https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:14:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2516489 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 19:29:42 +0000 caterw 2516489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have just about the same problem- we aren't doing Santa (no pictures with Santa, no gifts from Santa, etc.) for two reasons- (1) to us, Christmas is Jesus' birthday, not Santa day and (2) we try not to overload our DD on gifts. My MIL did not stop talking about him and gave her gifts from Santa. First of all, on Christmas our daughter cried because she was overwhelmed by presents and all she wanted to do was play with her new kitchen and play food. Also, she is still confused about what we believe (for instance, she said she wanted to go to church to see Santa). It's not about what you believe or don't believe, but do not contradict the parents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2509061 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 07:19:58 +0000 catomd00 2509061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: my husband and FIl love them, too! So gross! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2509059 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 07:19:37 +0000 catomd00 2509059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd ask her that she not try and ruin it for them even though she disagrees. there's not much else you can do unless you're going to keep her from talking to your kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2509051 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 07:08:08 +0000 honeybear 2509051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: That would be a less juvenile and more acceptable alternative to my proposal. :wink: </p> <p>@gingerbebe: In general, I agree that the illusion of the Easter Bunny need not be preserved through artifice by outside parties. But. G'ma here is intentionally trying to explode it while talking about how much she spent/attempting to setting up an unfavorable comparison to her son and DIL on highly materialistic grounds ("I only ever got you the good stuff.") and fecal matter to a toddler. I'm not an Easter Bunny sympathizer, and I'd have been hopping mad about those comments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2509034 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 06:29:19 +0000 SweetiePie 2509034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I love black jelly beans! I may be the only person on the planet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2509032 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 06:27:06 +0000 SweetiePie 2509032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: @junebugsmama: I had a better reply but my phone ate it.<br /> I think MIL was being a dickhead on purpose. Not wanting to play along means smile and nod or redirect convo. Not be inflammatory. She was trying to "prove" that the Easter bunny hadn't been there. "Oh then where's the poop?" What's the point? To make your grandkid cry? Your son and daughter-in-law made their choice, just like you made yours all those years ago. Respect it. </p> <p>@hotpink: I would have abruptly ended the call and then told her on the side that if she can't play nice and respect how you and your husband choose to celebrate, you won't be calling or celebrating with her.<br /> And worded as if you were saying to her: Imagine if someone had repeatedly said "no, the Easter bunny brought it, your mom didn't buy that!" to your son in front of you, despite your efforts. You wouldn't have liked that very much so I'm not sure why you think what you did is any different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2509002 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 02:06:11 +0000 lemondrop 2509002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooops, looks like Facetime isn't working right now. Then she'd get a giant box of rabbit shit in the mail. I know people, I could make that happen... wall me her address ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508877 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:20:17 +0000 gingerbebe 2508877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: If she was like really intentionally trying to be a snarky dick about it I'd just call her and be like stop being a jerk - it's Easter and they believe it's a real bunny and there's no reason to rain on their parade. It just sounded more like she didn't care enough about it to play along to me, in which case I'd just be like yo, mom, do me a solid and just try to be a little discrete and not talk about the bunny cuz they think it's for real and you're confusing them talking about what candy I got them. (Yep this should be the husband calling his mom). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508867 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:11:58 +0000 deerylou 2508867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The world of make believe is important to me. I know it's temporary and rather inconsequential in the grand scheme, but I feel it's such a magical aspect of childhood. I'd probably tell MIL that it is fine if she doesn't want to perpetuate a fictional story she doesn't believe in. But, the fantasy is a fun tradition in *your* family, and it makes your children happy. So play along. Or get poop on your lawn. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508860 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:09:22 +0000 SweetCaroline 2508860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with @anonysquire: . I mean...WTF. She shouldn't even bring it up if she disagrees. How rude of her to directly address the source of the candy. In all honesty, I'd like to say I would do what @raspberries: suggested...I'd play dumb and keep to the storyline. When it comes to my kid though, my finger might be greasy and accidentally end the call... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508854 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:05:03 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2508854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: black jelly beans? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508806 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:25:10 +0000 erinbaderin 2508806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a similar problem - we spent all week talking about how the Easter bunny was going to bring him a basket and hide eggs on Sunday, and then my parents showed up Friday with a big Easter basket. He then started asking where was the bunny and where were the eggs. I wish they had asked if it was ok to give it to him early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508657 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:46:02 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2508657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: but this MIL is going out of<br /> Her way to mess up the way they have chosen to treat the holiday! They aren't asking her to do anything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508629 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:14:34 +0000 honeybear 2508629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Uh, leave a giant pile of rabbit poop on her doorstep next Easter? "Oh look, kids! The Easter Bunny has been to Grandma's!" </p> <p>For the record, I am NOT advocating actually doing this, because that wouldn't be nice or sanitary, buuuuut...who talks about bunny doo-doo with toddlers in connection with Easter? I mean she doesn't have to actively play along if she doesn't want to, but she's being both deliberately provocative and crass, and neither one of those sits well with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508609 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:57:23 +0000 PawPrints 2508609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anonysquire: LOL.</p> <p>Yeah, no tolerance for anybody deliberately trying to back-seat parent your kids, IMO. Unless it was an honest mistake - but it sounds like she was really going out of her way to try to interject her opinion into your kids' holiday. I would address this the same way I would any kind of boundary-overstepping: let her know you are going to parent the way you are going to parent, and you appreciate her being supportive, and that's just the way it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508603 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:52:14 +0000 anonysquire 2508603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have hung up on her </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508570 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:16:38 +0000 gingerbebe 2508570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know that someone has to keep up your story if they don't feel like it. It's like Santa - I don't feel like someone needs to go out of their way to make Santa real for your kids if they don't believe in it or whatever. I might just tell her that since you DO observe the bunny, talking about it the way she does makes them really confused and you'd like to avoid making them upset on a happy day since they will figure it out eventually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508566 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:12:15 +0000 raspberries 2508566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd probably have just stuck to the storyline. So reply to the candy question by saying, "We didn't buy candy, the Easter Bunny brought it and left it in our Easter Baskets!" If you keep treating her like she's just being silly, you might be able to play it off as Grandma joking. Next time, you can have a quick phone convo before the video call to remind her what you're doing and ask her gently not to ruin it for the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mil-and-real-easter-bunny-drama#post-2508557 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:00:33 +0000 hotpink 2508557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Looking for advice on a bit of Easter bunny family drama...</p> <p>We celebrate Easter with the Easter bunny. As in the Easter bunny hides eggs and brings the kids Easter baskets </p> <p>MIL didn't raise DH with the Easter bunny being "real." There was talk of the Easter bunny but she always just gave DH a basket and took credit for the holiday. </p> <p>Yesterday we were doing Facetime with MIL and she seemed to have "forgotten" that we do the Easter bunny. So she made a side comment to DS, who's 3, "oh so if the Easter bunny came to your house did he poop? Bunnies poop a lot." She continued on in front of the kids asking "well what candy did you buy for them? I only ever bought you the good stuff." DH keep redirecting her but it didn't really work out as we had hoped. </p> <p>This all sounds so silly to type it out, but I guess DH and I are a bit stumped at how to set a boundary with MIL to get to respect about the way we are celebrating the holiday with our family. </p>