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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want people to buy easter eggs for my DC's?

173 replies

Shaniece · 23/03/2008 19:31

They had in total 7 Easter eggs each. I really don't want my DC's scoffing loads of chocolate and I won't eat it. Do you think it would be rude of me to ask (next year), for people to either not buy anything at all or buy something else? Such as clothes or a toy?

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 23/03/2008 23:13

give to unwanted eggs to your local women's refuge they will gratefully receive

PrincessPeaHead · 23/03/2008 23:16

How do people manage to give stuff to their local women's refuge?
How do they find out where they ARE?
I tried to give a lot of v good clothes and baby stuff to our local refuge - took about 4 phone calls, the people on the phone were incredibly surprised that I'd called them, seemed to think I'd called them for nefarious purposes, certainly weren't going to tell me where they were, and finally said they had no storage space and no need for clothes or baby gear, so thanks but no thanks.

I can't see them accepting easter eggs with open arms.

Is this just Swindon, or do I sound like a hairy handed trucker on the phone? (I don't btw. I sound like Kristen Scott Thomas)

Nighbynight · 23/03/2008 23:20

lol pph
you dont ahve the right sort of connections, thats all...

scottishmummy · 23/03/2008 23:22

Women's aid FAQ how do i donate

If the Easter eggs are BNIB why wouldnt they accept?

i have donated to women's aid before

PrincessPeaHead · 23/03/2008 23:35

Hmmm
Well I might try them again when I have a stash of interesting things...
They were SO disinterested last time I phoned though. Odd

expatinscotland · 23/03/2008 23:47

I had the same thing happened when I offered to donate things to a women's refuge.

expatinscotland · 23/03/2008 23:48

don't bin them, PPH!

you have seen HFW's ideas for unusued chocolate, no??

nappyaddict · 24/03/2008 01:03

PPH - do you buy eggs/easter presents for other people at all? not for your friend's children or your nieces/nephews/siblings/parents even if they buy them for you or your children? i didn't buy any eggs this year (not even for ds cos i knew he'd get so many) and everyone said i was stingy!!

carmenelectra · 24/03/2008 08:31

I really cant believe that people get so annoyed about chocolate. Do peopel honestly think eating a stack of choc at Easter is gonna do any damage or make your child want it all the time?

Its the parents that police it too much that will have the problem, only they dont realise it!

In despite of my aunties and uncles buying us enormous eggs as kids and us eating the lot, neither my sister or I are chocoholics!

And my chocolate stuffed ds last night, asked for a 'healthy snack' before bed! I said whatever you want mate, its Easter

carmenelectra · 24/03/2008 08:34

Sorry about the 'in despite'!

Ineedsomesleep · 24/03/2008 08:42

We are inthe same position, only nearly everyone bought eggs for the baby too so DS has got double the amount he usually gets.

I think it would be ok to ask people not to get them, if you explain nicely, but I couldn't ask for toys or clothes instead, I just think its a bit cheeky.

And DS is steadily plodding on with his chocolate, after all its once a year and we do clean his teeth

keepcalmandcarryon · 24/03/2008 08:49

YANBU. It has taken 8 years but have finally persuaded my DH's LARGE extended family not to all buy my children crap non fairtrade overpackaged enormous 3 for £10 type eggs.

In the years before we persuaded them, the eggs went into the top of the kitchen cupboard, where they were scoffed in moments of stress by self or DH .

I would not feed my children this quantity of crap chocolate - completely unmanageable in the course of an kind of balanced diet. My kids do get cakes, biscuits etc in the course of the week, but not just in these vast quantities.

My children had one egg each from us, and a mini egg hunt, and now on Easter Monday morning they have half an egg and the acompanying bar of choc from the egg package. NO crap in my cupboards or in my DC's.

Is there any way you could at least ask the givers to choose ethically sourced eggs? Might be percieved as even worse than asking not to get them, though See here for websites for next year.

Happy Easter!

AbbeyA · 24/03/2008 08:51

I agree carmenelectra, I had lots of Easter eggs as a child. I wasn't fat. You learn to make your own decisions about how much to eat at a time. I couldn't eat too much as a child, and some chocolate I don't even like now. Throwing eggs in the bin and getting upset because people buy your DCs chocolate one day a year is setting up eating disorders later on IMO. I can still remember the joy of the choice, luckily my parents didn't spoil it by moaning, giving MY eggs away or throwing them in the bin!

