

Toottooot · 16/04/2023 22:08

Like suntee klaas at Christmas? Easter bunny coming to your hoose is not a thing. 🙄💁🏻‍♀️