It is 8:30am, Easter morning, and it is time to get ready to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Thank goodness He has saved us from our sins and assured us eternal salvation, because my thoughts are on the murder of innocent children: mine.

1. Max thinks the clothes he picked out are fine (athletic shorts and a camp tee-shirt) His shoes were too uncomfortable. Why did he have to tuck in his shirt? And, did he really have to brush his teeth again because he did it yesterday.

2. Thomas is having a hard time rebounding from being caught hiding all of his dirty underwear in the bottom of his cubby. Underwear apparently makes his pants uncomfortable and long. Tears roll down his face when he then realizes he has to wear penny loafers. I assure him they are not as uncomfortable as nails being driven through his hands…

3. Daniel is sure he can do his belt himself. He misses 3 belt loops and buckles it on the first hole so it resembles a hula hoop around his waist. My attempt to fix this brings on cries like a dying animal. A tantrum on the floor ensues when I utter the final insult: he MUST wear socks.

4. Annabelle is in a snit because her dress is too long and you can’t see enough of her “beautiful” tights. I am uncomfortable at the thought of my 4 year old wanting to show more leg, but that feeling quickly turns to panic when I see she has turned herself into a cat with my black eyeliner on her cheeks. What is it with my kids and facial graffiti?

Why have we decided that the best way to celebrate Easter is to put on uncomfortable clothes and try not to get any chocolate stains on them before church?  What if I told my children to pick out their BEST clothes – clothes they would be proud of meeting Jesus and shaking His hand in?  Could I have a calm morning and be OK with what they came up with?  What if that meant athletic socks with loafers, JEANS (oh no!), a favorite shirt that is too small, or even SHORTS (heaven forbid!)?  I think we would all survive.  We may get a few looks at brunch, but I could recover.  It may even save me some grey hairs.  I’ll have to reevaluate this idea next year, because it will be hard to pass up the one picture of my precious kids looking perfect…Happy Easter!