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Joy

Rob Lowe's attempt to delight kids by dressing as the Easter Bunny goes hilariously wrong

Not even his celebrity status could spare him form this all-too-relatable parenting moment.

David Shankbone/Wikipedia, Oriental Trading

Rob Lowe (left) East Bunny costume (right)

When you’re a parent, sometimes those well-intentioned plans to add a little magic to your kid’s lives go off without a hitch, and other times…not so much. This goes especially for anything involving costumed characters. Santa, clowns, Disney mascots, you name it—they can either be a dream come true, or a living, screaming nightmare.

And that’s why a video showing actor Rob Lowe accidentally striking utter terror into the hearts of a few kids this past Easter Sunday feels like such a “stars, they're just like us” moment.

Lowe, who had apparently been celebrating the holiday with his Parks and Recreation co-star Chris Pratt, attempted to infuse some Easter joy by dressing up in an Easter Bunny costume. It even had a sky blue jacket and matching bowtie.

In an Instagram reel shared on April 21 by Pratt’s wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, we first see Lowe getting into his ensemble.

“Rob, this looks incredible,” Schwarzenegger says.

Cut to a fully dressed Lowe Bunny making his grand entrance…to the sound of children screaming in horror. No amount of eggs scattered on the ground could quell their fears and pretty soon Lowe Bunny hops away in retreat.

Lowe later shows up, very sweaty and out of breath, to Easter lunch (sans Bunny costume) pretending like he has no idea what just happened.

"I just hopped on over when I heard he was here,” he quips, to which Pratt says "Oh, you missed him!"

Honestly the whole thing very much plays out like a classic Parks and Rec scene. Watch:

Down in the comments, people got a good chuckle at the relatable fiasco.

“The fact that this is real life and not a show is absolutely incredible.”

“The screaming children make it worth it 😂”

“Literally…the greatest Easter moment😂”

“Lmao he tried so hard 😂 poor bunny was falling apart 😂”

“It’s the cottontail and kid hysterics for me 😂”

One person even joked, “OMG John Stamos dressed as the Easter bunny at your brunch? 😋😂” referencing a funny moment that happened not three days prior, where a Hollywood tour guide accidentally mistook the West Wing actor for Stamos. Poor Lowe is having a week.

All jokes aside, it can be easy for adults to forget that young children's fear of costumes, also known as masklophobia, can stem from a few key factors. For one thing, they haven't yet developed the ability to differentiate between fantasy and reality, making it deeply unsettling for a character—whose life-sized version feels ginormous—to suddenly appear in real life.

Plus, masks present a slew of scaries. Kid's facial recognition skills are still developing, and they may find it unsettling to see a face hidden behind a mask or costume, especially if they're not used to it. Even for those youngsters who are adept at facial recognition, the static expression of a masked character can also seem intimidating because they are difficult to read and therefore hard to know what their intentions are.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Lastly, the whole thing might just be a little too much for kids who are sensitive to a lot of stimuli. That’s why it’s helpful for parents to be mindful of where a child’s limits are, and work around them. But hey, parenting mistakes happen. And once the screams are over, we can all have a good laugh about them.

Family

5 things you should know before getting a pet rabbit this Easter.

Rabbits make great pets — not-so-great Easter presents.

Every year, just after Easter, animal shelters like Chicago's Red Door are inundated with rabbits found outside. As it turns out, many of these abandoned rabbits were given as Easter presents.

Since Easter 2015, Red Door has taken in 83 pet rabbits abandoned outside after the holiday. And those are the lucky ones. According to shelter president, Marcia Coburn, many face a much worse fate, such as being attacked by predators or facing disease.

Simply put, the rabbits we bring into our homes aren't like the rabbits you might find hopping around your backyard. To "free" your pet rabbit is usually a cruel bunny death sentence.


And that number is just for one shelter. All photos from Red Door Animal Shelter/Facebook, used with permission.

But let's say you're set on getting a bunny. There are some basic things anybody considering getting a pet rabbit needs to know.

1. They're an 8-12-year commitment.

When given proper care, rabbits can live up to 12 years. So before you go out and pick up a cute and fluffy friend, make sure you're ready to give it the long-term love it needs.


2. You'll need to find a veterinarian who deals with exotic pets like rabbits (obviously), ferrets, birds, and mice.

"The medicine is completely different for them from cats and dogs," says Coburn. "Even some of the basic antibiotics they give cats and dogs can be fatal to a rabbit." That's why it's important to find a vet who knows what they're doing.

Oh, and it's really important that you get your pet rabbit spayed or neutered.


3. They're not exactly a great pet for little kids.

They don't like being picked up, they get very territorial, and they might not be the best choice of pet if you've got young ones living at home. Which is just one reason why bringing home an Easter rabbit for your kids is just not the best idea.


4. You can't keep rabbits caged up all the time — at least you shouldn't.

Yes, this means "bunny-proofing" your apartment, and yes, this means dedicating some time each day to the rabbit. "Rabbits are very social animals, and they need to interact with people down on the rabbit's level," Coburn adds.


5. They can't live on carrots.

Rabbits need to have fresh hay and salads. When it comes to carrots, however, that should be an occasional treat. "Bugs Bunny really did not do rabbits a favor because everybody thinks [they eat carrots], but really, it's the equivalent of us eating 20 Snickers bars," says Coburn.

Shelters like Red Door do everything they can to save these lovable creatures, and the best thing you can do to help is to think long and hard about whether a rabbit is right for you before getting one.

They're lovable creatures, and they deserve equally loving homes. Some peg the amount of rabbits purchased on Easter that end up being abandoned as high as 80%. Do your part and think through whether a rabbit is right for you before getting one.