Valentines Day
It’s that time of year again…..the time we rush to the shops to pick up punch out valentine’s day cards for our kids to take to school, cards which will likely only get tossed in the recycling/trash bin, but which we nevertheless buy.
How many of you race out the night before to get these cards, argue with your child to sign them so they can bring them to school, only to discover you don’t have enough, or you can’t remember where you put the class list? How many of you feel obligated to send cookies or cupcakes to school with your kids, on a day that really has become meaningless and monopolized by the greeting card industry?
If any of this rings true for you, join me in the “I want to do something for myself/my family that means something” campaign. Really who is Valentine’s Day for anyway? It’s supposed to be a day we express to our loved ones how much we care about and appreciate them! Not a day to send cards to kids who really, lets face it, we don’t love, nor do our kids….Not a day for husbands to go out and in frustration and with a sense of being forced to comply with the slick marketing campaigns of chocolate giants, greeting card companies, florists or jewelers. If they don’t buy you a dozen roses, a diamond pendant, or take you out for dinner, then they must not love you. Never mind the thousands of acts of service and expressions of love they provide us and our children, and we them, throughout the year.
So how do you take it back? I have some ideas.
1) Don’t buy those tacky cards for your children to sign. Make them create their own cards. By THEMSELVES! It’s their friends/teachers/classmates. Why are you doing the work for them? Give them a pile of construction paper, stickers, scissors, sparkle glue and let them go to town. And don’t leave it till the night before (yes I am speaking from experience). Getting them to create something on their own, forces them to actually put some thought into the person they are making the card for. Use this as a teaching opportunity, to reflect on that person and why they like them. If they don’t like them (we all know how that is), help your child to see that this simple gesture is a way of helping someone who otherwise may be lonely, friendless, or unpopular, to feel special. Even if that kid isn’t very nice. And who doesn’t want to feel special?
2) Thinking about baking cookies/ cupcakes, or going out and buying them? Ask yourself what your motivation is. Is it to show the other parents that you are cool enough to be that parent, the one that brings treats in to the class? The superhero mom? Or, is it a genuine desire to participate. Does it come at the cost of precious time you don’t have, but you feel guilty if you don’t do something? Why are you feeling guilty? What about bringing treats into the class on a random day when no one is expecting it, and it will mean more? It won’t get lost in the chaos of sugar high kids and all of the other treats that the other mothers, the ones who maybe you are trying to impress bring in? Let’s be honest here. We as mothers are ALL guilty of such crimes against other mothers. The dreaded, I must be better than them, I can do it all, crime. Are you squirming? We all should be! Why are we so intent on showing up other moms? We ALL work hard, we are ALL busy, and we ALL love our children. This year, lets back off. Really do the kids need any more sugar? How about using that time and money we would have spent on this holiday obligation to take our best friend out for lunch, or on a special treat for ourselves. Or even something special for your hubby….the kind they like you to wear. 
3) Plan a special love themed dinner for the family. Watch Lady and the Tramp and reenact the spaghetti scene, or have everyone pitch in their ideas on what they’d like for dinner and dessert and make it an act of love to cook it together, and eat it sitting down together. Light candles. Kids LOVE candlelight dinners! Eat heart shaped cookies or decorated cupcakes that you made together for dessert! Redirecting the message of Valentine’s Day into our own family helps to foster closeness, and by showing our kids and spouses how much we love them in ways other than cards, chocolates or jewelry (however if he really wants to buy us jewelry, who are we to say no, lol), holds more meaning. They will remember a fun night together much more than a card and chocolate lollipop shaped like a heart!
4) How about a fun family photo session which combines time together, Valentine’s Cards and fun? For a limited time only, we are offering mini Valentine’s sessions which come with 50 of your choice in Valentine’s Cards. Yes, 50! Mail them to family, send them to your good friends, or even send a few to your kids’ school for the teachers and principals. Not only do you get the cards, but you also get 3 of your favourite images from the session, at print resolution so that you can print them out and have some beautiful family photos to hang up in your own home.
Take a look at the card choices. Hurry up though this offer expires February 7th in order to get them back in time for Valentine’s Day! Don’t want the cards? Take 2 extra pictures on your CD instead.
This offer is a great one, and trust me, we will have you giggling, acting silly, and who knows will maybe even have some fun props! It will be great fun. Even for those who hate getting their pictures taken!
You get all of this, in an awesome 1 hour session, for only $100! That’s WAY more fun than rushing to the grocery store to buy 3 dozen cookies, and boxes of cheaply made punch out cards, for nearly the same price!
This offer is limited to 5 families, couples, babies or pets. Yes we will even photograph your pet! Sign up now!
9:25 am on February 3rd, 2010
I’ve really enjoyed reading your articles. You obviously know what you are talking about! Your site is so easy to navigate too, I’ve bookmarked it in my favourites
5:37 pm on February 4th, 2010
Great site I?m happy I stumbled onto it through my friend?s blog. Going to need to add another blog to the morning routine
10:41 pm on February 14th, 2010
Hello there, Happy Valentine’s Day!