Need your opinions

mckayleesmom wrote: Ok....I grew up not really really poor, but in a paycheck to paycheck, 6 kids and everything has to go stretch kind of family. For easter I want to get the kids baskets, but not just any baskets....I want to get them baskets that they can use afterwards too....They have these cute ones at Walmart that are cloth type with stripes. I want to get those and put the grass and goodies in it and afterwards the kids can use them in their rooms to hold books or something. Dh says that Im taking all the fun out of the holidays...they need an easter easter basket. I will probably buy them cheap ones for the easter egg hunt. Dh says that Im cheating them.... He says "why don't you just buy them egg crates with groceries in it"..... I do tend to want to do things that make things last.....Mckaylees first Easter she got a wheel barrell instead of a basket. ...but she played with it longer. The baskets just get smashed.

Right now hes in the kitchen telling me "why don't you put toothpaste and vitamins in the basket too" ....Which is kind of funny too because I plan to put new toothpaste and toothbrushes in their baskets....

Anyways.....Am I not being a fun mom? What is so wrong with buying your child a basket that matches their room and they can use over and over again......????

By the way...dh grew up pretty poor too and he likes to spoil them...he thinks Im taking away from tradition.

ashtonsmama replied: I think you're just being sensible! They're too young to seriously care, and why not buy something they can actually use year-round instead of just once a year?!?

Makes a ton of sense to me...Ashton's too young this year, we're just buying him a big bunny to play with, nothing else, since he's still so little, but next year, I'm sure we'll be doing something similar.

Nina J replied: I also think your being sensible. Besides, you kids are quite young arn't they? They arn't really going to be concerned about the basket. I think it's a good idea

Bee_Kay replied: I didn't grow up wealthy or anything, but I guess my parents made a fairly comfortable living.

Anyways, our "easter baskets" were always something we could use. One year, I wanted a nice pair of dress shoes, so that was my easter basket. A shoe box (with new shoes) and easter grass and candy.

I don't see anything wrong with getting them something that they can continue to use.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: See, I'm all about going against the flow and I happen to think you are being very creative. It's a cute idea! I really like it. And the kids won't know the difference. My kids get 2 baskets One from OUR easter bunny and one from my parent's easter bunny. Oh, last year they got 3...daddy apparently has an easter bunny at work, too.

CAMSMOM1 replied: Kids don't care about the baskets themselves, just what's in them! I like your idea, and I'm sure the kids will like it too. Besides the toothpaste, what are you planning on putting in the baskets? Just curious!

mckayleesmom replied:
a stuffed animal of some sort or other, some candy and Mckaylee has been talking about a Kite....and maybe a ball for Russell.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Brooke's first easter basket is still in use as a toy basket for small toys. Her 2nd easter basket was used to hold her matchbox cars until it got too full and cracked (it was plastic and rather cheap). So I am all for practical baskets!

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Omg, I think you're dh is being crazy. I never had one of those pre-made plastic easter baskets - my mom always just used nice wicker baskets, put lots of easter grass in them and loaded them up with candy and stuff. I always thought it was the best, and now I think the commercial ones are cheap and crappy looking. Your ideas sound awesome and the kids will love it! If anything the fact that they'll be able to keep using them will just make them more special.

kit_kats_mom replied: I bought matching metal baskets last year. Most of the year, they are high on the playroom shelves holding art supplies, they assume their "easter basket" identies when they are needed.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I like it. I always got the same basket every year. My mom bought 3 baskets that were wicker and fairly durable. And she reused them. I never had a problem with it. And neither will your kids. I think you are being economically and environmentally sensible. And they are still getting fun stuff. I may borrow your idea for Logan's Easter basket, if you don't mind.

mckayleesmom replied:
not at all...I just don't see the point in cheep basekts...

punkeemunkee'smom replied: All of Tay's Easter baskets are in use in her toyroom holding toys and art supplies. Last Year I bought a set of 3 that have white and pink cloth lining. She loved them on Easter and they were big enough to use all year! ITA those cheap ones are cute for an egg hunt but a waste of $$$ in the long run. Of course if you buy them new useable baskets every year you may end up with a house full of wicker!

AlexsPajamaMama replied: I am actually doing the same thing this year for Alex's easter basket. I got a $1 square plastic basket type thing that he can use to put his cars in afterward. I also got him a new tooth brush to put in it too!! As kids we used to get tooth brushes and stuff like that in our Christmas Stockings!!

His first Easter we got him a cutesy blue Easter Basket that looked like a bunny. It is sitting up in my bedroom closet! I suppose I could have given it tp him to play with but now it would probably just get squished in the toy box or dirty.

Last year I did Sand Pails that could be used at the beach with easter stuff in them for DS and my nephew. They don't care that its not a basket. They only know what we teach them!

So practical is the way I go too!! Its the multi tasking mom in us I think!!

luvmykids replied: It will *look* like an easter basket just because of the grass and you could put something else more easter-ish in it just to do the holiday thing and then stick with your other ideas too.

Mommy2Isabella replied: I did not grow up poor, nor did I have to go without. But easter baskets ... LOL, I remember a few years ago, I got a Trashcan filled with the easter grass, a few regular size bags of candy that I liked, and some deoderant, toothbrush, face wash, you know things I needed. I don't think you are scamming them on tradition. I don't remember easter though, from when I was younger anyways. The older I got the more I got of the stuff I needed. Most times, we would get some money also. Which mom took us shopping to get school clothes with!