Oy, it’s been a loooonnnggg day. Love is complicated, especially when it comes to kids.
There’s no doubt that we love them, every day, not just on Valentine’s day. However, today has been a day of ups and downs. Big ups and BIG downs.
Mouse has huge expectations when it comes to holidays; expectations that are hard to live up to. Hubster and I decided this year that Valentine’s day would be low key, for various reasons, and haven’t really been pushing it. We didn’t want to squash her enthusiasm so much as just keep it in perspective.
Mouse did have a little card exchange at school. She made all her own Valentine’s and she really enjoyed the process of making them. It took us a few days to make them (cut out shapes, decorated with stickers and a Valentine's pencil) as there are 18 kids in her class and she made every one and wrote each child's name by herself. She really focused on what each child would like on their card and carefully chose each pencil. When she brought her cards home from school, we took the time to look at each one, appreciating that the other kids took the time to do a card for her.
We talked about how Valentine’s day is to let those people around us know that they are special. We made Valentine’s for each other, and for the girls I just got them a balloon and made a very small goodie bag. Today we did go for breakfast and this afternoon made chocolate covered strawberries for dessert tonight.
Well, despite “low key”, we’ve had 2 days of fall out. Lots of tantrums, sass and back talk. It’s sooo hard because the stores just have sooo much “stuff” out and the kids see all of it and think “Wow! This is a BIG deal” and we're telling them "Well, no, we dont' have to have all of that STUFF to have a nice holiday". In particular, I know it’s hard for Mouse to reconcile what she expects and imagines with what is real sometimes. I know part of her being upset was that we didn’t have an all day Valentine’s party with decorations and friends and all the hoopla she imagines should go with a “holiday”. It was very much an ordinary day, with a few special things thrown in, which is what we told her was the intention all along.
And of course, the crazy attitude has rubbed off on Baboo who is almost 2 and certainly doesn’t need any encouragement when it comes to tantrums these days.
Baboo added her own brand of toddlerhood to this day. The painted on the table with her applesauce at lunch, threw several tantrums when she didn’t get her way and then took a red Sharpie marker and added her own special touch to our coffee table. (Guess we're finally deciding to paint that table).
It’s been a long day of putting out temper fires in between some really sweet family moments.
Mouse made a cute picture for Hubster in his Valentine’s card. Baboo sucked all the chocolate off her strawberries and said “Mama! I WIKE this!”. And I could never replace all the hugs that we’ve gotten today.
There’s no doubt that we love them, every day, not just on Valentine’s day. However, today has been a day of ups and downs. Big ups and BIG downs.
Mouse has huge expectations when it comes to holidays; expectations that are hard to live up to. Hubster and I decided this year that Valentine’s day would be low key, for various reasons, and haven’t really been pushing it. We didn’t want to squash her enthusiasm so much as just keep it in perspective.
Mouse did have a little card exchange at school. She made all her own Valentine’s and she really enjoyed the process of making them. It took us a few days to make them (cut out shapes, decorated with stickers and a Valentine's pencil) as there are 18 kids in her class and she made every one and wrote each child's name by herself. She really focused on what each child would like on their card and carefully chose each pencil. When she brought her cards home from school, we took the time to look at each one, appreciating that the other kids took the time to do a card for her.
We talked about how Valentine’s day is to let those people around us know that they are special. We made Valentine’s for each other, and for the girls I just got them a balloon and made a very small goodie bag. Today we did go for breakfast and this afternoon made chocolate covered strawberries for dessert tonight.
Well, despite “low key”, we’ve had 2 days of fall out. Lots of tantrums, sass and back talk. It’s sooo hard because the stores just have sooo much “stuff” out and the kids see all of it and think “Wow! This is a BIG deal” and we're telling them "Well, no, we dont' have to have all of that STUFF to have a nice holiday". In particular, I know it’s hard for Mouse to reconcile what she expects and imagines with what is real sometimes. I know part of her being upset was that we didn’t have an all day Valentine’s party with decorations and friends and all the hoopla she imagines should go with a “holiday”. It was very much an ordinary day, with a few special things thrown in, which is what we told her was the intention all along.
And of course, the crazy attitude has rubbed off on Baboo who is almost 2 and certainly doesn’t need any encouragement when it comes to tantrums these days.
Baboo added her own brand of toddlerhood to this day. The painted on the table with her applesauce at lunch, threw several tantrums when she didn’t get her way and then took a red Sharpie marker and added her own special touch to our coffee table. (Guess we're finally deciding to paint that table).
It’s been a long day of putting out temper fires in between some really sweet family moments.
Mouse made a cute picture for Hubster in his Valentine’s card. Baboo sucked all the chocolate off her strawberries and said “Mama! I WIKE this!”. And I could never replace all the hugs that we’ve gotten today.
This is the picture Mouse made of herself (notice the LONG lashes, blue jeans, and smiling mouth) and Baboo beside the enormous flower with dirt and roots. I love it!
Hubster and I didn’t really do too much for eachother. We’re both kind of “over” the commercialism of Valentine’s day. He did get a killer box of chocolates for us to share. They’re made by Pete Schmutte, head pastry chef at Puck’s restaurant. Apparently, he’s a friend of a Hubster’s coworker. They’ve got great names like “Dark and Stormy”, “Ancho and Cayenne Pepper”, “Port Lemon Caramel” and “Pear William”. They’re delicate and delicious. A surprise favourite is “Earl Grey Tea”. And they’re pretty. So pretty. See?!
Almost too pretty to eat... but uh yeah. NOT.
And, I went and got my hair cut finally today (yup, decided on going shorter again). Whatever she put in it smells like coconut and all I can smell is COCONUT. It wasn’t too bad in the beginning, but now it’s starting to annoy me.
Anyway, hope you had a lovely day – Valentine’s celebrations or not.
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