Finally, as I was walking towards the checkout, trying to avoid running over anyone, I was slammed in the back of the legs by a cart.  It wasn’t a tap but a full out crush that crumpled my one knee and sent a throbbing pain from my other heel.  I took in a sharp inhalation of breath and turned, expecting to see my husband with a second cart carrying our two kids.  He was way behind and a very angry looking woman was staring at me.  “Sorry,” she mumbled in a forced tone and then pushed past me and stole the place in line that I was heading to.  There was no, “Are you all right?”  No pause to see if she had injured me severely, just a terse sorry before she continued on with being particularly rude.  As I watched her move away, the only thought that was running through my head was, “My God, what are our children going to turn out like?”

This isn’t the first time that question has filled my head as I wondered what we are teaching our children without even realizing it.  We are so caught up in life and getting ahead that we have lost some of the mannerisms that made us a superior species.  I try to practice the manners that were ingrained in me as a child but every time someone treats me rudely or doesn’t even give a polite thank you, I wonder if it is worth it.  I’m sure you know what I am talking about, holding doors open for people that are right behind you, giving a friendly wave to someone on the street or even giving up your seat to someone who needs it. 

Only last week while I was at a children’s museum and waiting for a star show to begin, I experienced another time when I wondered what our children were learning.  The room was quickly filling up and a group of mother’s sat their rambunctious children on the only bench in the room.  The rest of the children and adults sat on the mats provided for the floor.  I had already secured a seat on the bench for myself and my husband and my kids were sitting on the floor (a much better place to be since you could lay back to enjoy the show on the ceiling).  Just as the show was about to start, an elderly woman came in with her grandchildren.  Looking around the room, she noticed that the bench was taken so she began to lower herself to the floor.  She was groaning and saying to her one grandchild, “I’m not sure if I can sit down there, honey, my hip might not let me.” 

Before she could sit, I was across the small space and offering my seat to her.  She was embarrassed and asked me if I minded sitting on the floor but I told her not to worry about it.  (Actually, my husband gave me his seat and he sat on the floor instead.)  Not one of those mother’s asked their children to sit on the floor so that the elderly woman could sit comfortably and they all stared at me when I offered my seat. I felt embarrassed that their eyes were on me but I wondered what lesson their children just learned in that instant.  Did they learn that their wants are more important than the needs of the elderly?  I also wondered what my children had learned from me as I navigated around children to say, “Mam’ would you like my seat?”

So where am I going with this little rant about proper manners, it’s simple, what are we teaching our children without even realizing it. If we are impolite to people, we are teaching our children that it is okay to be impolite.  If we obsess about the latest devise that will make our life that much better, then our kids are going to believe that a better life can be purchased and they will begin to put more stock in manufactured goods than they do in people. If we constantly pursue anything, money, success, careers, the bigger home, the longer trips, the perceived “better life”, without taking time to enjoy the simpler things in life, then we are teaching children that all those things are more important than simply spending a sunny afternoon braiding dandelions together into crowns. 

I know these are all the extreme but we often wonder what is happening to today’s youth and parents truly need to look at what their actions are telling their children. We also need to look at ways to teach compassion and ultimately look at what is more important to us; success, money, fame or our children and teaching them how to be wonderful adults that are compassionate, and caring as well as successful. 

On that note, I will leave the topic open but please check back tomorrow to read some ways to teach children how to be compassionate and to instill morals in your child. 

Morals are not taught in school, they are not genetic and they can be forgotten simply by watching the actions of those around them.  I had a wake up call a few months ago and this Easter just confirmed it, the way to a better life is in knowing that I have helped my children become a wonderful and compassionate adult by trying my hardest to be compassionate as well.

 Sirena

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Now I take the time every year to blow out the eggs and my kids have made some wonderful keepsakes and excellent craft items with the eggs.  They turn out much nicer and I don’t have the smell or the fear of losing a rotten egg under a chair or something (and with two cats that is a huge possibility).

What you will need:

• Eggs (I do up about a dozen)
• Food coloring or an egg dying kit
• Bowls
• Spoons
• a needle or pin
• a clean cloth

Creating your blown easter eggs:

1)       First thing you should do is wash the eggs down.  You will be putting your lips on the shell and you will want to make sure they are clean.  One note: Always blow the eggs before dying since the dye will come off on your lips when you blow.  I learned this from experience and trying to cover up red, blue and yellow dye on my lips so I could attend church. 

