Time well spent

After getting her 4-year vaccinations at her most recent check-up, Anaïs came down with a fever as she typically does. It’s a “normal” reaction to getting shots, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less easy to watch your child suffer and look so miserable and uncomfortable. As a result, we spent the rainy Easter weekend at home with lots of cuddles on the couch under blankets watching movies.
Growing up, my family never really did the whole Easter basket/Easter Bunny thing. If memory serves me correctly, I’m pretty sure the first time I got an Easter basket filled with candy and other surprises was when I was 8 or 9 years old, and it was from my aunt shortly after my family moved from the Marshall Islands to Florida. Now that I’m a parent, I’m still not that into it. Is that terrible?
It was Akira’s first Easter, and Jesse and I didn’t put together an Easter basket for him; I mean, what would be in there for him anyway? He’s not old enough to eat candy (obviously) and the last thing he (erm, we) needed was more stuff. And Anaïs? We’ve never really talked much about the Easter Bunny or the religious meaning behind it at all, so I don’t think her expectations for getting some huge basket were high. If anything, she just wanted some chocolate! So, Jesse got some sweet treats for her—a chocolate bunny, M&M’s and Ferrero Rocher—which brought a smile to her feverish face.
The thing is, we’re not religious. And maybe our parents would prefer us to be, but to be honest, I feel that if we’re doing right by everyone and our children, teaching them to be kind, honorable and respectful, then they can find their own faith when and if they even want to. For many families, a holiday like Easter or Christmas is one of the most important religious holidays in their faith. But for me, it’s a time to spend with the ones you love and appreciate each other’s company and all we have. For me, it doesn’t have to be entirely about the faith surrounding it. This past weekend, we didn’t do anything eventful or extravagant. The most we did was drive around with the kids to get out of the house and get dressed up for a family photo. And sure, it wasn’t the most “festive” way to spend the holiday, but we were with each other and having a blast.
Akira is now 7-and-a-half months old. He is starting to really get around, pull himself up and take risks that defy our expectations. He can laugh when we do something silly or when he watches his sister make funny sounds with their stuffed animals. And he’s just got the sweetest disposition all around. He has no idea what holidays are or why we give each other presents. What he does know is that he has a wonderful home and a family that adores and loves him to the moon and back. Despite Anaïs’s fever and the gloomy weather, we managed to find joy in what we did together. It was even funny to just get dressed up for the “obligatory” family photo. In short, we were all together, and that’s what matters most.