This amount of Easter eggs

[Pinkbleach]

To get straight into it - I get my children 10 Easter eggs each every Easter .

When I started it years ago , it was very cheap. I don’t get the huge ones . Years ago I could get one or 2 big ( the ones that are now medium ) and then the little ones ( they had more packaging and more in them ) and I would spend £20.

It all stems from my son’s autism , he is a young adult now. I’ve always said that birthday and Christmas is at least 10 presents and 10 eggs at Easter . It’s usually more at Christmas but it has became a security thing - he knows he’s getting at least 10 presents ( he does not care about the price , he’s not spoiled . I could get his main present and then 9 things from the pound shop ) .

I have had comments about it being too much . I don’t get gifts and balloon arches or anything like that. My youngest never eats them all , he barely touches them and we eat a lot of them 🤣 but I can’t get him less. Usually at the end of half term we melt the uneaten eggs and make cakes - so that’s an activity for a day of the holidays - , the uneaten chocolates all end up in a box for anyone to have.

For info - this is what I spent.

I got 2 of the “ 2 for £9” eggs , the bigger ones. So they have one each of those. Usually I get some medium and some small but as the small were £1.50 ( and I left it late so couldn’t find any anyway) but the medium were £2.30 in Asda I didn’t bother with the small. So I then got 4 for £12 ( 2 each ) then they had 7 each of the £2.30 ones . I spent £53 in total , so £26.50 each . Usually it’s less as I grab the smaller ones when they’re on offer in Morrisons , it just happened that I left it late this year.

Yes, it’s a lot on chocolate . But I see people getting hampers and balloons etc .

Is this really over the top ?

I understand to some degree, especially with strong minded children. But to volunteer, which is not the same as giving into something, to promise to get a child 10 presents or 10 chocolate eggs every Easter is still ridiculous in my mind. It’s promoting greediness if anything.

That's a silly thing to say of course there's a difference. You could buy 2 small £1.50 eggs and then buy one of the egg Hunt kits/boxes that contain about 12 small hollow eggs and give him 8 of those. That would be vastly vastly less chocolate and would probably cost barely £10.

I think you just enjoy seeing 10 huge brightly coloured boxes but it's absolutely ridiculous.

Yes it's a lot but you do you 🤷🏼‍♀️
No one can tell you how to parent your kids, especially not a load of strangers on the internet.

Also it’s very relevant that my child is autistic .

I doubt any other parents have to let their child know the exact amount of Easter eggs they are getting or presents because it causes them overwhelming anxiety if they don’t know.

Also stopping - it’s very relevant if the child in question is autistic . If I decided to just stop , because people think it’s extravagant , this would cause an episode that would be extremely distressing for him . It wouldn’t be a tantrum and it wouldn’t be something that would just pass either . A meltdown leaves him exhausted and guilt ridden for around a week or so after . He would then associate that with Easter meaning that it’s likely he would be extremely heightened and distressed around Easter the next year.

If he doesn't eat them all save the empty boxes and foil and just get them out each year.
Its ridiculous, either this or ride out the storm one year, just buy 5 and create a new normal. Yes there will be a tantrum but fine it's one year and it will do them the world of good. Even autistic children do not have to just be given everything they want, yes it might upset them more but just being given everything they want isn't good for them either when it's a load of junky easter eggs.

The relevance that I’m pointing to, is not offering him 10 Easter eggs in the first place. That’s on you. You could’ve said two or even one! That’s my point, for everyone criticising me for not being on board with autism.

You don't actually know because you haven't tried it

Its A LOT
I appreciate that your sons needs mean you have to get 10 but for most people its excessive
I am not anti chocolate but just getting so much of anything means its hard to appreciate it IMO

This is really not a big thing OP and certainly not a hill to die on, regardless of what some people are saying.

Why are you telling us about it though?

Yes I think it's too much, but as you've said; there are reasons why you do it. So don't see the point in you posting.

Why is it ridiculous ? If I am fine with doing it , why is it ridiculous ?

