Mom brings 5-year-old son to meet the Easter Bunny, leaves rowdy 3-year-old daughter at home: 'She barely knows how to behave.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Mar 28, 2026 12:00 PM EDT

Will the daughter feel bad about being excluded?

There are some places you can't bring your toddlers because they're too hyperactive. It might take years for your family to be ready to go to a sit-down restaurant after your baby is born, because you don't trust that your baby or toddler will be able to sit in an Applebee's for an hour and a half without screaming her head off. A meltdown is not only emotionally distressing for the parents of the child; it also disturbs everyone around them and makes it difficult to have a relaxing meal. 

Let's say your 7-year-old daughter is in the school play, and you're debating whether you should bring her 3-year-old brother to the performance. The best-case scenario is that he sits through the performance silently, laughing at the jokes and clapping at all of the appropriate moments. A middle-of-the-road result might include him sitting in the hallway with dad playing on his iPad for the second half of the performance because he started to get noisy. At worst, he starts screaming and hollering the second his sister says her first line, taking all of the attention away from her on her special day.

Sometimes, you have to exclude one of your children for the other child's sake. That exclusion might hurt the child's feelings, but if they're young enough, they might not even know they've been left out. The little girl in this story will probably have no idea that her brother saw the Easter Bunny without her.

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  • A young boy sitting on a chair next to a stuffed bunny
    via Jessica Scalf

    A little boy meeting the Easter Bunny without his badly behaved sister ruining the fun.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Would I be the bad guy if I left my 3-year-old at home with her dad while I took my 5-year-old to meet the Easter Bunny?

    My 5 year old has an Easter event at his school for students and their families.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • They're doing pancakes with the Easter Bunny, small arts and crafts, and pictures. It actually sounds really cute.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • The only thing is my 3 year old doesn't know how to act in those kinds of settings yet.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • She barely knows how to behave when we're just grocery shopping, even after I talk to her beforehand and explain why she needs to listen.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • If I tell her no to something or to stand there and be patient. She cries, throws tantrums.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • A father holding his crying little daughter and comforting her in a garden
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Dad comforts his toddler daughter as she throws a tantrum in the garden.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • She runs off, and gets into everything. I already know I'd probably spend most of the time chasing her instead of enjoying the moment with my son.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • Part of me doesn't want to take her, but another part of me feels guilty, like I'm being wrong for not including her.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • I'm stuck between wanting a peaceful experience with my 5 year old but not wanting my 3 year old to feel left out.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • My husband will be home, though he might be sleeping since he works overnights, but she could stay with him.
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • Father and daughter sleeping together on the bed
    via Curated Lifestyle (Unsplash+)

    Dad sleeps while his son and wife enjoy the Easter event without his badly-behaved daughter. 

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Current Thing2244 Nope, you wouldn't. It's just having some quality bonding time with your 5 year old, something I'm sure your kid will love. It's important for young kids to have individual time with parents as much as family time. Family time creates the bonds, individual time cements them.
    via u/Current_Thing2244
  • shesfreespirited Original Poster's Reply Thank you. One thing I really appreciate here and the relief I feel is all the comments pointing out that my 5 year old, all kids needs individual and bonding time. I agree. M
    via u/shesfreespirited
  • Chilling_Storm Tell hubby he needs to watch the tiny terror for a few hours because you need to give the 5 year old your undivided attention.
    via u/Chilling_Storm
  • HaraldWestman Seems perfectly reasonable. Prepare for and let her have an Easter event with her dad. Everybody wins.
    via u/HaraldWestman
  • Euphoric_Peanut1492 NTA, but how would she even know she's missing anything? She's 3. She wouldn't even realize she might have gone unless you say something.
    via u/Euphoric_Peanut1492
  • giraffemoo Your 3 year old won't remember you chasing her the whole day, but your 5 year old will.
    via u/giraffemoo
  • lihzee Have you talked to your husband about it?
    via u/lihzee
  • pudge-thefish NTA there is nothing wrong with having a special time for your son. She will also get to have these fun experiences when they are age appropriate for her. He should not always have to share the attention with his sister
    via u/pudge-thefish
  • PaintingByInsects Talk to your husband about it first, of course, but either keep her home or get her a babysitter. Your son deserves the 1-on-1 with you without a crying sister there. Savour the alone moments when you can, with both of them. Don't let one ruin the events for the other. In this case the 3yo will take up all your energy away from the 5yo. Stay with him But talk to your husband whether he is fine to keep her or needs a babysitter
    via u/PaintingByInsects
  • DaffyDuckOdil You have two children and don't know if it's ok to leave them with their dad?? Have you never done this? Wow, your family works differently to ours! He is a parent too. It is really good to have everyone be together in all the different combinations, so you all actually bind with each other. Dad should know the kids too. Having said that, he needs to be awake. 3 yo can get into trouble quick, as they can move around a lot but have no idea of danger! As I'm sure you know.
    via u/DaffyDuckOdil
  • coolaidmedic1 I am not a parent fyi, but isnt 3 a bit young to be getting jealous and feeling missed out? Most people don't even remember their 3rd birthday. Surely dad could come up with a good distraction no?
    via u/coolaidmedic1

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easter behavior school toddler parenting daughter mom bunny son grocery store
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