It’s early in the morning and I step outside the door. It just rained the day before, so there’s water in the air: Springtime in Houston. As I savor a moment of quiet before my daughter wakes up, I think about what I am going to do to celebrate Easter this year. Coronavirus has disrupted our lives and displaced us from our home.
My partner works in healthcare and so we made the difficult decision to divide and isolate our family to protect our 16 month-old daughter. We are fortunate to have the resources to be able to make this decision and to move in with my parents, so their house has become a multi-generational home.
Like a lot of parents navigating their families through this unprecedented time, we seek to create a sense of normalcy for our children and ourselves.
Like you, we are establishing new routines where the old ones don’t fit. This is easier said than done, especially when you are struggling to find work, struggling to work from home, or struggling to survive the day.
To be honest, I had not thought much about Easter or Spring in the pandemic. Life had become too chaotic, switching hourly between the job of Mom and Abolitionist, disjointed at times with a news alerts that were ever-changing, and at the end of the day, I just longed for a sense of peace.
This morning, as I breathe in the dewy Spring air, I try to focus on building that normalcy.
Easter and Springtime can conjure images of rainy days, blossoming lilies, and bunnies. It can be hard to focus on keeping traditions and old routines during a pandemic, mourning what we have lost.
This year would have been my daughter’s first official Easter Egg Hunt and I worry that it won’t be special without the traditional activities and gatherings. At UAHT, one of our core values is Adaptability, and this is definitely a situation where I channel this particular value.
I’m amazed at how I’ve seen you and this community adapting to our circumstances.
Since Springtime can also be a time for renewal, I decide to let go of what I had thought Easter should be and welcome what it is this year.
I have gathered some environmentally sustainable and Fair Trade ideas to help your family and friends practice social distancing while celebrating the season.
1. Dye Eggs with Kitchen Basics
Eggs can be hard to come by during the pandemic, but if you have some, The Spruce Crafts shares a number of ways to color eggs that would be a great activity to engage the children. The most basic involves food coloring or Kool-aid.
2. Use Toilet Paper Rolls for Spring and Easter Crafts
If you are not into prepping and coloring eggs, try collecting all the toilet paper rolls you have accumulated in quarantine and turn them into art. Consumer Queen curates 15 awesome Easter toilet paper roll crafts, some of which you will want to keep crafting as Spring rolls along.
3. Fill Easter Baskets with Fair Trade Chocolate
If you are short on time and have the means, a couple of businesses are offering bundles that are ready-made and ethically sourced. A 2nd Cup may have temporarily closed their doors, but they have put together some cute baskets (with Fair Trade chocolates) for Pick-up or Delivery. If you want one, you will have to order pronto, because they are going fast. You can also restock your pantry and get some of your favorite morning roast while you’re at it.
4. Try a Fair Trade Recipe
These tumultuous times are a good time for connecting and grounding yourself. Gather your family and friends virtually and try the same Fair Trade recipe. Fair Trade USA, the body that created the Fair Trade Certified label, has worked with chefs, influencers, and producers to create recipes using Fair Trade ingredients.
My weekly pick is the Avocado Chocolate Mousse, because 1) it seems simple enough that a baking novice like me could make it, 2) avocados were on sale at Sprouts and 3) I scored Fair Trade Certified chocolate chips at Whole Foods.
5. Relieve Your Stress with A Well-Deserved Bath
Need a little TLC for yourself or want to send a gift to a loved one? Lush has great Easter and Spring bath bombs that are adorable and smell amazing. As you indulge in a little self-care with Lush, you are supporting fair wages, environmental sustainability and good working conditions.
I hope these ideas inspire you to renew old traditions and create new ones this Spring. My daughter and I will likely be indulging in some toilet paper roll-play and eating Fair Trade chocolate chips straight out of the bag. At UAHT, we hope you have a lovely week with family, friends, and loved ones near and far.
