Dilemma: should I tell my children the truth about the Easter bunny?

“Do I really still have to tell my children there’s a giant, magical rabbit creeping around our house? Seriously?”

I’m wondering how long I have to keep up this Easter Bunny caper. I know, I know… pretending there is an Easter Bunny is part of the magic of childhood and a good mother would keep it up as long as possible to the point where she works hard to convince her children the Easter Bunny IS real (eye twitching with madness the entire time).

Here’s the thing, I’m sick of lying to them. It’s cute when they’re little, but they trust me to tell them the truth.

WHY DOES SOCIETY FORCE ME TO LIE TO MY CHILDREN?

Yes there’s a Santa, yes there’s a tooth fairy, yes there’s an Easter Bunny. I mean, come on.

Yes little fella, I have you in my sights, you furry little pest.

Can’t Easter be just as magical without the existence of a giant, mythical rabbit who creeps all over our backyard hiding chocolate eggs? If I was a child, I’d be scared to death at that thought.

Can’t Easter be just as enjoyable without me having to wake up at 4am to hide eggs? Yes, 4am. I hid them the night before one year and ants, aggressive little black ants, ate half of the eggs before we could find them!

Isn’t it fun enough to hide chocolate eggs for my children and let them eat them for breakfast?

Am I wrong?

I maintain that as their mother I have a right to kill off the Easter Bunny whenever I see fit. To suggest that I’m killing children’s hopes and dreams along with it is ridiculous.

“I maintain that as their mother I have a right to kill off the Easter Bunny whenever I see fit.”

Philip is nine and he cross-examined me for weeks leading up to last Christmas. I cracked, I’m sorry. I told him about Santa, the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny. He’s been helping me hide eggs ever since.

“Was there ever an Easter Bunny, mum?” Philip asked last year as we scattered little eggs all over our front yard?

“I don’t know Philip, I like to think so.”

“Me too, mum.”

See, I’m not a total monster.

This article originally appeared on iVillage.com.au.

Still think the Easter Bunny is awesome?

Check out these photos to have Easter cuteness erased from your memory once and for all. Try not to choke on your Hot Cross Bun.

Sure, everyone’s heard of the Easter Bunny, but the Easter Ferret …

Damn, don’t you hate it when there’s no time to dispose of your first victim before the second comes along (see left).

Obviously this was a DIY costume effort.

Introducing the Easter Bunny of your nightmares.

No words for this one.

Every Easter Bunny needs a pink tutu neck ruffle.

Perhaps this is the early 20th century version of a “sexy Halloween costume”.

Stoned Easter Bunny is stoned.

This is the moment Billy and Bobby will talk about in therapy in twenty years’ time.

This little bunny obviously got lost on his way to a Beatrix Potter costume party.

Forget puppy love – this is bunny love.Forget puppy love – this is bunny love.

Nice try… but this is possibly the least convincing Easter Bunny we’ve ever seen.

Don’t worry, kid. We’d be crying too.

That’s a fear of rabbits in the making, right there.

Easter Bunny? Or cast extra from Donnie Darko?

Yeah – great idea, Mum.

At what age do you think it’s time to kill off the Easter Bunny?

Tags: family , kids , motherhood

Group Therapy: When is it time to kill off the Easter Bunny?

Extra: Travelling With Children Is Traumatic

Extra: Why Does My Toddler Hate Me???