Very shortly, February 14th will turn on our calendars once again. In many parts of the world, this means it's time to think about celebrating Valentine's Day.
Once I became a mother, I realized with a little creativity and thoughtfulness, this holiday can be made into a celebration that our family will find memorable.
Here are five ways to make Valentine's Day more meaningful for your family.
In 2019 Valentine's Day seems to be about romantic love, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, as a parent, our children need to be involved and I want them to feel the long-lasting strength of love within the family.
Repurpose a jar that once held a sweet jam into a jar that holds sweet words for the family. You could have a theme for your jar - for example, "50 Reasons Why I Love Being Your Mama" or "20 Things Daddy Does That Make Me Smile." These little love notes can be handwritten or printed out from the computer. Decorate the jar with tissue paper, magazine clippings, old calendar pages, and some decoupage.
Although this gift is presented on Valentine's Day, it offers little words of affirmation for as long as the recipient wants to hold on to it!
Re-purpose an old shoebox into a box of favorite family memories. Encourage family members to write these memories down and contribute other sorts of memorabilia as well. Children from preschool age on up can contribute the memories that mean the most to them, and they never tire of hearing stories from when they were babies and toddlers.
Make plans together on Valentine's Day to go through the box and remember some of the best times you have shared as a family.
Your kids will love this! Parents present coupon books to the kids and vice versa, or everyone in the family could draw names and create a custom coupon book for the family member they selected.
The coupons allow “guilty pleasure” ideas and activities that normally the family might not do. Think candy, food, fun, etiquette.
There are so many people in our communities who quietly do their jobs so that our lives are a little easier. Valentine's Day is a great day to take homemade cookies to civil servants, librarians, police officers, fire men, members of the clergy, and others who don't often receive the recognition the deserve.
Let's show our children that Valentine's Day can be about expressing gratitude, not all about what they have received.
Once I became a mother, I realized with a little creativity and thoughtfulness, this holiday can be made into a celebration that our family will find memorable.
Here are five ways to make Valentine's Day more meaningful for your family.
Celebrate as a family
In 2019 Valentine's Day seems to be about romantic love, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, as a parent, our children need to be involved and I want them to feel the long-lasting strength of love within the family.
1. Fill a jar of sweet words.
Repurpose a jar that once held a sweet jam into a jar that holds sweet words for the family. You could have a theme for your jar - for example, "50 Reasons Why I Love Being Your Mama" or "20 Things Daddy Does That Make Me Smile." These little love notes can be handwritten or printed out from the computer. Decorate the jar with tissue paper, magazine clippings, old calendar pages, and some decoupage.
Although this gift is presented on Valentine's Day, it offers little words of affirmation for as long as the recipient wants to hold on to it!
2. Craft a box of memories.
Re-purpose an old shoebox into a box of favorite family memories. Encourage family members to write these memories down and contribute other sorts of memorabilia as well. Children from preschool age on up can contribute the memories that mean the most to them, and they never tire of hearing stories from when they were babies and toddlers.
Make plans together on Valentine's Day to go through the box and remember some of the best times you have shared as a family.
3. Create a coupon book.
Your kids will love this! Parents present coupon books to the kids and vice versa, or everyone in the family could draw names and create a custom coupon book for the family member they selected.
The coupons allow “guilty pleasure” ideas and activities that normally the family might not do. Think candy, food, fun, etiquette.
Bonus. Express gratitude.
There are so many people in our communities who quietly do their jobs so that our lives are a little easier. Valentine's Day is a great day to take homemade cookies to civil servants, librarians, police officers, fire men, members of the clergy, and others who don't often receive the recognition the deserve.
Let's show our children that Valentine's Day can be about expressing gratitude, not all about what they have received.
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