Instead of Candy, This Savage "Easter Bunny" Left Kids a Disciplining Note

What's the springtime equivalent to receiving coal in your stocking for Christmas? Waking up on Easter morning to discover nothing but a semicreepy note from the Easter Bunny rather than egg-shaped candies or new toys. And for three young children in Australia, that's exactly what happened this year.

Tracy Elizabeth thought her kids had been exhibiting some pretty disobedient behavior, so she decided to pose as the Easter Bunny and teach them a much-needed lesson about getting their act together. The mother of three typed a letter explaining that the fictional character decided to forego gifting them with sugary goodies this year because they were on the "naughty list."

"I am not bringing you any Easter Eggs or gifts because I have been watching carefully and you have been very naughty. Fighting, arguing and not doing as you are told," she wrote. "I have rung Santa and told him to keep a close eye out to see if your behavior improves then you still have time to make his good list." OK, so essentially this version of the Easter Bunny is a buck-toothed creeper who's been peeping through the blinds and is in cahoots with Santa . . . but I digress. She wrapped up the note with a promise that Easter goodies would come next year — if they behave better, that is. "I hope next year you can do a better job of being good and I will bring you some yummy eggs and a nice new toy," Tracy wrote. "Please behave for your mum and remember, I am always watching . . ."

Something about those ending ellipses give me a sense of doom, but Tracy definitely got the point across: shape up, kiddos, or no treats for you. Her daughter Holly clearly received the message and felt sorry for her actions, so she typed a letter for the Easter Bunny to express her remorse.

When Tracy shared a photo of her letter in the Sunny Coast Community Board Facebook group, she admitted that she felt a tad brutal tricking her children like this. "Please tell me I'm not the only parent who has done this to their kids," she wrote. "Waiting for them to wake up and feeling like cruelest mum on the planet but hoping it teaches them a lesson for the future." When we reached out to Tracy about her letter, she told us how her intention was to help them learn a lesson, not to deprive them. "I just want to try and raise little kids to grow up and respect me and society," she said.

The internet was a bit divided on whether Tracy's parenting tactic was totally savage or spot on. One Facebook user commented on her post saying, "Good on you Tracy. It won't hurt your children to learn there are consequences to their actions. A friend of mine canceled Christmas one year her children were being particularly naughty. Santa didn't visit and the kids didn't get any presents from their parents."

But many others thought her move went a little too far, with one user writing, "Hmm I think you should take the responsibility of punishing your kids on the chin or better yet teaching your kids rather making out the oh so magical fictional Easter bunny is the bad guy . . ."

It may be polarizing, but we have to admit this letter is pretty darn legendary.