In terms of promoting greediness , I think that is ridiculous . As I have said before I could get him one main present and then 9 items from the pound shop . He would be happy. He comes down on his birthday , Christmas and Easter very anxious. He then counts the items and visibly relaxes because in a time when everything is different and overwhelming he knows one thing stays the same and that’s the routine he can cling to. There is no surprise . As the years have gone on he has became more relaxed around these times because of it . He knows he can rely on that , each time it’s the same he knows that then his routine for the holiday has been done .

How this support for him to be able to regulate is classed as ridiculous is beyond me and I think it shows ignorance

Why does anyone post about things then ?

That’s the point of the site , to post things and have a little rant.

I’m not sure how 10 eggs get eaten? If they do then fair enough. But yeah that would be way over the top in my house. My kids had one each. One of the adult children didn’t want one at all. And the ones who were given one haven’t eaten them yet.

I suppose I mean that on the surface of it you're asking a question to gather opinions and views. But then have particular circumstances and reasons which lead you to do things the way you do them, so other people's views are irrelevantz

You do you. I don't really care but I suppose if you wanted to reduce the amount of chocolate or cost you could just get one of those Easter egg hunt kits so they still have 10 eggs. Just smaller ones.

10 eggs in itself isn't that unusual, a lot of kids will get eggs from Grandparents and other family members and end up with similar.

Since it is a routine then I think it’s fine in your case. If it helps your sons anxiety then it’s a strategy that works for you.

No , because I won’t risk him being distressed and having a meltdown and exhausting himself for a test . For the sake of a few pound .

@Pinkbleach
You probably should have set the limit at 5 of everything back in the day! It seems wasteful on the surface, but I understand your son needs this to remain regulated. It's good you are doing that for him. How did you arrive at the number 10? Do the other kids in your family need 10 each too especially if they are eating the eggs that your son was gifted? How old are they and do they understand that your son has Autism hence him requiring the 10 eggs?

I did explain about his autism in the post and the IRL comments are from people that know the reasons . So I was just wondering if people really thought the same

I don't know why you are asking anyone? You obviously are going to carry on doing what you do because it suits your son. If so, what does anyone's opinion matter? It's just beating yourself up asking for opinions for the sake of it.
Like you want people to tell you it's extravagent. Yes, I think it is, (my DCs got one easter egg from us!) but I'm not you, and your son isn't mine, so my opinion is completely irrelevant.

I maybe should have . I came to 10 because I do tend to go all out at Christmas and birthdays , I didn’t want to say too little and then overwhelm him but didn’t want to say too much and then feel like I have to meet that - especially as he’s older and the things he likes are more expensive.

The others don’t require it , but I have done it so as not to make them feel they’re getting less . But there older now , so understand. I don’t think my youngest will have 10 next year .

You can get smarties, milky bar and Kit Kat egg hunt packs which are the size of Cadbury creme eggs but can’t be bought at other times of year. The smarties ones are hollow but filled with mini smarties, so very much Easter egg like.

And to answer your question further down, yes I think that 10 boxed eggs, even the small ones, is massively over the top.

I’d get some Easter crafts from The Works or similar to make up numbers, they have some very cheap activities.

If you’re doing fine with it, why post?

You still didn’t have to offer him 10 chocolate eggs.! so I don’t really get why you’re posting or complaining about it…

However, I do appreciate that bringing up an autistic child must be incredibly difficult difficult at times. So excuse me if my post sounds irritated, I dislike the overdosing of chocolate eggs at children around Easter, and the general crap diet lots of parents give their kids, and that’s just where I’m at.

Anyway I’ve been drawn to ridiculous thread, typical Mumsnet nonsense. Now I must get on with my day! Have a nice day everyone

It is excessive in most households but you’ve got to do what you got to do to keep peace in your home and this seems to work for you. It sounds like cost isn’t an issue either so while I would internally raise an eyebrow, it’s not that serious. There’s probably something that I do which would make you raise an eyebrow too.

Exactly.

Do what works for you and your family! They are your kids and if 10 eggs makes them happy then 10 it is!

Its challenging enough having a child with autism so make sure you do whatever makes your life easier and your kids happy.