Going all out for your kids on valentines day

its that it get blown out of all proportion. It’s diluting the meaning of the day!

You are choosing to take umbrage/take it personally. Different families do things differently.

When I do the school run, I don't feel guilty because I'm driving an old banger and the parent in front of me is driving a Porche.

When I see parents taking their kids to Lapland before Xmas, I don't feel annoyed because it isn't something I can or want to do.
When my kid's friends spend their school holidays skiing or visiting numerous countries in South America, I don't feel annoyed because we take a short holiday in Spain or France.

You will go through life feeling very unhappy if you compare yourself to what others do.

I made crafts for my DH and waffles for breakfast with my DC. I think it's cute.

I did get DD (17) a crochet magazine she wanted. But would have got it anyway for half term..just happened to coincide.

Really disappointing to see it’s leaked over to the UK also. As with most things super commercialized it started in the U.S.

However I live in the U.S. and also did nothing other than class valentine cards (each child gets a small card and a small sweet or small token toy) and I only did that so my child wasn’t the only one not participating. I did small cards and a lollipop per child. I hate it though! And find it weird.

My own husband and I don’t even celebrate so I’m not going to make it a big deal for my kids. They get enough at Christmas, Birthdays and Easter.

I also felt a bit guilty looking at social media but don’t!! It’s actually odd I think.

I made the decision to send my kids Valentine's cards when the first Valentine's Day rolled around when they were babies. I've done it every year since.

I don't do it for social media (don't use it) or to make other parents feel they should be doing it. To the best of my knowledge, nobody outside our immediate family has any idea that I do it.

The reason I do it is because my sibling always received Valentines cards from 'secret admirers'. There wasn't a year she didn't get one, two or three cards, from about the age of ten to today. I never got one until I met DH. I vowed my kids would never be the person who never got a card.

I’m with you.
At our school, mums show up with “Valentines Goodie Bags” for their child, at the end of the day, and post pics of “my little valentine” enjoying heart shaped waffles for breakfast and some mega expensive toys/plushies.
I hate it but I still feel guilty when I see all the photos of the school with kids and goodie bags and I know that mine haven’t got anything, because I was out working over school pick up.

I hope you gave her a detention.

My dd (3.5) asked to decorate as I think they had talked about it at nursery but it was just a couple of balloons and some tissue paper hearts. I also got dd and ds some chocolate buttons each. Life is short, and dc are small for a tiny portion of that so I don't really see the harm in indulging them with some chocolate and balloons. And it didn't go on Instagram or anything.

One of the dc (5) in my class was late this morning but arrived in a dress covered in hearts and her hair in two plaits that separated in the centre to make a heart and a heart helium balloon tied around her wrist.

Are you annoyed parents are doing this, or annoyed that your friend said it’s on you that you feel guilty?

I find the waste, commerciality and capitalism of it all is a sad reflection of humanity, but I don’t feel guilty or like I should be participating. I could see a million posts of parents buying thousands of pounds of gifts for their children and I wouldn’t feel guilty. That is on you, as it’s not the other posts that make people feel guilty (because some of us don’t), it’s your perception of them as something to aspire to that you’re not doing.

If social media is making you feel negative feelings like guilt, maybe give it a break for a while.

Just get off social media!

I agree with your friend that it is on you that you feel guilty. Do you and ignore the shite on social media.

Never comes across this but then I don't really do social media (other than Mumsnet!). Right behind the idea of international book giving day though!

In fairness, I don't think Valentine's Day was always a purely romantic couples thing. I recall reading an older children's book, I think it might have been one of the What Katy did series, in which the main character gave handmade valentine's cards to her sisters, and it wasn't presented as anything out of the ordinary.

I've had people on my SM today posting photos and videos of their cats & dogs receiving cards & gifts 🤣🤣 one lady even posted a card to her dog and posted a video of the postman delivering it 🤣

Totally agree OP. I feel like it's just another thing for women to feel pressured about. But as a PP said, I don't feel a bit guilty not participating. I think I show my children lots of love and support all through the year, and don't feel the need to perform this by buying into some marketing BS about Valentine's Day now also including children.

I think its fine. Many people need something sort of differant to break up their everyday routine.