Valentine’s Day isn’t one of those ‘go all out’ holidays around here. Jamie and I don’t usually do cards or gifts, and both are of the thought that there shouldn’t be a mid-month holiday in the middle of the winter to celebrate your love for one another. That’s something that you should be doing all the freakin’ time. No matter how much it causes your kids to make gagging sounds.
We do, however, love the premise of the day. Although we forego the flowers, and the cards, we still do a few special things to celebrate with the kids, like the tradition of heart shaped pizza.
Heart Shaped Food
Whether you make the pizzas yourself, or grab the simple and easy pizza in heart-shaped kits from Simply Supper, it’s one of the easiest traditions that you’ll find. For tiny, kid-friendly sized pizzas, you can grab a heart shaped cookie cutter and pitas or flatbread and create pizzas that are the perfect size for those tiny hands. Plus, food is more magical when it’s heart shaped, so you’re going to win as a parent that day.
Love Notes
Leaving the kids small love notes around the house, sharing those tiny thoughts, the things that you love about them, well wishes for their day, is a fun way to create a bit of delight in your day. Try using the heart shaped post-it notes, these are easily stuck to the wall, and you’re going to be able to grab them the next time you go to the grocery store.
A Helium Balloon
One of the traditions we do have with the kids plays into their love of all things helium-balloon. Every year, Jamie has brought the kids home a special, Valentine’s day helium balloon that they treasure until it’s drooping on the floor and I sneak it into the recycling bin while they’re turned the other way, and every year they love it. From the time they’re Stella’s age and perplexed with the balloon hanging out, to now, Olivia, who will sneak it up to her room to keep it for as long as she possibly can, it’s a win around here. Plus side? You can find them for under five bucks and grab them at the grocery store.
Pink Bubble Baths
I don’t know about your kids, but ours are obsessed with bath bombs and colored baths. A bath bomb from lush is one of their favourite special treats, so I like to grab a couple before Valentine’s Day to have on hand. Don’t want the hassle of shopping for bath bombs? That’s easy, a few drops of pink food coloring into the water or some food coloring mixed with shaving cream to create bath tub paint will do the trick, just fine.
Special Drinks
A bit of cotton candy melted into some soda water, pink chocolate milk, or sprinkled rim glasses - making special Valentine’s Day drinks to serve with dinner is an easy way to add a bit of extra magic to the meals.
You don’t have to be elaborate for Valentine’s Day to make it special - sometimes, the smallest traditions are the ones that they’re going to remember for their entire lives, and continue with their own families.
