HumDrum with Valentines

So it is February and the one you have probably noticed on this site is the lack of love I give Valentines Day.  I don’t mind sharing some of the fun gift ideas that brands like Hallmark have as they do tend to be pretty cute especially for those of us whose V-Day’s have been turned into kid focused days.

My oldest is in Grade 6 now.  That means between School and Preschool I have had to create or buy Valentines cards for classes for 9 years and times that by two when Caity entered the school years.  I am frankly shocked that I have not yet received notes or class lists from ANYONE this year.   What has happened!!!??

I will be happy to avoid all death of more trees thanks to the need to have cards for all the 25 kids times 3 this year.

Where has all my romance gone some of you will ask?

I used to have a bit more of the ‘R’ word in me. long ago and far away.  I do recall planning romantic evenings for hubs pre marriage.    But both of us did try to not focus on the big ‘V’ day either.  Especially when the price of all things date worthy tended to be cranked up around the 14th.  We started planning our own nights on the non commercial times instead.

Having kids has frankly exhausted all the romance out of me these days and the whole kids take over the day hasn’t helped either….too much pink and cute Dora cards for me has taken all that is potentially HOT out of the day.

I get commercialization, that is what keeps the dollars flowing, but the kidifcation of the day has put me off.    Why are we indoctrinating our kids with the need to celebrate a ‘fake’ holiday?  The day bears no significance on, well anything except the retail market.  The historical reasons behind the day are long lost and not taught in school…..it is all about ‘friendship’ and then popularity contests as the kids get older and they get choosier about who they give cards or gifts too.   Is this even necessary?  I really feel that this is one day the schools could do with putting on LESS emphasis UNLESS perhaps you could start using the day to  discuss things like popularity vs not, or friendship etc.

We now have our very own Family Day in February, I am hoping that enthusiasm for this ‘real’ holiday will overtake the fake non one and that finally my search at dollar stores for cards or the pressure to ‘make’ something will finally one day be over for good.   Neither of my kids are keen on the day…in fact Caity is quite relieved, apart from the chance of chocolate, that her orthodontist appointment is for that day.

However, I am sure that at the last minute I will be forced to come up with some amazing thing to satisfy the classroom requirements that have not been shared,  like the Silkworm model that was due tomorrow that I was just told about today.  This is my life, hence the lack of romance and couple time for the adults in the House Crunch.

So yes, Valentines has the total opposite effect from what is intended.   Dealing with everyday life and chaos has taken the fun out of the day for me.   I love any romantic gestures that my husband does, but  I really truly would prefer he save for other days of the year.  The same goes for my kids too.  I love any crafts that they do or did make in school…I appreciate the effort, but  I don’t know if the thought behind them is as powerful as just a ‘I Love You’ on a totally random day of the year.

Here I am grumbling into Valentines…….pass me a heart shaped chocolate.