For years we’ve been told valentines are hearts and flowers, candy attached to scraps of paper, easily consumed and the wrappers tossed away when the gifts have faded. The flip side is women who expect large pieces of jewelry bestowed on her ‘just because’, regardless of their financial situation. Perhaps for this reason, valentines have long been the scorn of many, single and marrieds alike. Men don’t see the point, women either expect too much or aren’t going to receive anything, and so this ink and paper holiday, meant to inspire romantic notions, has become one of frantic moms, stamping, cutting, pasting and wrapping individual treats for their kids classmates in the wee hours before the ‘big trade’.
Us? Oh the last couple of years we’ve gotten a heart shaped pizza from a take and bake restaurant, and put something on tv that the kids would ‘watch’ so that we could hold hands. That’s what a valentine looks like for us. No cards that would just get shoved in a drawer or recycled, no fattening candy or flowers that wilt. Consumable (dishes free) treat that allows us some rare couple time? Priceless.
There’s a lot of things I could think of, unconventional, yes, but that would be perfectly acceptable valentines:
mopping the floor-I mean, come on, what says love more than cleaning up the ever loving mess our gremlins make a dozen times a day?
washing the dishes-not everything goes in the dishwasher, so once we have a few big meals, our sink is piled high with pots and pans
alone time-How precious is the time that it’s quiet, that can renew and relax us? For those of us that rarely get it, it’s precious indeed. Yes, we love our kids, but there are times when a deep breath that can be followed by relaxing with a cup of tea (actually finishing it while it’s warm) would be a welcome valentine indeed
nap time-occasionally on weekends both kids will take a nap at once. despite being tired, my husband rarely naps but getting to sneak one in myself, better yet if either kid wakes up and he successfully keeps them from waking me up? glorious.
It’s all in how you look at it. Right now? My husband is feeding the toddler yogurt, allowing me to finish this post. He has no idea what I’m doing, but I am thankful that he took the initiative to get her a snack, anyway, since she was going absolutely crazy and we couldn’t figure out why. Guess she was hungry or needed distraction, but either way, it’s a pretty good valentine to me.
What do your valentines look like? Are you a diamonds and chocolates type of girl, a guy who gives a romantic card, or asks for something in return, or just ignores it all together? Are you the crafty mom, desperate for those valentine years to be over, or one who is just beginning the adventure and not sure what it is being brought to the table? Tell me your story.
Yes to all of the above. This sounds a lot like our Valentine’s Dates! This year, we’ll go to a Sweethearts dance on Friday night at the church and get a babysitter. I know it’s cheesy, but I don’t care! I’m excited to dress up and dance dorky with my husband.