I spent this past Saturday afternoon running errands. Given that it was the day before Easter Sunday, the crowds were a bit larger than normal. Pastel-colored baskets, jelly beans and marshmallow treats were in abundance. I also spotted the mandatory Easter Bunny standing on the side of bustling LaGrange Road, merrily waving at passers-by.
I’m Unsure If It’s Just Me
For my entire life, starting at childhood and continuing into the present, I found human-sized rabbits a bit unsettling. I suppose I felt their size alone was intimidating. I mean, bunnies hopping around in the wild certainly don’t resemble a six-foot Muppet. Real-life bunnies are sweet and furry as they chew on clover. To a small child, six-foot bunnies look as though they can grab you and gobble you up.
Surprisingly, this weekend’s bunny (a/k/a adult dressed in a furry costume with an overly large head) did not scare me. I even waved back at the friendly figure. It was then I determined that I had truly overcome one of my childhood fears.
I never was a fan of visiting folklore characters when I was a youngster. As a child, I shook with fear at holiday events when Santa Claus suddenly appeared in the doorway. Santa was extra loud as his booming voice as he shouted “Ho ho ho” over and over. His cries of cheer echoed through the room as he marched into the fieldhouse with his heavy black boots. Except as a four-year-old , I found his boisterous personality a bit too much to take in. My reaction to to cling to my mother while I encouraged my little brother to do the same.
Still, my mother did her duty and tried to get me to sit on Santa’s lap. I answered her well-meaning prompt with flowing tears, as my outstretched arms begged her to take me away from good ol’ Saint Nick. After a long minute of coaxing, my mother finally gave in and returned me to my seat. Meanwhile, Mom went ahead and accepted the gift on my behalf.
Santa didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he rather enjoyed having my long-legged, smiling mother sit on his lap.
EVENTUALLY I WON
After a couple years of tantrums with Santa Claus, my mother finally relented and threw in the towel. She wasn’t going to waste any more time with tradition. Fortunately, I was no longer required to sit on Saint Nick’s lap.
This pleased me to no end, since I figured, either way, I was still going to receive a Christmas gift.
OTHER HOLIDAYS
I had the same feelings about the Easter Bunny in the springtime. For years afterwards, I watched the same scene carry out with other boys and girls. Children were marched up to the Easter Bunny’s chair, while assistants tried to get the crying child to smile for a photo. I felt sorry for those youngsters. No amount of coaxing, candy, nor over-sized faux Easter lilies was going to convince most of those kids that it was intended to be a bright moment in their young lives.
Not one of those children gave a hoot that their parents wanted a photo record of the event. They just wanted out of that scene. Fast.
THEN I BECAME A PARENT
I became a parent at the age of 30, and I already knew that I wanted to be a hip mom. I wasn’t going to force my child to do anything they didn’t want to do. As a cool parent, I knew I wouldn’t take my child on a visit to see Santa Claus or Easter Bunny.
Really, I should be thanked for being so awesome.
There were a few times when I pushed my young daughter in her stroller through the mall. Oops! There was Mr. Bunny Rabbit, ready and waiting for us as we strolled by. Mr. Bunny Rabbit and his team of photographers did their best to persuade me and my daughter onto the flower-laden platform. Except I wasn’t havin’ any of it.
It was nothing personal, but I did my best to avoid all eye contact with the holiday do-gooders. I held my breath while I pushed my child away from the captivating scene and hoped she wouldn’t point and beg to visit the soaring rabbit.
My wishes came true. Or perhaps my DNA came through. My lovely toddler didn’t give one hoot about the holiday characters. In fact, I think I even saw her roll her eyes at the entire scene of children waiting in line to see a faux long-eared rabbit.
Perhaps she, too, felt the large-scaled mammal was a bit bizarre. Maybe the scene of screaming children was a turn-off to her. Whatever her reasons, I simply figured she was a chip off the ol’ block.
Together, she and I went on our merry way, skipping the sugary scene and instead heading toward the shoe store where I could try on new sandals.
I mean, a mom’s got to have her priorities.
MY DAUGHTER IS AMAZING
And this is one of the 480,324,998 reasons why I love my daughter so much. Like me, she turned down both the Easter Bunny and Mr. Claus. She, too, believed the characters were a big off-putting.
She still received an Easter basket filled with goodies. Each Christmas, there were still presents under the tree. Plus, she didn’t have to visit with strangers in order to benefit. Clearly, it was a win-win.
FAST FORWARD TO PRESENT DAY
From time to time, I like to remind my daughter of what a great mommy I was.
“You know I never forced you to visit the Easter Bunny or Santa Clause,” I tell her.
“I know, Mom,” she responds. “And I’ve thanked you for that. Numerous times.”
“Okay, I just wanted to recap that I definitely was a super cool mom.”
“Yes, Mom, I remember,” she says, sighing. “You tell me that every holiday.”
And she rapidly shuts down that conversation with a traditional eye roll.
Except I don’t mind. As I said, I’m a super cool mom.
This post is dedicated to my Super Cool Cousins, who always ask for more servings of PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST. Thank you!!
PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST 