It is that time of the year again when we start putting together Easter baskets for our children. Everyone does things a little bit differently for their kids at this time of the year. Our knowledge of many things that we do for our children comes from our own childhood memories of what our parents did for us.
I always put my children’s Easter baskets together the same way that my parents did for me. However, there were some Easters that I went a bit overboard and should not have. Still, we want everything for our kids so I was probably not the only one who did this.
Easter is much more than the baskets, the egg coloring, visiting the Easter bunny and Easter egg hunts. Although those were fun and magical things to do with my children I tried to emphasize the real reason for Easter and made it a point to attend church. Not just on Easter or Christmas, but throughout the entire year, as my parents did with me and my siblings.
One of the most exciting things I did at Easter as a child is go shopping with my mother and siblings for a new Easter dress and shoes. Because I was a girl, a girly girl at that, I was thrilled. Frilly pink dresses with ruffles, lace and satin were right up my alley. I remember trying to find a dress in which I could twirl around in and watch the bottom of my dress twirl with me. A white Easter bonnet, white gloves and a white, patent leather purse were also a part of my ensemble. The finishing touch was the white, patent leather shoes to match my purse. I loved shiny things so I was in seventh heaven when I helped to carry my bag out of the children’s shop. This shop was fantastic and had tons of these kind of things. I still remember the name and the store inside and outside. I was totally impressed with these shopping trips.
I could not wait to wear my new things and waiting until Easter morning was difficult. I would sometimes take them out of the bag just to look at them. On Easter morning I was more excited about my new clothes than the basket. After getting all dressed up I would proudly walk out of my room feeling like a princess out of a fairytale book. My father would buy me a corsage and pin it on me. It took my breath away. I was the luckiest girl in the world.