Colo. Easter egg hunt nixed over antsy parents

A woman carries dyed Easter eggs in Fener Patriarchate, Istanbul on April 24, 2011. / MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/Getty Images

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - An annual Easter egg hunt attended by hundreds of children has been canceled because of misbehavior last year. Not by the kids, but by the grown-ups.

Too many parents determined to see their children get an egg jumped a rope marking the boundaries of the children-only hunt at Bancroft Park last year. The hunt was over in seconds, to the consternation of eggless tots and the rules-abiding parents.

Organizers say the hunt in Old Colorado City has gotten too big for the hundreds of children and parents now attending. They canceled this year.

Last April's egg hunt, sponsored by the Old Colorado City Association, experienced a few technical difficulties, said Mazie Baalman, owner of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and sponsor of the event.

There was no place to hide the plastic eggs, which were filled with donated candy or coupons redeemable at nearby businesses. So thousands of eggs were put in plain view on the grass. A bullhorn to start the event malfunctioned, so Baalman, master of ceremonies, used a public address system that was hard to hear.

"So everybody thinks you said `Go,' and everybody goes, and it's over in seconds," Baalman said. "If one parent gets in there, other parents say, `If one can get in, we all can get in,' and everybody goes."

Parenting observers cite the cancellation as a prime example of so-called "helicopter parents" -- those who hover over their children and are involved in every aspect of their children's lives -- to ensure that they don't fail, even at an Easter egg hunt.

"They couldn't resist getting over the rope to help their kids," said Ron Alsop, a former Wall Street Journal reporter and author of "The Trophy Kids Grow Up," which examines the "millennial children" generation.

"That's the perfect metaphor for millennial children. They (parents) can't stay out of their children's lives. They don't give their children enough chances to learn from hard knocks, mistakes."

Alsop and others say the parenting phenomenon began in earnest when baby boomers who decorated their cars with "Baby on Board" signs in the 1980s began having children. It has prompted at least two New York companies to establish "take your parent to work day" for new recruits as parents remain involved even after their children become adults.

Lenny Watkins, who lives a block away from Bancroft Park, took his friend's son, then 4, to the hunt in 2009. "I just remember having a wonderful time, him with his Easter basket," Watson said, adding he can understand why a parent would step in.

"You have all these eggs just lying around, and parents helping out. You better believe I'm going to help my kid get one of those eggs. I promised my kid an Easter egg hunt, and I'd want to give him an even edge."

Jennifer Rexford, who used to live near the park, said she participated in public Easter egg hunts with her boys, ages 3, 8 and 14. She doesn't anymore, because of "pushy parents" that she said she has dealt with at the hunts.

"It just seems to be the mindset. People just want the best for their kids," Rexford said.

Alsop said that dynamic is at play with parents who hover over their children, even into adulthood.

"I don't see any sign of it abating," he said. "It seems everything is more and more and more competitive, fast paced, and I think parents are going to see they need to do more to help their kids get an edge."

[Filmguy870]

Imagine that! Spoiled sad parents. I weep for the children.

[ellensmithee]

Sickening.

I'm glad I didn't breed so I won't scar some poor child. Some of these parents don't care at all if they raise unhealthy, self-centered greedy little monsters. If they cared, they'd behave better. Some people can't make good decisions, even when a child's involved.

Hail Birth Control.

[mswolfestock]

I changed jobs because I couldn't take the Helicopter Moms and all of their drama and worrying about their precious little college freshmen. Most of the kids couldn't wait for mom 'n' dad to get in the mini van and go home, they were dying to be left the eff alone. Sure, go ahead and smother you kid for 18 years, and I guarantee they will run for their lives, never to return. Or worse yet -- your kids will be totally freaking helpless if you've never given them a moment's peace, if you've done every freaking thing for them, if you've never allowed them to make one single decision for themselves.

I hate Helicopter Moms so much because they think they are Great Parents but they are ruining their kids nonetheless with all their hovering and smothering and doing everything for them.

[pbaird2]

They "just want what's best for their kids" is not accurate; they just want their kids to make the parents look better. What is best for the kids is to allow them to earn what they achieve, fail at times and understand failure or not winning is not the end of the world. If the parents always provide a prize for every effort the child becomes an adult who cannot function when the adoration ceases. Quit living your lives vicariously through your children; you had your chance...give them theirs.

[barbaram99]

I have never done alot of of things that sighted kids do when I was a kid as I am legally blind from birth..I find it appalling that the parents have ruined it for the kids at a public easter hunt there in the springs..We lived there in the 80s..I member years ago teachers taught us to win and lose gracefully..What happened to that..There are winners and losers in sports..I find alot of things unfair as the sighted have it over me..I know that..Parents but out the easter egg hunt is for the children..I have it over the sighted in some area..I am sad that children can't have their easter egg hunt just cos of adults ruining it for them.

[crouton1]

Gee, things never change. Back in 1991, when my son was 5 years old. We went to Disney World and they had an Easter Basket in the center of a big lawn at our hotel for Easter. They made it clear children 2-10. All the children had to be crossed legged. When the whistle blew. This very tall skinny girl, about 12, ran like crazy. She stomped on several 2 years olds, one in the head. She ran back to her parents that were overjoyed at her winning the basket. While children were crying with injury done to them. Some parents wanted that child to return the basket. They were gone.

[dman6015]

"...I promised my kid an Easter egg hunt, and I'd want to give him an even edge."

Far too many stupid parents out there. Grow up, and let your children grow up on their own. Stop the "everybody has to win" philosophy. Let them fail once in a while. They won't fall apart. You're ruining the future of the country.

[MegaProcrastination]

Man oh man, whatever happened to an egg hunt in the backyard, the one where the parents made all the kids go inside, hid all the eggs (way more than one apiece), then went back in the house and told the kids, "Go!" then stood at the windows watching as the kids tumbled and bumbled tripping over each other trying to find all of them? Now THOSE were fun Easter egg hunts!

[obbop]

USA with an increasingly sick society.

I advise youth to seek a different country/culture that appeals to them and learn that country's language and culture and flee this failing morass.

[bobnjersey]

["I don't see any sign of it abating," he said. "It seems everything is more and more and more competitive, fast paced, and I think parents are going to see they need to do more to help their kids get an edge."]
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all the reality shows have turned everything into a competition ... and if you don't manipulate your way to the front ... you'll be voted off before you can get 'the biggest scvmb@g' prize.