AbbeyA · 24/03/2008 08:52

If people are giving presents you have to let them choose-not dictate which eggs!!

Bouncingturtle · 24/03/2008 08:54

PPH - maybe your women's refuge have had some problems to make them less trusting? I've donated clothes to my local women's refuge, through a friend who has links with them, though it might be that she knows someone who works there. I sympathise that it can be frustrating when you have good stuff to donate and no-one will take them!

I think Children's hospices/charity might take Easter Eggs, also worth trying local Churches who will distribute them to needy families.

carmenelectra · 24/03/2008 08:55

Keep calm,

This is exactly the type of thing i mean.

You hide the eggs from the children, but secretly eat them yourself! Makes me laugh.

I dont secretly eat anything. My ds can try anything we have, whether its unhealthy or not. The result being, we have a son who eats almost anything, very fit, slim active and healthy. There are no 'forbidden foods'. He knows what foods are healthy, what are not so, and what are very unhealthy.

Think the fairtrade is a separate issue really. Fairtrade buying is great but if you do it all year round then it doesnt really hurt to have non fairtrade once a year!

carmenelectra · 24/03/2008 08:56

Too right Abbey.

AbbeyA · 24/03/2008 09:04

carmenelectra-so pleased to see a calm reasoned approach to chocolate.I hate hypocrisy-if I don't want my DCs to have it I cerainly wouldn't eat it myself in secret!!
I have 3 DSs all slim,all get plenty of exercise , all eat sensibly and know what it a healthy meal;they have never had 'forbidden foods'.
I also agree with fairtrade, but you have to let people choose their own presents.There also seems to be, on here, a very snobbish attitude to chocolate which is an adult taste-I think DCs are quite happy with Cadbury's.

carmenelectra · 24/03/2008 09:10

I know abbey.

Its no wonder kids grow up with eating disorders.

AND while we try to live reasonably ethically, we are talking bout a couple of days a year.

Agree regarding the taste issue too. My ds wanted creme eggs, Not dark fairtrade etc. Thats not so say he doesnt appreciate good food though! He knows i buy organic meat/milk and the reasons why. Im a vegetarian and he understands the moral issues of why i am too.

Its all about balance!

Original poster
Shaniece · 24/03/2008 10:38

OK - I gave the easter eggs to my local church and they are going to give them away for me. I kept back one egg each for the DC's. I did think about binning them but that would be wasteful.

I agree with the person who said "no wonder chidhood obesity is such a problem " - if every child was given just 'one' easter egg that would be fine, but most children are receiving about 5 or more, my 5 year old neice received 12 (yes 12) and she is already overweight.

OP posts:
carmenelectra · 24/03/2008 10:45

Easter has nothing to do with childhood obesity.

If a child is overweight then no, they shouldnt be encouraged further with loads of eggs, but the problem has started way before then.

I do wonder how young kids become overweight in the first place? Think it must start right back from babyhood and weaning?

I ate choc as a kid as did dp and we are slim and active, as is our ds1. Ds2 is still a baby and i would nip any (unlikely) obesity problems in the bud before they had chance to develop.

horsish · 24/03/2008 10:47

the idea of throwing chocolate or indeed ANY food in the bin appalls me.

AprilMeadow · 24/03/2008 10:48

YANBU. I asked my family to either buy a small packet of eggs that be given out one at a time rather than a big egg that can just be scoffed, or a book.

I gave books to all the children i would normally buy for.

My ds (3yo) & dd (11mths) got a book and a bunny toy from us this year.

No one minded when i made my request.

hatrick · 24/03/2008 10:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

keepcalmandcarryon · 24/03/2008 12:38

carmenelectra and abbeya - I am delighted to hear that you able to practice moderation as far as chocolate goes. Personally, I can manage abstinence or excess extremely well, and am working towards moderation. On a good day.

Would like my dc's to be able to practice moderation without so much effort - which is why having vast quantities of chocolate flying around is not helpful! It is not forbidden in our house, as it was in the house I grew up in.

How CAN Fair Trade be a separate issue? The Western world justifies paying third world farmers unfair wages by demanding cheap cocoa. Surely it would be better to spend the same sum of money on fewer fairly priced eggs?