My Rant on Cupid's Holiday

(If you are not interested in my rant, please read the last paragraph in which I solicit your aid.)

I guess I will start with the good stuff first. I love Valentine's Day. I think hearts and love and pink are great. I decorate and get excited for the kids. I try and think of something special to do or give to Tyler. (Although, he outclassed me this year.)

BUT... (And it's a big one.)

When did Valentine's Day become so commercialized, especially for the kids? Why does every Valentine have to come with candy? Remember when it was nice to receive a card with a cute saying and you didn't have to have a sugar high along with it to appreciate the sentiment? When I was in school, we probably got some kind of treat at the 'class party' but all the Valentines were just cards. It must have started small, when one kid said, "I'm going to put candy with my Valentines and they will be better than everyone else's." And now that is the norm. People, it is almost like Halloween all over again, except you are limited to about 20 pieces of candy, and the occasional tattoo, or pencil. Why is sugar associated with love?

And (did you think I was finished?) what ever happened to homemade Valentines? I sat down with my kids and we made Valentines for their friends. June in particular spent time thinking what each person would like, and it was a good family activity. This is what we came up with. (And you are right, there is no candy involved.)

I won't lie, it was time consuming. Especially the part where Ivory had to make 42 Valentines because she was making them for friends and friends' high school buddies. But she did such an excellent job. She only let me color about five of hers; all the rest she did herself. After helping with almost 90 Valentines between the three kids, I can see how it would be nice to just get the store bought kind, but I felt good about the time we spent. I was interested to see what the kids would bring home. Want to guess how many homemade Valentines there were? None; zero. I was amazed! People, you could even print out your own unique saying or picture and that counts as homemade. Of course, it doesn't come with the essential candy.

I would like to state here that I am not judging you as individuals, since based on current statistics, you probably bought Valentines for your kids. I have done it before too. I am judging this holiday as a whole now. I am missing the originality and thought that used to be put into a message sent to someone you like, or love. Granted that doesn't exactly count in second grade. The kids are required to give one to every person in the class, and I understand the logic behind that. June and Robyn both asked if they could exclude one person off their lists and I naturally told them 'No'. But the point is, I miss the creative love. Now we get the pre-packaged-sugar-preserved variety.

Okay, I think I am done. We had a good Valentine's Day, all things considered. I sprang for donuts again, but I am rethinking that for next year, because why start the kids on sugar when they are going to inhale it all day. Do you think they have heart shaped sausage or wheaties? (Okay, now I am really done.)

The kids had a good time, and Tyler and I celebrated our love by getting Netflix. So I need your help. Since we never go out to movies, I don't even know what I have missed. Please think of the last three movies that you've enjoyed and leave a comment. I need a good list to fill my queue. Even if they are older movies that you liked, you can tell me those too. Thanks for sharing the love.