Spring is in the air and you know what that means: It’s time to celebrate either Passover or Easter.

Religious beliefs aside, let’s talk food, because after all, what’s more important? If you celebrate Easter, you get to eat peanut-butter filled chocolate eggs, jelly beans, and peeps. If you celebrate Passover, you get to eat a huge bowel-blocking, fat-laden meal, plus you must forego bread for a week in favor of a giant, dry, tasteless cracker. But what about matzoh balls, you ask? Sure, they’re fluffy and delicious. But consider the fact that what Jews view as a treat, other people use to treat the flu.

I like to think of the sweet, delicious treats of Easter versus the tradition of reliving a tale of slavery and suffering as an opportunity for a life lesson.

Let’s face it: Life isn’t all chocolate bunnies and cream-filled confections. It can be challenging, somber, and austere. You can’t always win and you don’t always get what you want.

In a way, the takeaway message from the Passover/Easter dichotomy relates to the suck-it-up school of parenting to which I subscribe. Stop whining and spend some time appreciating the blessings in your life. Remember that this too shall pass. Remind yourself that even though the horseradish will make your eyes water and burn your mouth, eventually you’ll get to the chocolate-covered matzoh and macaroons.