The innocence of youth

With Easter having come and gone, I find myself reminiscing about the days when I was a youngster.

Back then we were allowed to “believe” in things such as the Easter Bunny, Father Christmas, the tooth mouse, the stork that brings the baby, and other innocent fairy tales.

There was never any intent by parents to make us “psychologically unstable”. Neither was there ever any “malicious attempt” to draw us away from the true meaning of Christmas and Easter.

In fact, the opposite was very true, unlike some people would have us believe.

We were allowed to develop our imagination, while still being taught true Christian beliefs and values.

Our childish beliefs have long since been discarded, but the privilege of being able to share in the fantasy world with children and grandchildren is still enjoyable and regarded as harmless fun.

Children are also not so gullible and are far cleverer than we think.

How often have we been asked how the heck a rabbit is able to carry all those Easter eggs for all the children in a bag slung over the shoulder?
“I mean, the little guy hasn’t even got hands to hold the bag, Grandpa!”

My “belief” in the Easter Bunny was shot out of the water when as a child I discovered Easter eggs with our names stuck on them in my parents’ wardrobe. The very next day we had to hunt for them in the garden. Same labels, same handwriting!

How can “Father Christmas” fit through a chimney and still get back up again and, to top it all, he does not even get dirty!?

The tooth mouse’s paws are so small he can’t even hold a 50c coin, let alone the whopping R5 coin.
“And he builds a house with teeth? That’s gross, Grandpa!”

When children outgrow the fantasy. generally at the age of six or seven years, the true meaning of Easter becomes a reality and has far more value.

Experts will no doubt disagree, but the Easter Bunny or Father Christmas has not damaged my brain – well, at least not that much anyway.