It is hard to choose Easter eggs when you are surrounded by the vast displays now on offer in most shops. Chocolate covered bunnies, mini eggs of all descriptions, egg cups and mugs full of little jellies, rabbit lollies and not forgetting the more traditional huge branded eggs surrounded by the chocolate bar of choice. Is it my imagination but do Easter eggs get bigger every year? Also why do they no longer have the surprise packets of Buttons or Smarties inside the eggs which fall out as you crack them open?
My three-year-old son has spent the last month eyeing up these giant eggs, most of which are the size of his own head. He stands motionless, wide eyed, licking his lips and pointing to the one that he would like most – usually the largest and the one which features a well-known super hero on the box. Out of all our children, he is the confirmed chocoholic and I have no doubt he could survive off ‘Freddos’ for the next month. Easter, for him, is therefore a much longed for date in the calendar.
Last year, I decided I would not be the kind of mother who restricts the chocolate consumption. My theory was to let them eat what they wanted and with any luck they would eat so much of it they would be put off chocolate for life. I would finally become one of those admirable parents who proudly say, “My children don’t like chocolate.” Not a chance. They were all thrilled the Easter Bunny had been so generous and that the chocolate sanctions had been dropped for this one blissful day. It started off well. Much to my satisfaction, my five-year-old daughter began to struggle and abandoned her first egg half way through eating it. However, my son gave an incredible performance. Head down, he ate his way through several large eggs barely coming up for air. With a face covered in chocolate, he pressed on, occasionally looking up and smiling with brown covered teeth as he successfully smashed through my theory. It was as if he knew that the clock was ticking and as the hand struck midnight, he would be ‘de-toxing’ on rice cakes and raisins.
Admittedly, the chocolate did not make him sick, cause him to be hyperactive and swing from the ceiling, spark off a temper tantrum or fill his mouth with fillings. On the contrary, he was beautifully behaved and blissfully happy. So with Easter 2007 and a potential chocolate gorge fast approaching, my message is simple – if you can’t beat them join them. Happy Easter.
