As you might imagine, Valentine’s Day has never been one of my favorite holiday. As my kids would say, “Duh!” Even all those years I was married (or because of), it wasn’t really like a Hallmark commercial or romantic pulp fiction novel. No diamonds or rooms filled with red roses. Add to that the fact that my relationships since my marriage haven’t exactly been in the ribbons of romance and I know that if I had my own way I would skip right over Valentine’s Day. Instead, however, I’ve decided that I don’t want my sour experiences to seep over onto my children, so I have made Valentine’s Day about showing my kids how much I love and think about them…
I know that I am not alone when it comes to my Valentine’s Day experiences, but like so many things in the world of a single parent, I do think we can “take back” the experiences of our past and make the day into something pleasant that we enjoy. Instead of focusing on the bad luck we’ve had with love and romance, what can we do to share and experience love on our own terms? Certainly, we can take control and instead of feeling like victims, we can shake things up and find a positive way to experience the holiday.
So, Valentine’s Day for this single parent means home-made cards for my kids, heart-shaped cookies and fun little boxes of candy. My three children are really my “valentine’s” and they have certainly been the most lasting and rewarding relationships of my life so it makes sense for me to celebrate that! Plus, focusing on the ways that my life is filled with love and “long term” relationships, helps to take some of the sting out of a single parent’s Valentine’s Day!
Also: It’s Valentine’s Day!