Town and Country Newspaper

News Article

The Egg Hunt and the Smile

Written by Larry Roeder, Editor
2012-03-29

Easter is just around the corner and along with it comes the traditional Easter egg hunt.

The season is of great significance to Christians but it’s that search for the colorful “hen-fruit” that makes kids smile and turns some parents into participants in a sod-busting, egg-grabbing form of rugby. They turn their children loose to have fun and gather as many eggs as they can in a limited space but just can’t keep their hands in their pockets and let the children have the fun.

Our area communities are known for their wonderful egg hunts, the children who participate in them, groups who host them and the prizes handed out. I don’t think anyone ever won a car in one of our local hunts but children and parents are both pleased when at least one of the brightly-colored eggs ends up in their basket. While the children are having fun trying their hand at gathering as much of the egg harvest as they can, parents are watching from the sidelines, encouraging their offspring to “go faster” or “look over there.”

For the wee-ones, parents are often invited into the hunt area to help their children find the hard-shelled treasures. They are encouraged to let the kids have the fun of picking them up. Sometimes they do, but at some point during the hunt many of them turn into “helicopter parents” who hover over their young ones, ready to swoop down on any egg within their reach that could be targeted by someone else.

The people who sponsor and host the area Easter egg hunts do it for the purpose of providing a good time for the youngsters and enjoying themselves by reveling in the joy they provide to others. They have no intention of “fixing” the hunt to keep anyone from taking home one of the hard-boiled or plastic eggs. In fact, most hunt-providers keep a stash of the colorful eggs to hand out to hunters who have been less than successful in their efforts.

The event organizers provide the hunts year after year knowing that it takes them hours to organize, set up and deliver, and is over in a matter of seconds. Whether it’s a fire company, church, veteran’s group or any other type of organization, they do it because it brings a smile to children in the community. Every time a child smiles, the organizers smile too.

This year, the Town and Country would like all of the Easter egg hunt attendees to do something special for your hosts. They’ve never asked for it but they will appreciate it.

This year, tell your hosts “Thanks for the Egg Hunt” or just give them a thumbs up to let them know you appreciate their efforts.

They’ll be back next year to do it again and one day, after you’ve grown up, you may be among the volunteers running the local egg hunt. Remembering how you handled yourself could bring a warm memory to you and put a smile on your face.

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