I look forward to Easter just as much as my children!
For me it's not just about the chocolate, although I absolutely love a Cadbury Creme Egg, it's almost like a forced focus on spending quality time with the family. The perfect time to take a long weekend and feel like I have enough time to be present with my children, to also finally vacuum those annoying cobwebs that are in the corner of my ceiling and to stay up a bit later on Sunday night to read more of my book because I am not rushing out the door Monday morning. So exciting right!?
Family time, check.
Productive adulting, check.
Me time, check.
Eating masses of chocolate, absolutely check.
If I look at that list I naturally prioritize the family time. Easter weekend is always a bit of a lottery with the weather too so I usually have a two step plan to cover all bases. (Such a Mum!)
An Easter egg hunt is always a winner, I have as much fun as the kids, planning the hunt, writing out the clues and always trying to make them rhyme because that's cool right? Then the running around in bare feet as we hunt through the backyard, check in the mailbox, dash back inside to look in the washing machine and every other possible hiding spot the Easter bunny may have visited. The little ones squeal with delight just tearing around hoping to spot shiny wrappers, the teenagers get amongst it too because if it means the outcome is chocolate then they are in! Their job is generally to actually decipher the cryptic clues to lead the tribe to the required land of chocolate eggs where everyone wins.
Then comes the chocolate rush. Brace yourself. You will survive this but you will need a strategy. This is where the two step plan comes in to play to keep the good vibes going and our sanity intact.
1. Let's wriggle out that energy! A walk to the nearest playground or park, or if everyone really seems in good spirits, it's a bike ride. This continues our adventure, look for the Easter bunny on the way, maybe he has even visited the local playground?
2. Its raining and the kids are jumping on the couch. Code red. It's OK we have planned for this. "Everyone go get your shoes on, we are going to Motion!". Of course this is my go to plan! My other indoor option is the public library but there is no way I am taking chocolate crazed children to a building where the spoken language is "shhhhh".
So indoor or outdoor active entertainment always forms part of the plan at Easter time. There is nothing better than seeing the sparkle in their eyes when they make you watch, over and over again, the massive jump they did on the trampolines, or hearing their excited shrill when they knock over the tenpin bowling pins. Those are the things that build their confidence and sharing in those special moments together is worth more than all the chocolate eggs in the world.
So however you spend your Easter weekend, a lot of us have to continue to work over the long weekend, I do challenge you to find some time to count towards family time and also as "me time". They say balance is the key to life, so as long as we are balancing that one Cadbury Creme Egg with a glass of water, we must have it sorted!
Narelle Brown
Motion Entertainment Marketing