I know it’s crazy, but Valentine’s Day always sneaks up on me. No matter how many red and pink heart displays I see at the stores, I always end up surprised that it’s here. Maybe the reason is because I don’t think of it as a real holiday. It’s not like other holidays where we travel to family or expect company here. It’s not like we get off of school or work. It’s even a school night.
And so once again, it’s about 30 hours until Valentine’s Day and I’ve done nothing for my own loved ones. I have planned a party for school, but for my own kids? Nothing. I’m a family fun blogger and what do I have planned for my family? Nothing. I cringe when I think of the example I’m setting for my three boys. I picture them as adults saying to their wives “It’s not a real holiday. You know I love you.”
I could make the excuse that it’s a greeting card company holiday. But I think that it never hurts to make our families feel special and loved.
And so I’m thinking of last minute ideas that I can pull off with very limited time and money. I think we’ll do Italian sodas with some raspberry syrup and sparkling water. I may even have the ingredients for chocolate fondue. What we don’t have is anything to dip into it. Which means another trip to the grocery store.
I’ll get a bag of candy hearts, too. We can play the games that I planned for the third grade class. I can sneak a valentine candy into their lunches. My third graders wouldn’t be embarrassed by a valentine, but my eight grader would be. I don’t have time to bake, but we could make rice crispy treats. And we could decorate them with cinnamon red hots.
And I will end the day like we often do, by reading to them and telling them I love them, and that I am so glad to be their mother and so glad they are my boys.
It’s not a huge Valentine’s Day, but I think it will be enough. And maybe next year I won’t let it sneak up on me…
More for Valentine’s Day:
Valentine’s Day for Single Parents
Valentine’s Day for the Whole Family