A Break From My Normal Whining
One of the best things about having kids is that, if you’re lucky, you get to relive treasured moments from your childhood. Holidays are especially good for this. Christmas and Easter are once again infused with a magic that moves them beyond the realm of mundane, crass commercialism they descend into once the cat is out of the bag and all the secrets are told; that you are now the one trusted with the keeping of that secret makes it that much more precious and exciting a time in your life.
Next to stuffing Christmas stockings, filling Easter baskets is my favourite holiday tradition. I love the sense of power I get as I fill each tiny plastic egg with trinkets and nestle it safely into the plastic “grass” that I will be picking out of my vacuum cleaner rollers for months to come. This, to me, is a Motherhood Moment. These necklaces, lipglosses, hair ponies, and pinwheels are more than the detritus of another Christian holiday sell out: they are my Ph.D thesis in Zen Baby and Diva Girl.
Each item, from the types of candy to the colours of the eggs is chosen with care, designed to express both just how much I love my girls and how well I know them. Much like Santa Claus–and very unlike Mommy–The Bunny never disappoints. The Bunny always knows exactly what to leave, even if The Ladies themselves had no idea that it was just what they wanted.
I’ve just finished filling this year’s basket, and in doing so have skyrocketed straight past bone deep exhaustion into breathless anticipation. I cannot wait for the sun to rise and my girls to begin to discover the goodies that await them. And even though I won’t get any of the credit as they crack open their eggs and show me their treasures, I will get the ultimate reward of knowing that someday, when they are filling Easter baskets of their own, they will look back on this time and think, “Boy, Mom really knew us; and how much must she have loved us, to have done this year after year, always saving the good presents for the characters who didn’t really exist, except in the way she kept them alive for us.”
This Easter is all the more sweet because Sabrina is on the brink of the age of unbelieving. Right now Santa, The Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny are all still alive and well in her world, but soon that magic will disappear for her, dimming mine in the process. So, while I still can, I am grateful that I get to weave a spell that will leave my children too thrilled to sleep past dawn. There will be plenty of time for that in the years to come and too few mornings like tomorrow’s to balance out the scale. So, while I can, I choose to embrace the magic–even if it does cut into my beauty sleep.
Comment by Leslie
I almost feel like you’re lucky to have girls. Right now, my boys are 2 and three and they will be excited with the coloring books and hot wheels I’ve gotten them. I don’t know what to give boys that will fit in an easter egg. I can’t wait until they’re older and I can pass on one of my childhood easter traditions. My parents used to have us do a scavenger hunt for our Easter baskets. We each had a certain color egg (and basket) and were given a clue which lead to hidden eggs. The hidden eggs had treats and clues that finally lead to the easter baskets. It was always a bit of a disappointment when you accidentally stumbled across your basket before you got to the end of the hunt. I miss having Easter baskets. I always make one for the hubby, but he never makes one for me. C’est la vie. I’m so happy to hear (read) you sounding so happy. Keep up the happiness!
Posted on March 23, 2008 at 1:19 am
Comment by Kimberly
I have to confess, I love having girls. Shallow? Maybe. And I’m sure I would have loved my boys, but there’s just something about having girls….It can be a hormonal rollercoaster of suck, but it can also be wicked awesome.
We did the scavenger hunt too. What I remember as disappointing was when we got big enough to know all the hiding spots–one would be in the hamper, one would be in the hall closet, one would be in the bathtub….Once we devolved into just making the rounds, it wasn’t as much fun. Still, didn’t lessen the sting of the first year Mom just put all the baskets on the kitchen table.
The Ladies also have to search for their baskets. Really, it just wouldn’t be as much fun otherwise.
Posted on March 23, 2008 at 8:02 am
Comment by Leslie
My boys just woke up and see their baskets. I won’t let them have them until the hubby wakes up, so the boys are going back and forth between sitting on the floor staring at the baskets, and trying to wake daddy up.
Posted on March 23, 2008 at 9:03 am
Comment by landismom
Easter-basket making is so fun! I hope the Ladies enjoyed your efforts.
Posted on March 23, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Comment by Sarah
beautiful
Posted on March 23, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Comment by kt
I love how you can bring the magic to life in your writing…
Beautiful!
Posted on March 24, 2008 at 6:39 am
Comment by Kerry
You brought me to tears again… I identified with every single word you wrote.
I’ve missed you… Hope your Easter (and rest of the weekend) was great!
FFF!
Posted on March 24, 2008 at 9:51 am
Comment by Charly
I love the way you handle the holidays. When I was growing up, my mother hated anything holiday, so if I wanted decorations, I did it myself. When I was 12, she started putting my presents in plain boxes and said if I wanted them wrapped I could do it myself too. Birthdays were the same. I found out about Santa when I was 7, and all the others came crashing down right after. I think that has something to do with my general holiday malaise that unfortunatly, I am passing on to my children. I love seeing the beautiful traditions you are passing on to your girls, and I can’t help wishing I had done the same. Diva Girl and Zen Baby are very lucky, indeed.
Posted on March 24, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Comment by ann adams
I’m sure the girls stopped believing long before I realized it. Nevertheless, they still had fun.
Loved this post.
Posted on March 24, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Comment by Lady M
Such wonderful baskets!
When I went away to college, my dad mailed me a computer disc. On it was a layout of our house, complete with furniture. I had to click through the house until I found the egg icon, and my mom had mailed me a chocolate egg in the same box. I got to participate in the egg hunt even though I wasn’t home anymore! That was a particularly special year.
Posted on March 25, 2008 at 12:40 am
Comment by Sandi
Lady M–
How absolutley sweet of your parents. My parents were always “dorky” like that, too. They always mailed an Easter Basket to me at college. I will do that with my children, too.
Leslie and Kimberly–
I have one of each and it is truly amazing how different boys and girls are.
Posted on March 25, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Comment by Aimee
I know exactly how you feel. Thank you for sharing!
LOVE the new look of the site!
Posted on March 29, 2008 at 1:01 am