I Take April Fool’s Day Very Seriously--My Family, Not So Much.
You won’t find these on Pinterest—but you might find them in a police report
My family hates April Fool’s Day. Instead of embracing it with glee as I do, they put on armor, suspicious of what the day may bring. Frankly, I think they should quit whining and get over it. For me, it's a day that demonstrates my love—while taking extreme measures to make them feel special.
Do they appreciate it?
Pffft — not a bit.
Even my grandchildren, who once joined in the fun, have no respect for the day. It’s not as if they didn’t receive proper training. As toddlers, we studied the fine art together—pranking neighbors, friends, and even the dog. Just when it was time for them to graduate from basics like “your shoes are untied” to more advanced mischief, the incessant whining and boo-hooing began.
They just couldn’t live by my April Fool’s mantra:
"Don’t dish out what you can’t eat yourself."
So this year, I’m taking the day off. They’ll miss my loving acts of buffoonery. In the meantime, I’ll share the jewels from my personal jester’s crown.
My Top Five Inspirational Pranks
1. I BAKED A CAKE JUST FOR YOU.
Supplies: 1 car wash sponge, 1 can of frosting.
Frost the sponge. Make it look homemade. It helps if you're not the best cook. I had to stop my husband from choking because he assumed it was just another failed experiment—and didn’t want to hurt my feelings.
2. MY LIPS, MY LIPS—SOMEONE STOLE MY LIPS!
Supplies: 1 tube of Orajel, the victim’s cup or glass.
Swipe a small amount of Orajel on the rim of a drinking glass. This gem came from my little brother Danny, who passed away in 2010. He celebrated the spirit of practical jokes daily and always kept a tube in his pocket.
3. FREDDY KRUEGER IS AT THE DOOR.
Supplies: A cell phone.
Go to your victim’s house, stay hidden. Call them and chat lightly. While on the phone, knock aggressively on their door. Hide before they open it. Repeat the knocking until they’re sufficiently unsettled, then reveal yourself with a triumphant "April Fool!" (Works best if they’re already watching a scary movie.)
4. SAVE THE LITTLE OLD LADY.
Supplies: A car and a gullible child.
Midway through a 35-mile road trip, pump the brakes and announce your car is broken. Pull over dramatically and inform your 10-year-old grandson that you’re too old to walk and he’ll have to get help. After he bravely sets off, restart the car and drive past honking and shouting "April Fool!" (Note: This works better on the way home. Otherwise, they stay cranky all day.)
5. WHERE DID IT GO?
Supplies: Stealth and a car.
While your spouse or teen sleeps, move their car to a nearby location. This prank nearly turned disastrous when I overslept and the police were called before I could shout "April Fool!"
IMPORTANT NOTE: Police are not fans of April Fool’s Day.
GPT’s Attempt at Pranks (Nice Try)
I asked ChatGPT to contribute to the list. Let’s see how the robot stacks up:
1. The Frozen Cereal Trick
Pour cereal and milk into a bowl and freeze it overnight. Serve it like nothing’s wrong and watch their confused attempts at breakfast.
2. The Bluetooth Hijack
Pair your phone with your victim’s Bluetooth speaker. Randomly play unsettling sound effects—creepy whispers, clown giggles, or their own voice saying “I’m watching you.” Deny everything.
3. Talking Toothbrush
Set a smart speaker to play a voice memo during their daily brushing routine: “We meet again… mouth breather.”
4. Keyboard Chaos
Gently pop off a few keyboard keys and swap them. Watch as your victim tries to figure out why they suddenly can’t type.
5. Soap That Won’t Lather
Coat a bar of soap in clear nail polish. It’ll look normal—but won’t lather at all.
6. Fake Tech Update
Leave a fake update screen on someone’s computer: “Installing Clippy Assistant v2.0 – Estimated Time: 6 hours.”
Have fun with these. I’ll be enjoying my day off. My joke this year is no joke. They won’t believe me, and they’ll spend the day as they always do:
peeking around corners, waiting for me to pop out and yell…
Happy April Fool’s Day!!!!!!!
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Diabolical!
I played a prank on my ex--I told him I was pregnant--with triplets--not to worry, only one of them might be his.
Excellent ideas! I hope I remember where I've filed these by next year. No fooling!