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Mouse
14-02-2018, 09:45 AM
I've never done anything with my own children or minded children for Valentine's Day. It never occurs to me to. It's not something the children have any understanding of or interest in (they're all Early Years children).

Is it an important day to you? Perhaps I have no interest in it because DH and I have never bothered with it!

FussyElmo
14-02-2018, 02:02 PM
Sorry Mouse I didn't see your post when I posted in the lounge.

Me and dh buy but I don't really know why maybe it's because we are used to doing it.

I don't buy or send my children anything never occurred to me to do so. But I also don't buy for grandparents on mother/fathers day or buy the other children a present on someone's birthday.

No crafts here I prefer to do something they are interested in.

I'm talking like a grinch :laughing:

hectors house
14-02-2018, 03:32 PM
Children have made a really simply card and made some cakes and put a heart shape on top with stencils and sprinkles (well it's supposed to be a heart shape) - only really done them because it's half term, weather is grotty and kids and me are getting bored.

I'm trying to go Sugar Free for February so I can't even eat a cake!

loocyloo
14-02-2018, 05:26 PM
I've had out red rice, plastic gem hearts and diamonds, glittery pompoms all mixed together to sort into heart shaped bowls and tins ( I quite like heart shapes, so have a few bowls etc around! )

Also cut some hearts out which the mindees decorated ... but that was their suggestion as they saw some whilst we were out!

DH and I exchange cards, I give him chocolate and he gives me flowers but we don't generally go out.

bunyip
15-02-2018, 07:25 AM
I don’t.

Most of these 'special days' amount to tokenism by settings who are desperately seeking a 'theme' or trying out something they’ve liked on Pinterest, regardless of its relevance or interest for the children.

Typical was school's "special Valentines dinner" yesterday....... ie. a normal dinner served with a heart-shaped biscuit.

Some of it is downright insensitive. A couple of years back, friend of mine was reduced to tears when her DD came back from nursery with a valentines card, little more than a month after her partner walked out on them. :(

Mouse
15-02-2018, 10:50 AM
I'm really surprised at the number of parents who buy their children cards and presents for valentine's day. No criticism of anyone who chooses to, but I wonder where that idea came from.

When I was growing up Valentine's Day was all about sending a card to someone in secret. We used to sneak round trying to deliver a card without being spotted and what we hoped for in return was an unsigned card from a secret admirer. Admittedly my mum always sent a card to my brother, but it was never signed and for years he wondered who it was from!

It's interesting to see how things have changed over the years.

loocyloo
15-02-2018, 09:26 PM
I never did do anything for my children, but when DD was 4 (in reception class) she came home on the 13th talking and talking and talking about tomorrow's special day and how excited she was to be getting a 'surprise' present! I tried to explain that valentines day wasn't for children, but she kept going on about 'I love you' and in the end I just let her carry on. But I couldn't bring myself to deal with the trauma the following morning :rolleyes:, so I found a little book in my present stash and left that by her bed with a cut out paper heart. ( then had to do same for DS! )
In the morning, she was overjoyed and the tradition has continued ... but now it's usually a little chocolate heart or packet of heart sweets. DD has always made DH and me cards and it still seems really important to her. Which is a very sweet, but a bit odd, as it doesn't mean much to us per se.

We don't do presents for other people on other people's birthdays or special events, but this seems to have stuck!

Mouse
16-02-2018, 08:30 AM
I never did do anything for my children, but when DD was 4 (in reception class) she came home on the 13th talking and talking and talking about tomorrow's special day and how excited she was to be getting a 'surprise' present! I tried to explain that valentines day wasn't for children, but she kept going on about 'I love you' and in the end I just let her carry on. But I couldn't bring myself to deal with the trauma the following morning :rolleyes:, so I found a little book in my present stash and left that by her bed with a cut out paper heart. ( then had to do same for DS! )
In the morning, she was overjoyed and the tradition has continued ... but now it's usually a little chocolate heart or packet of heart sweets. DD has always made DH and me cards and it still seems really important to her. Which is a very sweet, but a bit odd, as it doesn't mean much to us per se.

We don't do presents for other people on other people's birthdays or special events, but this seems to have stuck!

That’s really sweet and a lovely example of how a family tradition starts and carries on.

FussyElmo
16-02-2018, 11:33 AM
I have never brought my kids anything and they don't expect anything.

But I do think things have changed as well that it's common now to send your children something. As one mum said it proves you love your children 😂😂😂😂 I don't think she still gets why I laughed.

I think my next comment is from citizen bunyip himself when I say by some gifts that I have seen children get it's more for commercialism. A little token is sweet a £30 toy is overboard but as I said I'm a grinch at Valentine's :laughing: