photo credit: redstamp.com

What happens on Valentine’s Day at your house?  Is it a romantic time for a special date?
Does your Sweetheart buy you flowers and/or candy?  Maybe he gives you a pretty gift, (no irons or snack grills, please)  Or, do you exchange raunchy cards that, umm, you can’t show the kids?

I hope some of that is part of your love life.  For a family to be loving, Mom and Dad need to be loving too.

Aside from your time as a couple, here’s a suggestion for a fun way to involve the whole family in expressing their love for each other on Valentine’s Day.

• For each family member, cut a large red heart out of construction paper.
• Label each heart with the starter: i.e.  WHAT I LOVE ABOUT  DAD (Parents, grandparents, the pet, each of the kids,etc.)
• Place the hearts in different places in the house, at a level where the children who can write will be able to reach them.
• Assist the younger to write what they love about that person. It might be that your three year old loves that his dad gives him piggy back rides.  You can help them articulate what they are wanting to say.
• Your pre-teen might reluctantly write that he loves his sister because she sometimes doesn’t drive him crazy.  That’s okay, she’ll probably understand that sentiment entirely, especially if she is near his age and also going through that little snooty phase.
• After all the hearts have been written on by all the family members, tape them together into a banner.  Post it where everyone can read it.
• Why not make your family valentine a tradition and add to the meaning of the day? It will be fun to see how the sentiments grow along with the maturity of the children.

With love and appreciation for you, our Bing Note family of readers.

Mary Taylor, www.theschoolmarm.com