For most kids, thoughts of the Easter bunny involve chocolate, carrots and mysterious footprints in flour.
But for Holly, Jake and Zach Elizabeth, the Easter bunny will be forever associated with something far more sinister.Because on Sunday, when the three Sunshine Coast kids went to find their Easter surprise, they found a letter instead.
“Dear Holly, Jake and Zach, I am writing this letter to let you know that this year I have decided you are on my ‘naughty list’ and I’m not bringing you any Easter eggs or gifts because I have been watching carefully and you have been very naughty,” read the note.
“Fighting, arguing and not doing as you are told.
"I have rung Santa and told him to keep a close eye out to see if your behaviour improves then you still have time to make his good list.
"Please behave for your mum and remember, I am always watching.”
Ummm... so receiving that letter would be nothing short of devastating.
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The children's mum, Tracy Elizabeth, told news.com.au she shared the note to a Facebook community group, where it quickly started a heated conversation. While some mums thought it was hilarious, others accused Elizabeth of using "a moment of magic as your tool for parenting".
In a follow up post, the mum said her kids were playing happily without chocolate, and she hadn't been seeking "validation for my parenting tactics".
Interestingly, the Easter bunny received a response to his (her? its?) terse note, with Elizabeth's daughter Holly writing, "I am so sorry for being naughty".
"Hoverfly (we think that's meant to be 'however', and I'm dying) next year you can bring me a yummy ester egg and a nice new toy."
According to news.com.au, the kids' grandma eventually gave them chocolate on Sunday, so it wasn't completely devoid of joy.
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Top Comments
I wish parents would just ban Easter. The commercialism is disgusting and what benefits are you really giving your children? I see kids being given hundreds of eggs and it's OTT and bad for them. I'm with this mum. If they're brats they don't deserve a thing. The 'magic'of easter? 'Bringing joy'? What rot.
Yes! The pictures of 'Easter hauls' on social media are pretty extreme. Maye it's just our family, but the only chocolate eggs received are from the 'Easter bunny', not extras from extended family etc, and even then it's a small basket, not enough to be eating chocolate for days on end. We try to make holidays a bit of a family thing, even if it's just small, and this year my daughter was probably more excited about camping out on the floor in the same room with all her cousins than getting gifts.
The kids will remember this when they are older and think the mother is a bit of an a'hole. I remember all the times my mother wrongly/over punished me by withholding or cancelling something special. How bad could 3 kids young enough to believe in the Easter bunny possibly be? Are they pulling the limbs off small animals?