Do we really need those photos with the Easter bunny?

DO PARENTS really need another thing to do? This trend, coming to a shopping centre near you, goes too far.

Christy Teigen and John Legend’s daughter Luna pictured with the Easter bunny earlier this month. Picture: Instagram @pepperthai2

OPINION

IT’S bad enough that hot cross buns are on the shelves by Boxing Day, and Easter eggs tempt our chocolate-crazed kids for months before the big day.

But when I heard that photos with the Easter bunny were “the new big thing”, I shuddered.

Of course they would be cute as a button — just look at Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s little baby Luna, looking pretty as a picture sitting on the Easter bunny’s lap at an LA shopping mall this week.

The 11-month-old joins a swag of celebrity children posing for Easter portraits — a trend coming to an Aussie shopping centre near you these school holidays.

Happy Easter!! River loved the Easter Bunny about as much as she loved Santa ha! #happycamper pic.twitter.com/CS3yEzwVox

— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) March 27, 2016

Imagine soft cuddly bunnies, pastel bonnets and eggs galore — but before you join the queue, let’s ask ourselves a question.

Why? Do parents really need another thing to do?

One more thing to fit in, to execute, to pay for?

Our not nearly deprived youngsters don’t need to grow up with album after album choc-a-block with Easter bunny pictures to pass down to their own children one day.

It’s bad enough that Christmas has become the consumer holiday that it is — but Easter too?

You can’t escape it. Pretty much any Easter-related product you can think of is right there, ready and waiting to be clutched by a bunny ear wearing toddler, not caring that after all that tugging at a parent’s already stretched purse strings, something’s gonna snap.

The Easter bunny: Coming to a shopping centre near you.

And it’s not just about the money either. I can tell you that this busy mum doesn’t have time for photos with the Easter bunny. We can barely make Santa happen, and folks, we’ve got a year to plan for that.

You spend most of December knowing you have to do it, and wondering how you can beat the crowds. You need a game plan. Do you book? Go to an obscure suburban shopping centre that won’t have hundreds of crazily impatient toddlers running rampant?

And the outfits. They have to be clean. No Vegemite sandwiches — too dirty. No white — too risky. Hair and teeth have to be brushed. Properly, not just a daycare “that’ll do” job. No, no. Ponytails have to be secured. Ribbons, headbands, whatever it takes.

By the time you pick your package (oh the pressure), queue for hours, (oh the torture), and wait for Santa to get back from his smoko (seriously?) – the whole family’s pretty over it.

By then baby Johnny has gone back to sleep. The snacks you gave middle madam are all over her once ironed dress. Your eldest is loudly asking some very inappropriate questions — like why this Santa is far skinnier than the Santa you saw at the other shopping centre last week.

“How does he lose that much weight in a week Mummy?”, she asks sweetly. Well honey, Mummy wishes she knew, trust me.

Then, after precisely 6,347 snaps, the elfy teenager crankily suggests you pick one — for the minimal fee of $489 — thanks for coming.

Of course in that final moment when you have that gorgeous memory in your hot little hands it’s all so very worth it, and knowing it’s once a year makes it manageable.

But the Easter bunny? It’s too much. We need to take a stand.

So when you see the cute little bunny-themed backdrop spring to life at your local shopping centre these school holidays, don’t cave.

Say no to the big floppy ears and the bouncing button tail. It’s a slippery slope. The next thing you know it will be selfies with the tooth fairy, taking advantage of the post chocolate egg fall out.

So Easter bunny, we love you — but we’re tired, and you’ve taken all our money. So with all due respect, take your photos and go jump.

Lisa Mayoh is a freelance writer and mother of three. Follow her on Twitter.

Originally published as Do we really need those photos with the Easter bunny?