2)      Take a clean egg, hold it in one hand and with the needle, break a small hole in the end of the shell.  This does take some force since it is at the hardest part on the egg but you should only use gentle firm pressure so you don’t break the egg completely.  

3)      Repeat on the other end of the egg so there is a hole on both ends of the shell.

4)      Place a long needle or pin inside the hole and stir.  If you do not break the yolk, it will be almost impossible to blow the insides out of the shell. 

5)      Wipe off the end of the shell where you will be blowing.  I have heard rumors of people contracting salmonella but I’m not sure how legitamite this rumor is.  Still, it’s better safe than sorry so try keeping the end clean and also wipe away any egg from your lip.

6)   Blow out the egg.  This is fairly hard even with the yolk properly ruptured but it gets very easy near the end.

7)      Clean off the egg again to remove any yolk and white from the shell. 

8.)      Dye and decorate anyway you want.

After Easter, you can save the eggs in an egg carton or you can use them for craft projects.  I would suggest spraying them with a sealer but they will last in an egg carton for several years without the sealer. 

And that is how you make Blown Easter Eggs!

Enjoy

Sirena Van Schaik

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Every year I do the exact same thing.  I give myself a budget, tell myself over and over again that one chocolate bunny and a couple chocolate eggs around the house is enough for the kids.  They don’t really need all the candy and for that matter, neither do I.  Then I get to the store to pick up my Easter Bunny Supplies.  Suddenly one chocolate bunny isn’t enough and they will need a chocolate character from the latest hot movie.  I grab the usual brightly wrapped chocolate eggs but on passing by those I see the brightly colored over-sized jelly eggs.  Oops, can’t forget those since my husband loves them so much and into the shopping cart they go.  The next aisle over and I notice those cute little peeps, horrible things if you ask me but they are very sweet looking and I have just the hiding place for them.  Now I need to find some type of gummy treat (my personal favourites) and then I realize that I don’t have jelly beans for the baskets…how could a basket be complete without jelly beans and for that matter, where are those KinderSurprise eggs.  By the time I get to the checkout, I have enough chocolate and candy to supply my son’s school for the entire year and I end up throwing half of it away within a week or two after Easter. 

Chances are, you do the exact same thing and really, do children need as much candy at Easter as we load them down with.  I personally enjoy the expression on their faces when they race into the room(s) designated for the hunt and I love the excitement that the hunt brings, which is probably why I tend to buy more candy than I really need.  Over the last few years, however; I realized that the hunt doesn’t have to be about candy only and there are lots of alternatives to create a healthier Easter for everyone.

1)  Don’t forget the candy.  Yes, I know I just said healthier but let them enjoy one or two types of candy.  Maybe purchase a small chocolate bunny and some jelly beans and that will be it.  The chocolate bunny can usually last a few days and the jelly beans will provide lots of little treats through the day. 

2) Bouncy Balls.  Every child that I have ever known loves bouncy balls and you can purchase them for boys and girls.  Instead of having chocolate eggs littering the nooks and crannies of your home, why not place out some bouncy balls for your children to find.

3)  Dollar Store Loot.  I love the dollar store and this won’t be the only time that I rave about it.  They have tons of small toys, books and hair accessories all for a dollar or under and you can use those for your Easter Egg hunt instead. 

4)  Blown Easter Eggs.  I’ll have a how-to guide for these tomorrow but in almost every home, eggs are decorated for the Easter season.  I always blow the egg out of the shells before decorating and then incorporate them into the hunt.  My children believe that they are helping the Easter Bunny out by dying the eggs for him so he can hide them when he stops by.  We always place the eggs beside a plate filled with carrots for the Easter Bunny.  After the hunt, I save the eggs for keepsakes but they can also be used to create Easter decorations for the following Easter.

5) The Baskets. Most people enjoy giving a basket to their children and if you are like me, you probably fill them with too many candies.  This is usually where my overage comes from but over the years I have shifted from doing candy baskets to doing a themed basket.  Last year was a sports theme with different sporting stuff in them.  Soccer equipment for my oldest and backyard play equipment for my youngest.  The year before was a clothing theme with a nice toy and this year I am going with a store bought basket that has toys for exploring and water fights.  I try to make up a basket that will get the kids outside and running around so they can burn off the extra sugar they ingested over the Easter holiday.

And there are a few healthy alternatives to having huge piles of candy.  Do you have a few more ideas that you would like to share?  If so, please feel free to email me at sirena_vanschaik@yahoo.ca or comment here.

Happy Easter,

Sirena

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