Easter Bunny & other Fictitious Creatures

Our baby was born on Christmas, so we didn't really have an opportunity to dwell on whether or not to start the Santa tradition with him this year. And at only 1 week postpartum, I was in too much of a zombi-like exhausted way to even think about New Years. I think I went to bed around 7pm that night (and woke up again to nurse at 9pm, 11pm, 1am...)

But with Easter upon us tomorrow, we have arrived at the first holiday that involves some sort of festivities. Of course, at 3 months old, he wouldn't have a clue what an easter basket or bunny are, but when do you start these kinds of traditions with your child?? I suppose you could start right away from birth, with the idea that so early it's more for the parents' sake, and for photo memories. An infant in the arms of a drunken shopping mall Santa, a baby pumpkin being strolled around the nabe trick-or-treating, etc. I kinda feel like maybe we'll start all of these things after Kenzo is 1 year old. But I have a sinking feeling we are just so damn lazy it'll keep getting put off. There should be a guidebook for things like this. You know, What to Expect the First Year tells you when your baby should be able to coo or sit up or eat solid food, etc. It should tell you when you should celebrate holidays!

It's not just the when of celebrating I'm concerned with but also the how. Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny - these are all fun but if you really think about it, you are LYING to your children!! And promoting commercialism and greed and unhealthy eating habits. Whoa. Yes. I really went there. I'm not religious. I kinda flip flop between agnostic and atheist, but I've always felt really strange how we lie to children about Santa and tell them they can believe in something they can't see, just like God. But then, wait a minute, they get to a certain age and shut the front door - The Easter Bunny isn't real? The Tooth Fairy isn't real?? SANTA ISN'T REAL?????!! But... God is real? And I should believe my parents who have been lying to me about this for years and years why??? Hmph. Am I the only one who sees it this way? Perhaps I need a therapist... ^_^ I sure would like to avoid this kind of confusion for our dear little boy, without depriving him of the fun and carefree childhood he deserves.