Love Is In The Air! Just Not At My Daughter’s Preschool
Dear Mouthy Housewives,
My daughter goes to a Jewish preschool where they don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. However, my older daughters will celebrate it at public school and I know my younger one will want to do it too. How should I handle this? Secretly give Valentine’s to all her preschool friends?
Signed,
I Didn’t Even Know Valentine’s Day Was A Religious Holiday
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Dear Didn’t Know V-Day Was Religious,
It’s possible that the school put that policy in place because they heard about my traumatic high school Valentine’s Day experience. Nothing says awkward teen moment like a boy showing up to your homeroom with a 4 ft card, balloons, and a huge, heart-shaped box of chocolates! Did I mention he looked NOTHING like Ryan Reynolds? And had all the grace and charm of Potsie from Happy Days. It was very hard to be me. It was also very hard to spell “Potsie” correctly.
Of course, it’s also possible that the school takes some issue with the Christian origins of the holiday. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius established the day to honor martyred Saints, like Saint Valentine. It has since become a day for the celebration of love or teen uncomfortableness, whichever. What the school might not realize is that in 1969 Pope Paul VI deleted the day from the General Roman Calendar of Saints. Still, its derivation remains one of Christianity, which for some Jewish schools may be a little problematic.
But even though your daughter isn’t able to give everyone in her class a Valentine, she can still get into the spirit of the day and make Valentines for her siblings, her parents, and other members of your family and neighborhood friends. Maybe even make one for Potsie? You can also get together as a family and make heart-shaped cookies! At the end of the day, the best part of this holiday is using glitter and eating sugar!
Good Luck,
Tonya, TMH
11 Responses to “Love Is In The Air! Just Not At My Daughter’s Preschool”
Comment by Chunky Mama.
Spot on.
Also, you could let her be in charge of “decorating” your home for the holiday. Chains of paper hearts & individual valentines to hang up on the walls & windows, etc.
My kids do it at Christmas and have a ball.
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Comment by DoNotFaint.
I made pink pancakes with my niece once, and it was pretty much the best day of her so far. It was from a mix, but I’m sure a dab of food coloring would do it. You could make pink food with your daughter the night before and then include it in her lunch at school! I really doubt her teacher will care if it sparks a Valentine’s Day conversation among the students. You could also sneak a Valentine into her lunch box from you and one from her sister.
Glitter is very important to preschoolers. Yours has a right to her share!
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Comment by kara.
Geez, nothing like sucking all the fun out of school. My niece’s school also eliminated Christmas celebrations and decorations and cupcakes at anytime. So pretty much a prison sentence.
If this was my daughter I would look to change schools next year. Prohibiting naturally fun traditions willy nilly is dumb. I bet they don’t have a Halloween parade either. Life is too short, and childhood flies by, to prohibit a little fun. My kid’s school was rigid in trying to make everything fair, so the rule was if you participated in the Valentines exchange you had to bring in a valentine for everyone. Period.
This mama should have her daughter invite a few friends after school as a special treat. Go out for ice cream or a go out for a special snack at a neighborhood spot.
Just say No to Skipping Valentines Day
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Comment by Inelegant Life.
Love your response!
I’d like to send my child to school there. I think Valentine’s Day is lame. My oldest daughter and I have vowed to skip it this year. Except I still have to send them to school with my youngest.
I’d much rather teach my children to show love spontaneously throughout the year, and because they mean it.
All the other commenters had great ideas – I don’t really have anything to add.
And BTW, Wendi has such great hair!
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Comment by Kelcey.
Ugh. I hate when schools do this. I mean, let kids have fun! February is the most depressing month ever. Can’t we at least make some Valentine’s Day cards. Great advice!
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Comment by TexasKatherine.
It sounds like her school celebrates Valentine’s Day like we do in our house. “Honey, I got you a card. It’s still in my purse & I didn’t sign it or slide it in the envelope, but if you can find it in my handbag vortex, it’s yours!”
I do like the idea of doing something special with all the girls & getting them each a Valentine present. This is just one of many issues she can work through with her therapist later.
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Comment by Plano Mom.
Excellent advice. In my house, Valentine’s day is HUGE – I start buying little gifts right after Christmas. On the day, my husband’s and daughter’s car will have little window clings all over the windows, and everyone gets a little treat bag with a couple of gifts and their favorite chocolate.
My kids’ school celebrates the day, however each kid is completely different as to how they feel about it at school vs. at home.
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Comment by Meredith L..
I’m sorry, Tanya, but I call worst Valentine’s Day(s) ever. See, it’s also my BIRTHDAY, and there is nothing like never ever having anyone – Potsie-wannabe or not – special in my life on that day. One year I left the country for my birthday/Valentine’s Day, I was so fed up.
…mot until I met my husband when I was 27. That’s 26 Valentine’s Days of flowers, cards, presents and chocolates – from my DAD. Want to feel like a loser? Go to work on your Valentine’s birthday and be the only person whose flowers didn’t arrive. Because florists are constantly surprised by the Valentine’s Day rush, and that year there was an ice storm, and blah blah everyone knows it’s your birthday and as the day crawls by the looks from your co-workers get increasingly pitying because you are also a newlywed and it’s Valentine’s Day and also your birthday and yet you sit at the only flower-free desk in the whole office. KILL ME.
Hmmm, what? Oh yeah. My Hebrew School didn’t let us off for Halloween. Unless they are Orthodox, I really don’t see what the point is, except to make kids resentful. Stupid Hebrew School.
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Comment by I Want More Kids, He Doesn't! | The Mouthy Housewives.
[...] him. What has made him change his mind about wanting only one child and deprive your child of a sibling? Whether the concerns are financial or otherwise, there are ways to approach the situation [...]
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Comment by Wendi.
Great advice!
But Ralph Malph was the one who always made me hot.
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