Valentines Day is a load of crap.
Like a dirty diaper leaking through a flannel onesie, type crap.
(Clearly I have just changed one of these, so it is on my mind.)
It's stupid.
But, if we are being honest, it's actually quite brilliant.
Businesses make tons of money based on this "holiday."
This year, the average American is expected to spend around $142 for Valentines Day.
The total expected to be spent this year is 19.7 billion dollars.
READER: WHAT THE WHAT?! That is insane Sarah. I usually try to buy myself a diamond ring or earrings on Valentines day, but I don't go super crazy. I mean, last year, I bought myself a new car, but I really did need it.
Wow Reader, you might be the one driving that number for Valentines Day up!
READER: Don't judge me Sarah. I need to feel loved on Valentines Day! I have deep seeded emotions when it comes to Valentines Day. Too many heartbreaks have lead to these bad habits of mine..
Oh Reader! That is fantastic.
This completely brings me to my point.
READER: Well, I don't exactly love that you are happy about my woes when it comes to Valentines Day, but I am intrigued to know why you sound like a cold hearted bitc..
WHOA WHOA. Reader! This is a family friendly blog! Please watch your words!
I am extremely sorry that you have had issues in the past when it comes to Valentines Day, but I can tell you who to blame for those issues.
READER: Every man in America???
No, your parents!
Your parents are the reason for all of your issues that center around Valentines Day.
READER: Well, I'm ok with that. I actually have tons of things to blame them for, so why not add onto the list? But really, why should I blame my parents for this?
Well, maybe you shouldn't blame them 100%, but I'm guessing you always felt left out and unloved on Valentines Day when all of your friends were getting gifts from their middle school boyfriends or going on dates with their high school loves?
READER: YES! ugh I hated it! I would sit in my room and listen to "You Were Meant For Me" by Jewel over and over and over again. I would cry into my pillow, and then I would practice kissing my pillow.
Oh gosh. Too much information.
Let me tell you what I was doing every Valentines Day.
I was sitting down to a big family table decorated to the nines with Valentines Decor.
I would sit down at the table, and right in front of me, there would be a beautiful card and a box of Valentines chocolate.
We would then eat a delicious and special dinner.
Every year, when my Dad would come home from work on Valentines Day, he would greet me and my mom with flowers for each of us.
I would go to bed on Valentines Day happy and full.
I never felt like I was missing out.
I always felt loved and cherished.
I didn't have a single boyfriend growing up, but I never dreaded Valentines Day.
I always looked forward to it, and I credit my Mom and Dad for that.
READER: You didn't have any boyfriends growing up!?! So sad! How pathetic of you!
Well, I'm ok with it.
I tended to make out with boys, and then lose interest.
The ones I did want to date, I am now beyond grateful to God that he didn't let it happen.
(Garth Brooks Unanswered Prayers comes to mind..)
Plus, I ended up with the perfect man.
READER: Sarah, it sounds like you are trying to justify your pathetic-ness, but I'll let it slide for now. Tell me what to do for my kids this year.
Your kids might be young, but eventually they are going to start associating Valentines Day with a good feeling or a bad feeling, so this is the year start to make it good.
No matter what, there is nothing you can do to get rid of Valentines Day, so embrace it with your family.
It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive.
Just make it simple and special.
Starting last year, we bought Jackson some Ninja Turtle candy and some markers and coloring paper. He loved it!
(Clearly, we have a love for the Ninja Turtles.)
(Also, I want to cry looking back at how young he looked last year! My baby is growing up too fast!)
Taylor was only 3 months old, but John started buying her flowers.
She will get flowers from her Daddy every Valentines Day until she gets married, and hopefully she won't feel the need to settle for a loser boy who just wants to get what he wants...
(I'm already feeling protective, but I'm super grateful that she has a Daddy who will make her feel special every day of her life.)
(He is already saving for a pony..)
This year, we are starting to prepare for our Valentines Day.
Jackson has started making his card for Daddy. (He refuses to make one for Taylor)
I have started to decorate, via my chalkboard wall, and we have been working on our cards for our classmates at school (We purchased those at the dollar store!)
It always helps make Valentines Day even better when Great Grandma Robison gives you a big box of cookies to share with family and friends.
So, on this Valentines Day our kiddos will each get a small gift/flowers, and I will set our table with beautiful decorations (purchased at the dollar store, of course).
We will have boxes of chocolates in front of our seat, and we will celebrate the love that we have for each other.
Even when they have boyfriends and girlfriends in the coming years, we will celebrate Valentines Day together.
I will force it upon them, and they will probably hate me for it at some point.
But, one day, they will look back and hopefully be as grateful as I am, that I always felt loved and special on Valentines Day.
READER: Good luck with that Sarah. Have I ever told you about that time that my Mom and Dad took me to this therapist because....
Reader, please. Let's not get in to your deepest issues.
READER: Fine. I guess I'll put something together for my kids, but if they don't like me later on in life, I'm blaming you..