There are only a few things that I like about Valentine’s Day, and when I say ‘few’ I actually mean one. I fondly remember my mom sneaking a little chocolate and note into our lunch boxes on Valentine’s Day. It was memorable because we were not the kind of kids who had treats showered upon us. I have enjoyed carrying on that tradition with my school aged children. That about sums up the joy I get out of Valentine’s Day.

The main problem is that I have a strong aversion to anything cheezy and Valentine’s Day is just dripping with it. The first dance at weddings makes me cringe and seeing a smooching couple can create symptoms that rival morning sickness. Occasionally daddy-o has given me a piece of jewelry thinking it’s the right thing to do. Instead of getting emotional and speechless, I am left questioning why he didn’t get me something more sensible - like real estate, for example. Now real estate is something I could get giddy over. Why jewelry when I don’t even wear my wedding rings? I should mention that not wearing my wedding rings caused my father to comment this week about how inappropriate it is considering my “condition”. Yes, I really had to field that comment.
Maybe I had some romantic notions in the past but considering what the last decade has served up, you can see why there has been a shift towards the practical.
Valentine’s Day creates a fair bit of work for me. You can imagine what a huge undertaking it is to oversee the completion of Valentine’s cards for all the school friends, neighbourhood kids and cousins. What puts me over the edge is when they return home from school with gobs of Valentine’s Day stuff. Gone are the days of the simple card - mine arrive home with bags of lollies, pencils, stickers and even gift bags! Who had to go and raise the bar on this? Whoever you are - I’m officially boycotting.

If you listen closely, you can hear nursing mothers of newborns collectively moan on February 14th. You see, these new mamas do not need some contrived holiday that makes husbands feel entitled to some bedroom action. It’s one thing to have a little human hanging off your breast all day, and another entirely to have a big human thinking it’s his turn because the calendar told him so.
This year I beat the system. A mama friend recently opened an indoor playground (http://www.antzinyourpantz.ca/) and created a “Daddy and Princess” Valentine’s event. Daddy-o and his three princesses were registered immediately and I celebrated this Valentine’s Day by removing four people from my house for an entire afternoon!
Another Valentine’s Day survived and all there’s left to show for it is the scattering of cards and wrappers around the family room floor, a few sugar highs and my cinnamon heart hang-over.