I couldn’t believe my eyes when my son stumbled upon a YouTube video featuring a woman with perfectly manicured nails opening Easter eggs and describing their contents in excruciating detail. For 15 minutes, we watched, and I chuckled at how ridiculous it seemed. But now, months later, the humor has worn off. Just when I think I’ve seen every variation, another video emerges, boasting a fresh character or a new twist. Want to see someone “catch” eggs in a pool and then reveal their contents? You got it! What about a set of Easter eggs encased in Play-Doh, crafted by someone with way too much time on their hands to look like characters from Inside Out? You bet that’s available. It seems that no matter what show or movie your child is into, there’s a surprise egg video to match. And as their interests shift, these irritating eggs remain ever-present. Fantastic.
Honestly, these surprise eggs are driving me up the wall. I can’t stand them or the adults who create them. It’s a clear example of “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” Seriously, what kind of adult spends their free time buying tiny toys, stuffing them into eggs, and then filming themselves pretending to be amazed by what they find inside? Only those with way too much free time, that’s who! If I had an hour—or even 15 minutes—to spare, I’d find better ways to occupy my time. Sure, I could say “to each their own,” but there is simply no justification for this madness.
The worst part? The other ridiculous content YouTube seems to think we might enjoy. Like a grown person pretending to be a dentist and extracting a tooth from a figurine of Shrek, or reenacting “Peppa goes to the hospital for surgery” with toys and a mini hospital setup. Yes, these absurd videos pop up automatically if I’m not quick enough to exit after an egg video concludes. I don’t need more nonsense to watch, but thanks, YouTube. And what’s with the bizarre medical-themed content anyway?
These days, we’re watching surprise egg videos almost daily. It’s the go-to activity for screen time and, admittedly, one of the best ways to avoid a meltdown during the terrible twos. My son isn’t satisfied with just any egg video; he has specific demands: “I want to see Paw Patrol eggs.” I find myself using these silly videos to coax my 2-year-old home from the park or to clean up toys. And I’m not alone—these videos rake in millions of views. Every parent I know with toddlers understands the struggle (I can tell by the eye rolls and groans that follow). Those without kids think I’m out of my mind when I mention the “surprise egg phenomenon.” Lucky them.
Seriously, who came up with this concept? What could possibly motivate an adult to think this was a good idea? And why did we ever allow it into our homes? If I could take it back, I would. They’re worse than Teletubbies or Barney. If I didn’t fear getting stuck watching both, I’d probably rather introduce those shows instead.
There are countless other activities I’d prefer to engage in, like scrubbing dishes, tackling laundry, or even cleaning behind the stove. But time and again, after hearing my son sweetly ask, “Can we watch the eggs, please? The Mickey ones,” I cave, and we’re back to square one. Eggs on the TV, eggs on the tablet—he doesn’t care as long as he can watch those darn eggs.
The worst is when we’re out and about, and an “I want to watch the eggs” tantrum is imminent. Your phone has died, you’re out of Wi-Fi range, or YouTube is buffering. You’re utterly stuck. Recently, my son found a plastic Easter egg around the house. Now it’s in my car, and he plays with it more than the toys I actually paid for. “Mummy, can you open it and see what’s inside?” He opens it and, just like the videos, is shocked to find whatever he put inside still there. Adorable for a toddler, but not behavior that should be replicated by adults.
The surprise egg trend shows no sign of slowing down, and it’s about as welcome as men in purple skinny jeans. I’m ready to rally other parents against these eggs. Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but I’m out of options and my patience is wearing thin. Toddler trends come and go, but I genuinely hope for a swift end to this one. Anything else would be a welcome change—though I know I should be careful what I wish for.
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Summary
The blog humorously critiques the overwhelming trend of surprise egg videos for children, expressing frustration over their prevalence and the absurdity of adult creators. The author shares personal anecdotes about how these videos have infiltrated everyday life and the struggle to manage a toddler’s obsession with them.