I thought my daughter had lost her mind when we stumbled upon a YouTube video featuring a woman with perfectly manicured nails opening Easter eggs and discussing what was inside—over and over—for a full 15 minutes. We watched, and I chuckled at the absurdity of it all. But now, months later, I’m no longer amused. Just when I think I’ve seen every variation, another video emerges with a fresh character or a new twist. Want to see someone “catch” eggs in a pool and reveal their contents? Sure! How about Easter eggs disguised in Play-Doh, crafted meticulously to resemble emotions from Inside Out? It’s all out there, and no matter what show or movie your child enjoys, there’s bound to be a surprise egg video linked to it. This means, as their interests shift, these annoying eggs are here to stay. Fantastic.
These videos are driving me mad. I can’t stand them or the adults who create them. They exemplify the idea that just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. Who in their right mind spends their free time stuffing tiny toys into eggs, arranging them for presentation, and filming themselves pretending to be surprised by the contents? It’s mind-boggling! If I had a spare hour, or even just 15 minutes, I’d spend it far more wisely. And while I could say “to each their own,” there’s no justification for this kind of behavior.
To make matters worse, YouTube now assumes I’m interested in an array of ridiculous content. For instance, there’s a video featuring an adult playing “pretend dentist” with Peppa Pig and extracting Shrek’s tooth. Or, someone reenacting “Peppa goes to the hospital for surgery” with figurines and a full hospital setup. These bizarre suggestions pop up automatically if I’m not quick enough to exit after an egg video. I definitely don’t need more absurd options, thanks—what’s with all the medical-themed nonsense?
Now we’re stuck watching surprise eggs almost daily. It’s become the go-to activity for screen time and, admittedly, one of the best ways to diffuse a terrible-twos tantrum. My daughter isn’t satisfied with just any egg video; she has specific requests: “Mickey Mouse, please.” “I want to see the Peppa Pig eggs.” I’m literally using these silly videos to coax my 2-year-old into leaving the park or cleaning up her toys. And I’m not alone—these videos rack up millions of views. All my parent friends with toddlers get it (I can tell by their eye rolls). Those without kids, however, think I’m completely nuts when I mention the “surprise egg phenomenon.” Lucky them.
Who came up with this idea, and what were they thinking? What kind of adult thinks this is a worthwhile endeavor? And why did we ever introduce these videos into our homes? I’d take it back in a heartbeat if I could. They’re worse than Teletubbies and Barney combined. If I thought playing those shows would keep me away from the egg videos, I might consider it, but I fear I’d end up stuck with both.
There are countless other things I’d prefer to do with my time, like washing the dishes, doing laundry, or maybe even cleaning behind the stove. However, after hearing my daughter (who never forgets anything) politely ask to “watch the eggs, please, the Mickey ones,” I give in, and it’s back to square one. Eggs on the TV, eggs on the tablet—she doesn’t care as long as she can see them.
The worst part is when we are in a situation where I can’t produce an egg video, and a “I want to watch the eggs” meltdown is imminent. Whether my phone is dead, we’re out of Wi-Fi range, or YouTube isn’t loading fast enough, I’m left in a bind. Recently, my daughter found a plastic Easter egg around the house. This silly thing is now in my car, and it captivates her more than many of the toys I actually paid for. “Mummy, can you open it and see what’s inside?” She opens it, and just like in the videos, she feigns shock at whatever she placed inside—adorable and acceptable for a 2-year-old, but not for an adult.
The surprise egg trend shows no signs of slowing down, and it’s on par with the absurdity of purple skinny jeans. I’m prepared to lead a revolt against these eggs. Yes, I understand how ridiculous that sounds, but my options are dwindling, and my patience is running thin. Toddler trends are fleeting, but I genuinely hope for a swift transition to the next phase—anything but this. Then again, I need to be careful what I wish for.
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In summary, the surprise egg trend has taken over screen time in our household, leaving me frustrated and bewildered. As parents, we must navigate these whims while trying to find engaging alternatives.