Valentine’s Day: An Evolution

I love Valentine’sDay!  Love it!  I know that a lot of people like to throw some shade towards this supposed made up holiday, but I still love it.  I mean, I am celebrating the people that I love, and I get to eat the chocolate.  And not just regular chocolate, the good stuff: the Godiva sampler box!

I know that I can eat chocolate and celebrate my loved ones any day of the week, so I did some thinking about why I love Valentine’s Day so much.  I think it’s because it is the one holiday that has not morphed into a major extravaganza.  Valentine’s Day does not require an air traffic controller to coordinate all of the different family schedules so everyone can arrive at the same place at the same time.  It’s not entrenched in the emotional warfare of finding the perfect gift.  You are not required to find/make the perfect costume that will only be covered up by a jacket.

It’s simple and lovely; therefore making the evolution of the celebrating seamless. 

Here’s our first Valentine’s Day together.  Oh, that youthful glint in our eyes!  I think we celebrated with some Russell Stover’s chocolates and cheap white zinfandel (as opposed to the expensive white zinfandel).

We stepped up our game when were engaged, four years later.  We went out for dinner and  sprung for real cocktails.

I know the quality is poor, but I love this picture.
It was the calm before the storm.

When Marie was born, it was still fun to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  I mean, look at her – she’s such a little cutie dressed in her adorable outfit.

She wasn't as excited about the pink hippo as Harrington was.  Obviously.

And it just kept on getting better.  I loved decorating cupcakes with her.  And after she would go to bed, it would be happy hour complete with champagne and chocolates.

And then this little guy came along.

Still fun.

And I think they might even love each other.

Then, last Valentine’s Day we added Scott Awesome to our mix.

Yes, we have class parties, and it’s not easy to be at both at the same; however, it’s still not crazy-intense as Christmas.

In some ways, I think Valentine’s Day represents the ideal holiday: a simple day centered on love  . . . and good chocolate.

What are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day?

And Now You are 8 Years Old

 Dear Marie,

You are now eight years old.  It hardly seems possible since I remember the day you cautiously entered the world like it was yesterday.

When I think back, those early days perfectly foreshadowed the person you would become.  You approach everything with a careful, watchful eye and need to do a great deal of observing before participating.

When you were a baby and a toddler, I remember that your physical and occupational therapists look down on these traits saying that you were too shy.  They got that wrong – you are not shy; you are an introvert.

Your introvert personality has wonderful qualities – you are insightful, articulate, and thoughtful.  You L.O.V.E. reading and writing, and you are really good at both of these.

But your introvert personality has a flip side, too.  You have a tendency to overthink things.  You worry a lot.  Change is hard for you.  I mean, really hard.

And this year has been all about change – changing schools, changing homes, changing friends, changing swim teams.

My heart broke as you struggled with all of this newness.  Many mornings I watched you get on the bus with tears in your eyes.  So many times I had to fight the urge to take you off the bus and let you stay home.  When you struggled to go to sleep because the rush of thoughts would not stop, I would feel guilty that I passed on this horrible trait to you.

But you never gave up. 

You went to school everyday and never asked me to keep you home or pick you up early.   

I want to let you know how proud I am of you for fighting for your peace of mind.

I am proud of you for accepting help from others and using the tools you were given to help yourself.

You inspire me with your perseverance, your courage, and your strength.

My wish for you is to choose joy, even when it seems easier to let worry wash over you.  Believe me, joy might be harder, but it is always worth it.

I will always be here for you.  Always. 

I love you forever,

Mom

And Now You are 5

Dear Thomas,

You turned five last week. 

My baby is now five years old.

I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around when exactly this happened.  Time seemed to pass so slowly during those early sleepless nights which made the days seem to blur together in an endless montage of laundry and mealtimes.  Then I blinked my eyes and before me now stands a boy.

Not a toddler.

Not a baby. 

A boy.

A boy who has his own unique sense of humor. 

A boy who seems to never pay attention to what I am saying but then will recall every minute detail of the conversation. 

A boy with a resolve of steel.

A boy who has the biggest heart and shares his love so freely it takes my breath away.

A boy who will start Kindergarten in the fall.

I silently prayed to myself, as I reluctantly handed over your paper work at Kindergarten registration, that you will never loose the way you care for others.  I am always inspired by the way you give your love without reservations.

When asked to share your beloved fruit snack, you say, “Sure thing! Here you go.”

You always make sure the cat feels loved by all the cuddles you give him.

At your birthday party, you were so happy to have everyone together and introduce your friends to you grandparents.  My heart wants to burst when I see how thoughtful you are with the people in your life.

It takes some people a whole lifetime to learn how to love the way that you love at the tender age of five.

My birthday wish for you is that you never let the cold ways of callous people ever take this gift away from you.  There are those who are not comfortable with people who shine from the inside out; they do not know how to respond to genuine kindness.

Pay no mind to these haters.  The world needs more people like you – happy souls who are not afraid to love.

Happy birthday, my sweet boy!

Love always,

Mommy

On Your 4th Birthday

Dear Thomas,

You are now officially four years old.

Four?!  When did this happen?!  (Over nights and nights as your sister would say).

I can say that, without a doubt, my most favorite thing about you turning four has been watching your personality emerge as you had more words to express yourself.  

Your personality comes through these little nuggets of truth , and I’m often taken aback because A) They are soaked in truth that only an unfiltered child can speak and B) I didn’t even think you were listening.  But you are listening.  All the time.

Like when you talk about your actions in terms of making choices.  Or when you watched the Oz Great and Powerful and you knew when the witch was not telling the truth.

I also love when you observe when someone is practicing kindness.  You are listening and soaking it all in.

Another favorite part of watching you grow is watching how you love.  I watch how you get a nighttime drink for Sissy, even when she doesn’t ask.  I watch how you give me Altoids when you get yourself Altoids.  I watch how you make sure Baby Jammies is covered and never cold.

And I think how I am the luckies mom on earth to have a sweet-hearted little boy.

My birthday wish for you is that you never loose that tender, thoughtful side to you.  Such a giving, selfless quality is a gift and part of what makes you a beautiful little person. 

I love you forever.

Mommy