Easter Festivites

Running a little late this year, I realized that we had not yet dyed Easter Eggs and as I knew I wouldn't want to see them sitting around for too long after Easter Day, I decided Thursday was the day to get it done.

This year, Avery would be joining in the fun. I didn't really think twice about this, having happy memories of Alton at age two amidst two parents, a grandma, and I think Aunt Amy and Gigi, happily teaching him the tradition and how he was the perfect little student. I don't specifically remember when Alayna joined in the fun, but I don't recall there being too much stress involved.

Perhaps this is why I spontaneously decided to fit it into our day at about 4pm before I fixed dinner and then headed to choir and praise team practice at 6pm. We had 18 eggs to color and decorate and between three children, I didn't think it would take long. Rob was home, but was out cold upstairs having taken a very draining test that morning at school. He didn't feel a need to be involved and I felt confident that I could handle things.

Avery was very eager about the whole thing and no sooner had we taught him to drop the eggs in, then things became chaotic. For one, if I haven't already mentioned this, there are two mothers of Avery in our home. The six year old mother was completely stressed out and frazzled that Avery was trying to touch the eggs. She was having difficulty maintaining the control that she so desired over the whole process. She was shouting commands or mostly reprimands and I calmly told her to just let him experience it. If he broke an egg or two, oh well. Things calmed down momentarily and so I broke out the video camera. I only got about 2 minutes total video and this only in about 30 second spurts, because the 6 yr old mother kept losing her temper. Each time I turned off the camer, I reminded her that he was two and did she really want to watch herself yelling at everyone while decorating Easter eggs when she got older.

Video back on and Alayna becomes frantic as Avery is putting more than one egg in the cup. "He's going to spill it! He's going to spill it!" "Alayna just let him....okay, we'll we were done with the blue coloring anyway." I get a few more seconds in before the green is spilled. The eggs are done in record time thanks to the multi tasking of the two year-old. Alton only dyed three I think. He was too concerned with peeling and eating the egg he "accidently" dropped.

And so with that done, the kids went on in pursuit of holding an egg hunt outside. I provided them with at least 50 plastic eggs we had on hand and sent them outside so I could accomplish the clean up and dinner before I left.

As I was heading out the door, I informed Rob that his presence was requested outside for the egg hunt. A look of panic crossed over his face especially when Alayna came and announced that Alton had hidden most of the eggs in our woods out back.

My conclusion is that Easter festivities are best performed among a multitude of other family members and not by two tired and stressed parents! Perhaps we will try to make it home for next Easter.