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Easter baskets from others
Do other members of your family bring your children Easter baskets (besides the Easter bunny I mean)?
My step MIL and my MIL both did this last year, with knick knacks, small toys, candy, crackers, clothes, books, etc. They also got a basket from another random family member. All told, they each received 4 Easter baskets. Insane. Do other families do this? I know it's one of those "be thankful they are loved" situations but it seems a bit unnecessary. I get wanting to get them a card or some candy or a small gift, but a whole basket from the non-Easter bunny is a bit much to me. I don't know that there is anything I can say anyway, but I guess I'm curious if this happens to others. My mom doesn't buy the boys baskets, she just sends them a small gift or candy and a card.
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Re: Easter baskets from others
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DD #2 - 03.13
Do you also get them a basket or is the basket just from your mom?
Let's see, last year he had one from DH and I, one from my sister/BIL, one from my Dad/SM and one from MIL.
So, yeah, four.
It seemed a little overboard and DH and I ended up eating most of the candy but let DS keep and play with the toys, (obviously). It seemed like a little much at the time but looking back on it, he got to spend quality time with every one of the "basket-bearers" (they were brought on different days) and he really enjoyed it.
That being said, on my side of the family, he's the only grandchild/nephew and on DH's side, DS's cousin is in his mid-20s, so everyone is just excited to do the "little kid" stuff with DS. The first year of DS's life, the holidays just really ticked me off with all the spoiling of DS and whatnot. The more I thought about it, though, I realized "you know what? they love him and *want* to do these things with/for him and who am I to deprive any of them that experience?" It would be a different story if the only time we got together were for holidays/gifts but our families are both pretty involved with DS so its not like every time he sees any of them he's getting showered with gifts or anything. (Ugh, I'm tired and I think the Tylenol PM is kicking in, so that may not make sense.)
No I know what you mean, you are making sense. You are right, it definitely comes out of love. I did not have this type of Easter at all growing up so .... that is probably part of it. It's going to sound petty but I wish they could just give them a gift without having to make it a whole Easter basket production/presentation.
My Mom lives a couple hours away so she sends down some things for the kids for Easter but not an actual "Basket" - Last year it was some toy cars, teething rings, some books, etc.
My in-laws bought each kid one of those pre-made easter baskets last year and also a big stuffed animal. Neither of our parents go "crazy" with it, though.
We did Easter Baskets for them, too. I really like holidays like that and doing all of the stuff you're "supposed to do" so, for me, even if it's overboard, I wouldn't cut it out because I enjoy doing it.
Ha ha. I think I'm the only one that has an issue with the "basket". Ok, I guess my perception is that the Easter bunny brings the basket to the kids so when 2 or 3 other people show up with it, it seems kinda lame and dilutes the whole Easter basket magic a bit. Yes, giving gifts in a basket is totally cute and convenient too, I just... I dunno.
That is my lame interpretation. I guess I don't have a rational way of looking at it.
I HATE the basket. They take up space, and then what do you do with them? I find them all pretty ugly! LOL!
Uh yeah that is the other thing. I bought the kids a nice PB basket with their name, that they can use for basically their whole childhood. But last year they got 3 other baskets EACH, so we had 6 more baskets sitting in the garage. I wanted to get rid of them and my husband was like, oh but my mom picked it out. So yeah, the basket logistics is another issue. It's somewhat minor but still. And no, I don't have the interest in keeping all those baskets. I won't use them, especially when they are lavender or whatever.
This is why I get my Godson something different. Last year, I got him a canvas storage tote from PBK filled with beach stuff........much more useful and less "basket-y".........not sure what I'm doing this year.
I donate them. Honestly, I'd keep them and reuse them each year if we had space for that but we don't right now. So, I buy the ugly, gawdy, purple baskets and then ship 'em up off to the Salvation Army the week after Easter.
Harriet's idea for using something more practical as the container is a good idea, though. Maybe a big sand pail for the beach or a nicer (Michael's-style) basket with liner or something. Hmmmm.
That is very cute Harriet. I like the idea of a somewhat useful container.
Could you do a bucket with gardening/sand toys/tools in it? That would be cute and useful and you could personalize it if you wanted. I did some garden toys/tools in my older son's Easter basket last year along with some flower seed packets. It was fun and he still uses the toys outdoors.
DD#1~8/17/96------DS~10/24/05
Yes, I could do that, but I'm pretty sure that my Godson already has a lot of gardening/sand toys. I have to come up with something soon. I'm running out of ideas. Oh, and I have to buy him an Easter candle too to light at Midnight Liturgy...........too many things to keep track of!
My son was just a couple weeks old last Easter so we just did a small basket of things like pacifiers, rattles, onesies, etc. No one else gave baskets.
He did get 3 stockings at Christmas though
We do a basket and so does our family. We give a tiny basket that usually only has one or two items in it with no candy. We dont say its from the Easter Bunny so I guess that's why it doesn't matter.
MIL will "give" a basket (depending on the year and "loot") but we always leave it at her house to reuse each year. I have a few at our house for each kid that I picked out and like. Otherwise I'd have a ton of baskets and like you said, what the heck do you do with all of them?
DD#1~8/17/96------DS~10/24/05
Um, yes, they all do and we live 9 hours away! DD has never even spent Easter with any of her grandparents (it is not a time of year that we choose to travel to the US) and last year she had 4 baskets too. My MIL sends a frilly little Easter dress every year that DD can never wear because it is far too cold. We have explained that she can't wear them so last year she sent a matching sweater.
Maybe it is a regional thing? I remember growing up (in the deep south) with my grandparents giving us baskets as well but at least we lived in the same town.
m/c at 13 weeks - March 23, 2011
My MIL does. I could honestly care less about it.
Heck, my grandma still gives us money.
Cam 6.6.10 - Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Mixed Receptive/Expressive Communication Disorder
We got them each a basket with books, crayons/markers, sippy cup/themed plate, and a small toy.
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My parents, my MIL and my DH's grandmothers all bought DD Easter baskets last year. The only one that was age appropriate was my parent's.
I'm assuming I'll get one from my parents again, but they also still have small kids.
BFP #2 11/30/09 EDD 08/12/10- Sophia Grace born 8/1/10
BFP #3 11/16/10 EDD 08/04/11- Samuel Richard born 7/28/11
BFP #4 01/04/12 EDD 09/19/12- Simon Nathaniel born 9/6/12
BFP #5 03/27/13 EDD 11/25/13- Savannah Lee born 11/18/13
Honestly, you are probably right.
But I think I struggle with the overall gift/purchasing habits of my in-laws, particularly my MIL and Easter is just another time when the excess comes out. It frustrates me because it's not the way I was raised and also, I do not want my kids overwhelmed with junk toys (because that's the majority of what they are getting for holidays like this). My husband tells me I'm always trying to understand why people do what they do and I need to stop it because I won't always understand. Logical yes. But not how my brain operates. :P
I just spotted the stack of baskets from last year in the garage. I think if either MIL brings up bringing a basket this year, I will suggest she use the ones from last year. I think that would be reasonable. But I may be too practical for them.
He might notice down the road and ask and then if he knew, he'd probably just be disappointed. It wouldn't be a huge deal. When I tak through the numbers with him, he will side with me. (3 kids x 3 extra baskets a year = 9 baskets each year to store? Um no.
)
I'm with you on this. Easter bunny brings the basket, Santa brings the stockings, the great pumpkin never shows up!
We had the first grand kids when I was in HS. I still got a basket and stocking so my mom did it for my nephew. We continued this with the 2nd and 3rd who is turning 3. The first two boys are 10 and 13 so they don't believe. I asked my mom if we could taper out her doing these things as well, not to be mean but Santa and the Easter bunny only came to our house when I was kid and I'd like to be able to do the same for DD. She understands and my 3yr old nephew won't remember and my brother is cool with his kid getting one basket, one stocking etc.
So this year, parents only are doing these things in our family, just like how it was when I was a kid