My kids barely had Easter baskets this year. They received a chocolate bunny, some jelly beans, and stickers, plus a few eggs they hunted in the yard. I know, it might sound a bit cheap to some. Trust me, it felt that way when I saw the extravagant setups on social media: soccer balls, a mini Willy Wonka factory, video games, and three plush toys each. The only thing missing was a ticket to Hamilton!
But my kids were still ecstatic, even though one of them wondered where the Lego sets were. They no longer believe in the Easter Bunny and understand that we chose to spend our holiday budget on a spring break adventure in the mountains. We’ve decided that ‘stuff’ just doesn’t cut it anymore. Experiences are where our joy lies.
We headed out the Saturday before Easter and spent six fantastic days in the North Carolina mountains, in our usual cabin (which is more of a luxury lodge with a hot tub). We hiked to breathtaking waterfalls and found our favorite secluded beach on the Chattooga River, where the boys fished for brown trout and dug in the sand. We even climbed a mountain! Instead of buying knick-knacks from downtown shops, we collected shiny mica chips to display in a bowl at home. The trees were bare, but the mountain laurel was ever-present, and my sons delighted in spotting salamanders near a thundering waterfall. The tears flowed when we left, especially after losing the biggest trout.
I’ll cherish those memories—the brown trout with their red spots glistening in the sun, the rivers rushing from the rain, and my kids splashing in the hot tub like sleek otters surrounded by mountain laurel. This beats any extravagant Easter spread hands down. My boys would agree.
Now, don’t get me wrong; we still spend money. Last year, we snagged kids’ kayaks for $50 each at a post-season sale, which included paddles. We redirected some of our Christmas savings and ended up with two small kayaks. My husband, Jake, and I already had our own from our grad school days, plus a canoe. We invested more of our holiday budget in updating our gear.
Soon enough, my then-6-year-old was expertly kayaking in his own boat, floating down Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park, navigating over cypress knees and under water oak branches. We spotted a brown water snake lounging on a branch. I capsized once and frantically scrambled back into my boat, panicking about the fish lurking beneath. Meanwhile, he and his “girlfriend” planned their wedding while we adults chuckled at their sweet antics. A stick bug fell into our canoe, sending my then-4-year-old into a 15-minute scream fest.
We still invest in kayaking gear instead of toys or fancy clothes. Our sporting goods store is a treasure trove of tow ropes, paddles, and lightweight sun-proof shirts. On Easter Saturday, we floated down the Saluda River, with my 3-year-old perched on my lap. We spotted osprey and kingfishers, while Jake didn’t catch anything but we explored a side creek and saw muskrats. My oldest, Leo, took delight in startling turtles off their logs. When we hit class 2 rapids, he turned to me and said, “Mom, can we do that again?”
We also explore historical battlefields. Leo has become fascinated with the American Revolution thanks to Hamilton and our homeschooling, so we visit local sites. We listen to audiobooks about famous generals on our drives, then walk in the footsteps of soldiers who fought for freedom. My 7-year-old can now identify a redoubt because he has seen one up close. He even pretended to storm the one they built at Camden, while he climbed over ships and traced the paths of palisades. Gas prices are high, especially when traveling across the state, but we manage to cut costs on our Target runs to make it work.
On the local front, we ask relatives to contribute not to physical Christmas gifts, but to annual memberships at the zoo, state museum, and local children’s museum. We hit that zoo once a week and in summer, we frequent the botanical garden’s splash pad even more. Leo met his “girlfriend” there at a homeschool event, and just the other week, he had his brothers bury him in the sand up to his neck for a hilarious photo-op.
We actively try to avoid accumulating more stuff. Honestly, we have too much already, and when I walk into my house, I can feel it weighing me down. I’d rather declutter than add more to our collection. Sure, I might need a new kayaking shirt or a tow rope for August, our 5-year-old, who’s still getting comfortable in his kayak. But we’d much rather spend our money creating memories that last a lifetime. Watching my kids glide down the river and catch brown trout are moments I’ll treasure forever. I carry these memories in my heart, and I’ve learned that you can’t fill your heart with things like Easter baskets.
For more insights on home insemination and parenting, check out this post on our other blog.
In summary, we’ve shifted our focus from accumulating material possessions to creating unforgettable experiences that bring true happiness. This lifestyle change not only enriches our lives but also leaves us with cherished memories that outweigh any material goods.