All the reasons to love Easter

Winter is finally melting away into spring, and that means Easter! Not only will there be Easter egg hunts and Easter Bunny photo ops, but there is sure to be plenty of Easter candy everywhere. Go dig out your baskets, bonnets, spring dresses, and plastic grass; we’re ready to hop into the Easter season!


I mean, just look at this festive sale:

Are they combining April Fools, Easter, and womanhood? I'm so confused. 😂😭 @cynicalparent makes me LOL on the Regular. Maybe even on the Super Plus. Follow @cynicalparent for more eggsitement. #kidsaretheworst

8,705 Likes, 347 Comments - Anna Macfarlane (@kidsaretheworst) on Instagram: "Are they combining April Fools, Easter, and womanhood? I'm so confused. 😂😭 @cynicalparent makes me..."


Speaking of eggs, aren’t your kids anxious to get cracking?

1,623টি লাইক, 148টি মন্তব্য - Anna Macfarlane (@kidsaretheworst) Instagram -এ রয়েছেন: ""I see that she is taking my picture, but maybe she won't notice if I grab this last egg..."..."


They look eggcited to me…

Please swipe for a lovely and creepy treat. Happy Easter, friends. #HideYoEggsHideYoBaskets 📷: @shannonapril7 @the_tjsquared #kidsaretheworst #TheEasterBunnyIsTheWorst #MaybeWorse

3,152 Likes, 108 Comments - Anna Macfarlane (@kidsaretheworst) on Instagram: "Please swipe for a lovely and creepy treat. Happy Easter, friends. #HideYoEggsHideYoBaskets 📷:..."

Like I said, though, the best things at Easter come in wrapped packages. Am I right?

They won't miss a few pieces of candy. #CoachellaWho? #kidsaretheworst

3,316 Likes, 49 Comments - Anna Macfarlane (@kidsaretheworst) on Instagram: "They won't miss a few pieces of candy. #CoachellaWho? #kidsaretheworst"

Honestly, I’m not picky.

All. Of. It. . Except celery. . #celeryistheworst #kidsaretheworst

10.6k Likes, 652 Comments - Anna Macfarlane (@kidsaretheworst) on Instagram: "All. Of. It. . Except celery. . #celeryistheworst #kidsaretheworst"

I keep to a strict diet.

See, I eat eggs for breakfast. And peanut butter has protein so it's kinda the same thing... ish. Via the incredible edible @todaysmama #kidsaretheworst

3,820 Likes, 270 Comments - Anna Macfarlane (@kidsaretheworst) on Instagram: "See, I eat eggs for breakfast. And peanut butter has protein so it's kinda the same thing... ish...."

For the kids.

No, I don’t have a problem.

I have a peanut butter friend.

I don't care what size you are, baby. Just as long as there is a good peanut butter to chocolate ratio. Oh yeah!!! Also. My body will love to return to its shape post-Easter. This candy sitch is getting out of hand. #kidsaretheworst

3,533 Likes, 252 Comments - Anna Macfarlane (@kidsaretheworst) on Instagram: "I don't care what size you are, baby. Just as long as there is a good peanut butter to chocolate..."

Until, that is, we finally say, “Goodbye.”

Don’t worry; the only thing better than Easter egg hunts and Cadbury eggs on Easter is after holiday sales. Pick up a few egg-decorating kits and plush bunnies for the kiddos, plus a few cases of chocolate eggs for yourself. It’s worth the egg-stra effort.

Screaming Kids? I've Got a Music Playlist for That

By Chelsea Owens, Guest Writer

Nothing puts the icing on the parenting cake quite like a screaming child. Whether in the car, at the store, or anytime the child feels like it; The Scream is The Worst.

What’s a parent to do? Duct tape is tempting, but not feasible. You’d never get it off your ears without some pain, and it wouldn’t cancel out enough noise to make the hair loss worth it.


Instead, what about music? At our house we listen to so many different songs that I have a playlist for nearly every situation. That’s why I’ve got your back when the screams start. I not only included a few obligatory ‘calm the kids down’ tunes, but also threw in some that will harmonize with the screaming. And just ‘cause I’m nice, I finished with songs that are so awesome you won’t notice the screaming for a few ...seconds, at least.


Calm Songs (For the Kids)
First, I always start with my favorite Classical pieces. These range from Mozart to Chopin to Weezer. And, thanks to the heavenly blessing of YouTube, I can pop a ready-made playlist on as soon as it’s needed:

You may have noticed one of those things is not like the others in my first suggestion. This is because I never tie myself down to any style or genre of music. If you and yours like Weezer, The Piano Guys, or The Plain White T’s; my second suggestion is to play what works.

The recommended tune I include, here, is the playlist that consistently put my second child to sleep every time we got in the car: the soundtrack for the film Edward Scissorhands.

My last calm songs idea is a bit of a mashup of the two before. The artist calls himself Caspar Babypants. Trendy, hip parents may recognize him from the 90s band The President of the United States of America.

Caspar Babypants started composing songs for young children when he, himself, became a parent and saw what was out there. Thank goodness he did, too!

Screaming Songs (To Harmonize)

As funny as it sounds, I find stress relief in giving into the moment and becoming one with The Scream. Since my doctor suggested my headaches and sore throat might decrease if I avoid screaming myself, I instead turn to singers who do it for me.

For full-on screams (or yells), the most tolerable choice is “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin:

Another great classic rock option is one that became my favorite after Matthew Morrison and Neil Patrick Harris took it on during an episode of “Glee.” As gorgeous as those two are, they still can’t reach the screaminess that is Steven Tyler.

When the kids get high-pitched and I need a commiserating harmony, I skip to the end:

Last but not least is my oldest son’s go-to whenever I become the screamer. Not that it helps, but he always gets us laughing when he turns it on.
Because; really, can you not laugh when 10 hours of screaming goat is playing?

Awesome Distracting Songs (For Everybody)

This is the part of the list where you can insert your own ideas. Maybe your family swings to Christian Rock for inspiration. Maybe you’re more partial to electric grunge. Or, you could have a favorite based on what pitch your child screams at.

Our family enjoys everything from Beethoven to heavily-edited Eminem. I also recognize the effect that music has on people and houseplants, and therefore try to keep our awesome songs playlists limited to ones with positive messages and tones.

In light of that, the first of my three suggestions is “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” by Justin Timberlake. Even if you’re still sick of it, you can search for other songs like it.

Really, the best way to distract a screamer and his or her audience is to put on something you can dance to. Timberlake’s song is great for that, as are many others. When I asked around my mom’s group for their favorite, two of them also mentioned Fitz and the Tantrums’ “Hand Clap.”

In the end, the very best thing I can do for the child and myself is to distract with a funny video. After trying snacks, naps, and duct tape; my number one song choices for watching are OK Go’s amazing compilations. I don’t know how many times the band has to record them, but the end results are mesmerizing.

The songs aren’t half-bad, either.

Parenting isn’t for the faint of heart, but it also doesn’t need to make you dependent on ear plugs. Next time your little darling starts practicing angry opera, whip one of these songs out. You and everyone within earshot just might start dancing, instead.

After all, a dancing child is better than a screaming one any day.

Chelsea enjoys writing, reading, eating, sleeping, and living vicariously through others' stories. Since she is a mother full time, sometimes she gets to do those things.