The title explains it all. It happened 50 minutes ago and I feel like the biggest ass hole on Earth. There are no words to describe this failure. You would have to pull together all the words that mean failure to describe what just happened. Here, let me try: this was a botchedbusteddecayeddeclinedefeatbombedfailure.
My husband, sons, their friends and myself went to the Columbus Crew soccer game this evening and we didn’t get home till 11:30. I immediately took my 8 year old-C up to bed and tucked him in. His normal bedtime is 8:30 so I was confident he would be asleep in minutes.
Being almost midnight, I began the daunting task of hiding eggs, putting money in plastic eggs and putting together the Easter baskets. By now my husband had joined in and had his own dozen he was placing in various places in the kitchen. My oldest-P was lazily lounging on the sofa, texting, not a bit interested in helping us hide eggs. I was wiping off the eggs that were still wet from the dying when I thought I heard shuffling. I immediately froze and peered down the hall to see if someone had gotten up. False alarm.
Just as I placed an egg on a dining room chair I heard, “Mom! What are you doing?”
I froze. I looked up to find C in the hallway with his arms crossed. It was as if I was a disobedient teen, sneaking in past curfew. I hid the egg in my hand in the paper towel in my other hand.
“We’re just getting the eggs ready for the Easter bunny,” I said, thinking this was an amazing save.
“Mom?!” My son asked skeptically.
I looked at my husband for reinforcement. He laughed.
“What are you looking at me for?” He snorted.
“For support here!” I countered. By now, my oldest was practically in hysterics, listening to the exchange. He was covering his mouth, blocking the giggles that threatened to escape.
“Baby, come here.” C walked over in front of me. His eyes now began to glisten. “Do you want to know the truth?”
“Yeah, I do. The Easter bunny isn’t real, is it? God, I’m so stupid! No wonder you guys knew all the hiding places!”
“Baby…you aren’t stupid.” I said. I looked over at my husband once again, hoping he was going to have a plan by now to get us out of this nightmare. He just laughed.
“Ok, the truth is, the Easter bunny isn’t real. But we still LOVE to hide eggs and watch you find them!”
He began to whimper. “I bet Santa isn’t real either!”
I couldn’t handle 2 bomb shells within minutes of each other so I decided to lie once again.
“Baby no! They aren’t even in the same bucket. 2 totally different things. Santa is real!”
He didn’t seem convinced.
So yeah, I’ve crushed my youngest’s dreams and I’m the worst mom on Earth. I was hoping we could keep this charade up for 2 more years but I pretty much ruined any chance of that. I hid the eggs and pray he wants to look for them tomorrow.
#EpicParentFail
Aw! It was bound to happen eventually, right? When I was little, I wanted to keep believing so badly even when I knew it wasn’t true. And hey, Santa’s still real (for now). 🙂
I know, I know but I didn’t want to be the one to crush his dreams. Mad at myself I guess.
I popped the Santa bubble for my oldest on our way to her dance class and watched her in my review mirror quietly sob in her pink tutu. Worst feeling EVER. I’m happy to report she’s grown now and doesn’t hate me, at least that’s what she tells me.
I can picture that and it sounds awful! I’m glad she doesn’t hate you though…gives me hope!
Oh no! You poor thing! I have a feeling it was more stressful for you than him!
He’ll be happy once he starts on the chocolate…
Thank you! When he came out of his room today and I quote, “I’m over the whole Easter bunny thing. I’m just disappointed he isn’t real.” He then proceeded to find eggs and eat an ungodly amount of chocolate!
What do you mean – the Easter Bunny’s not real????? ?
Jesus!! Did I ruin it for you too? I just need to shut up!
???
It happens. My five year old asked me yesterday how the Easter Bunny is going to know what she wanted since we hadn’t gone to see him this year. I think it was a trick. I told her those were just helpers and she nodded knowingly, like I had confirmed her suspicians.
Ah ha! Very smart response! I’ve taken a similar angle with my oldest and all the santa clauses.
Diddle who is 6 is so literal he doesn’t believe, but he plays along.
Last Christmas, he told me that Santa isn’t real, but it’s fun pretending…:(
Awww…I’m sorry he doesn’t believe. There is fun in their innocence!
Yes, there is. But it’s still fun.
Poor baby. Munch still believes in the Easter Bunny and Santa so I know how heartbreaking it can be. Just let them stop believing when they want. They should be allowed a piece of innocence. How did his Easter turn out?
It turned out fine. He said he was disappointed the Easter bunny isn’t real but that he was “over it”. LOL!
Kids
Well….he’s 8. It was gonna happen within the year, anyway, most likely. Plus – so much better to find out at home than in front of his soccer team, or at school….You did just fine, Mom.
Ah Katie, thank you so much! I felt like a massive ass hole. Like, if I would have waited just 20 more minutes, he would still believe. Sometimes it’s almost more for us than them, you know?
I get that. But you probably saved him years of embarrassment akin to soiling himself on the playground….Think of it that way. 🙂
Very true!