I read this post about Valentine’s Day requirements at some schools. And I totally agree. Valentine’s Day is ridiculous for toddlers.
Mr. Sandwich and I have never paid particular attention to Valentine’s Day. The first year we were dating, the day passed while I was on a cruise with my parents. Another year, we bought each other gifts: I got him a cycling jersey, and he got me a DVD of The Princess Bride. Once we went out to dinner. Once, in January, we passed a store window that said, “Fall in love on Valentine’s Day!” I mustered up all the sarcasm I could (a considerable amount), and said, “Oh, honey, look! We did it wrong!” That was pretty much that.
When we got married (possibly before), I told him, “Don’t buy me flowers for Valentine’s Day. They just increase the price because of the date.”
But now we’re entering a new stage: Valentine’s Day with a child. I have somewhat vague memories of exchanging valentines in class, with decorated paper bags taped to the back each chair. Did I buy cards for everyone in class? Did I get cards from everyone? I don’t remember. It’s been a while.
Baguette’s day care, thankfully, does not require handmade valentines from each child. As far as I can tell, the main thing is that they sent home a pink slip of paper. Mr. Sandwich and I wrote a message on it to Baguette. Then I took it back, used one of the (provided) pink ribbons to tie a (provided) pink lollipop to the note, and dropped it in the basket so that someone can “deliver” it to her today.
I’m not sure I’m crazy about her having a lollipop. She’s not even two–does she need candy? I think this may be her first piece. But I also realize that she is now of an age where she will notice if everyone else gets a candygram and she doesn’t. And I don’t want her to feel left out–or, worse, try to swipe some other child’s lollipop.
We’ll just do a little extra toothbrushing tonight. Maybe that will be our Valentine’s Day tradition.
Photo by bunchofpants, via Flickr.
I wouldn’t send my kid (of ANY age) to a school that required Valentines to be homemade. That’s just not who I am. Will I happily add names and candy to the little store-bought ones? You bet! Squish is delighted to get the same coolness as his big brother.
Isn’t that ridiculous? I think people who want to make homemade Valentines should do that, and people who want to buy them at the store should do that.
Oh, the insanity continues as they get older, too. Last year in our elementary school, a third-grade boy got his “girlfriend” a gold necklace for Valentine’s Day, and his parents arranged for a very public bestowal of said necklace to take place in class in front of all the other students. Who encourages that kind of behavior for 8-year-old kids?!
That is out of control. Clearly I’m going to have to teach Baguette how to make very public refusals–not rude, just decisive. Even if everyone was okay with the gift (which I would not be), what made them think it was acceptable to put someone else on the spot like that?
We did all store-bought Valentine’s. When I got everyone at the table, misspelling their firiends’ names, he’ll, misspelling their *own* names, it felt pretty darn homemade.
Nice writing. I like your style.
Cheers!
Ninja Mom
I’ll bet–and thanks!
Oh Goodness.
I’m visiting from the SITS girls… and as an Australian, I cannot fathom the insanity that appears to be the US way of Valentines Day. I think, in my entire 19 years, I’ve received… oh, ONE stinkin’ handwritten-on-a-scrap-of-paper Valentine.
And I’m on your side re:candy with small pops… It’s not a bad thing to miss out on – but I get that she might swipe… 🙁 no fun!
Frankly, I was surprised at how Valentine’s Day was so important in Bridget Jones’ Diary. I wouldn’t have expected that at all!
Oh Goodness…
I’m visiting from SITS… and I can’t even begin to imagine what this is like – I live in Australia, and in my {grand} 19 years of living have received… ONE! One stinkin’ little handwritten-on-scrap-paper Valentine, slid into my locker in year 12. 🙂
It all sounds overwhelming, though I can see the fun in for the little ones… Candy free for me though!
I hated valentines day – I was that kid that never got a card (or not from the person I wanted a card from anyway – and that’s just as bad as not getting one in the first place) and then… I got a rose… in public! I nearly died (age 7)! And then hated it even more.
I buy the kids teddys from the cheap shop on Valentines, because I love to embarrass the teen, and the bunny loves teddys. Other than that… Handsome gets a kiss… but he gets that every day anyway…
In from SITS
Yeah, I’ve never been big on VD. In our one year of traditional school(4th Grade), it was awful. That wasn’t love at all.
I love Valentine’s Day but not necessarily in the traditional way. I raised three girls and they loved Valentine’s Day, too. Their schools required students to give a valentine to everyone and sent home a list. I learned a lot about their classmates as they talked about each one.
Our daycare made it easy. Well, it probably would have been easier to skip it altogether in the toddler phase, but they just asked for 20 valentine’s all addressed to “my friend” from “insert your kid’s name here”.
This post is so beautiful!