on the flip side, i think that the EVE of all of the holidays are definitely the challenge.....its funny that valentines day (of all holidays) is marketed as the holiday of love...you have this impression of women getting all these wonderful gifts and expressions of love.....blah blah blah....not that i am anti-valentines day by any stretch....but it cracks me up that at 8 oclock tonight, there were about a million WOMEN in target doing last minute shopping for their KIDS....this holiday, like all others, has been overrun by consumerism......and mom guilt!!
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt...Charles M. Schulz
so after a really long day at work, and a grocery store run, i started on my annual chocolate covered strawberry "gift"....and as i'm standing in the kitchen, recruiting kids to help me smash things up, it occurs to me that this is one more of those "traditions" that i'm going to miss one day - like making gingerbread houses at christmas....one day, i'm not going to have a reason to make a million strawberries - so i need to LOVE it right now.....so THIS year, i asked the boys if they wanted to help - and WE made chocolate covered strawberries together.....which i realized is what makes everything i do worth it!! my boys may not say it everyday, but i KNOW they appreciate the time we have together ...... and when jake looks at me and says "this is my favorite day of the year" (because these are his absolute favorite) i remember that i don't HAVE to do any of this stuff.....but i do GET TO :)
the irony of needing a holiday to take a minute to tell the people we love that we love them is a little crazy....but rather than become a valentine hater, i'm going to be a valentine embracer :).....why not? it doesn't have to be about romantic love - or just romantic love - its just about love.....and whats bad about a day where we celebrate love? especially if it involves CHOCOLATE???
i'm a lucky lucky lucky girl.....i have the best family in the world and i am surrounded by love....so all i can say is "happy valentines day to me :)"
Den, You have the BEST boys in the world. It's such a memory maker...these times...with the loves of your live. They are so blessed to have you making these days and nights so special.
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