Happy Valentine’s Day!

by DJ the Football Mom

Celebrate Family Love!

Happy Valentine’s Day!  I woke up this morning to the chirping of my cell phone alert telling me that I had a text message.  Not long after, I received more alerts wishing me “Happy Valentine’s Day.”  Some of the messages were from family, others were from close friends, and still others, were from long lost friends who were sending out a greeting.

The text alerts, made me think about Valentine’s Days gone by.  I used to put candy and cards in my son’s rooms while they were asleep and wait for them to find them when they woke up.  They would come downstairs with smiles on their faces (that rarely happened in the morning) and told me how much they appreciated the gifts.  I still cherish the handmade cards and pictures they would bring home from school.  I especially love the big hugs I would get before they ran out of the door.

Long gone are the days of my kids bringing home the long list of names of classmates for writing out their Valentine’s cards. I can still remember running out to the drug store at the last minute to get boxes of cards and helping my boys decorate shoe boxes to put their cards in.

Over the last few years, I have gotten text messages with smiley faces and other emoticons instead of cards.  Sometimes I get a call a day late or, from time to time, no call at or text at all. The boys are now living their lives and making plans for their future.   Although things have changed I am still grateful for the tender moments with my children over the years.

Life moves by at a fast pace and before you know it; your little people are grown men and women. Enjoy every moment and allow yourself to be goofy with your children and others who you love.  Tape a valentine to your child’s mirror, stick a note in their book bag, buy candy that you loved when you were a child, put it in a brown paper bag and draw hearts on it with a crayon—even grown children love these gestures.

Although this day began as a gesture of romantic love, it is now days to let the people in our lives know that we love and appreciate them.  Surprise someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, go out and get a box of those kids’ cards and leave them in random places to make people smile.  Remember, it’s not about presents but about being present in the lives of those we love and care for. 

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!