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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you’re going to do for your child(ren) for Valentine’s Day?

332 replies

mumofoneAloneandwell · 11/02/2026 19:48

I might take dd to the cinema to see and then to Nando’s and to a bakery for a cupcake. Will need to find a flower shop to buy her one red rose

I hate that it’s on a Saturday, I really don’t wanna see young teens out on dates while I’m chronically single 😂

will you do anything? No judgement if not, it’s just me and dd so I like to do this stuff

plus, when someone’s son decides to take her out when she’s older, she won’t be thrilled by literally the bare minimum!!

edit to see either Gaby’s dolls house, zootropolis 2 or The Goat (kids cartoon) - not sure which 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
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BlueandWhitePorcelain · 11/02/2026 21:12

Babysit for DS, so he and DDIL can go out! They don’t ask us to babysit for them very often. DH and I are going out for dinner with some friends tomorrow night, so we won’t feel the need to go out again two nights later!

jetlag92 · 11/02/2026 21:11

Newbie8918 · 11/02/2026 19:57

I’m 45. My mum still gets me and my sisters chocolates and a fun card.

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No. couple thing. (I'm 50!)

Original poster
mumofoneAloneandwell · 11/02/2026 21:11

CoffeeChocolateWine · 11/02/2026 20:59

I always give each of my DC a little card telling them one particular thing I love about them…always something they may not think to love about themselves. It gives them a little boost!

And a little sweet treat too…chocolate hearts or a cupcake or a cookie or something!

I love that, ‘one thing I love about them’ xx

OP posts:
TheFormidableMrsC · 11/02/2026 21:10

I’ve never done anything for my kids for Valentine’s Day. That’s just weird.

ChaliceinWonderland · 11/02/2026 21:08

ljames4747 · 11/02/2026 19:51

Get yourself on hinge then you won’t be single by Saturday!

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Omg hinge. Tried that once , lasted 5 ,minutes!!

Growuppeople · 11/02/2026 21:08

i just feel sad for you! Who even cares about valentines days unless you’re 12! Good god! think I live in a different planet to most these days 🙄

JustauseraskinganotheruserWTF · 11/02/2026 21:08

Perhaps a love heart shaped cookie to enjoy with a cup of tea certainly won't be going overboard.

Fortheloveofpizza · 11/02/2026 21:08

I’ve got them heart shaped sweets and some table decorations. Planning on cooking their fave dinner with the table decorations.
Last year I did a valentine breakfast with heart shaped pancakes.
oh, forgot I’ve got them cards as well

TY78910 · 11/02/2026 21:07

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 11/02/2026 21:00

But Valentine's Day is about romantic love, not parental love.

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Fascinating because I’m sure I can dig out all the valentines cards my DCs made me in nursery and reception over the years.

Newbie8918 · 11/02/2026 21:07

OP what I found really heartening, is in the midst of so many grumpy, miserable replies, there are adults like me, who have fond memories of what their parents did for them as children. Fond memories of a single flower from dad or chocs from mum (as I do). These are the memories your child will have and they’ll also smile remembering their daft mum and how she tried to inject joy and fun into life on a miserable day in February!

KittyPup · 11/02/2026 21:07

I always buy my dc a Valentine’s Day card and write everything I love about them in it. Then I get a box of chocolates or a small sweet treat. My dad would always get my mum a big bunch of flowers and me a smaller bunch. He did it every single year and it’s now just another reminder he’s not here anymore. I miss him so much.

Onlyforaweek · 11/02/2026 21:05

Exactly this! Amd I don’t even work for Argos.

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 11/02/2026 21:00

TY78910 · 11/02/2026 19:53

Crikey the fun police is out. For someone that’s single, it is a nice way to spend the day and celebrate ‘love’.

OP, I do have a DP but also no childcare so it is a family day for us. We will likely go out to lunch / dinner and a nice valentines desert. the youngest is too little for cinema but it sounds like you planned a perfect day. You enjoy yourself!

But Valentine's Day is about romantic love, not parental love.

Slowdownyouredoingfine · 11/02/2026 21:00

I’m like you OP (weird apparently 😂) But you don’t get many days do you? Christmas, birthdays, Easter, Halloween… they love it all. So whilst we don’t do anything crazy they’ll definitely get a card/trinket or something to mark it.

CoffeeChocolateWine · 11/02/2026 20:59

I always give each of my DC a little card telling them one particular thing I love about them…always something they may not think to love about themselves. It gives them a little boost!

And a little sweet treat too…chocolate hearts or a cupcake or a cookie or something!

NewGoldFox · 11/02/2026 20:56

I put heart banners up and make a bit extra effort for dinner, might get them a little trinket or chocolate thing also.

QuirkyHorse · 11/02/2026 20:54

Bit weird but each to their own.

Whatsmyageagain1 · 11/02/2026 20:54

I haven’t read the whole thread of replies but got the idea and just to say @mumofoneAloneandwell i have got my kids some valentines treats (chocolate heart shaped lollies, heart shaped haribo & a little card each) nothing wrong with a bit of fun and showing your kids some affection in my book, not sure why so many are so negative about what’s not really a big deal 🤷🏼‍♀️

LadyRoughDiamond · 11/02/2026 20:53

I always buy my boys heart chocolates from M&S. Just a little thing to remind them to celebrate the small things in life, and to show the people you love that you care.

TellingBone · 11/02/2026 20:53

It's about romantic love not family love. Don't be daft.

Meadowflower2023 · 11/02/2026 20:50

TY78910 · 11/02/2026 20:36

Is it though? Holidays can mean different things to different people. I’ll use the Xmas example again. Some people will be religious about it, some people will be purely commercial. These days evolve. Just like Easter isn’t about Christ for most people but buying chocolate for all your relatives. I think it’s actually quite weird to associate your idea of romance and then projecting it on to a single parent that just wants a reason to have a little celebration and calling them weird for it.

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Beat me to it. Was about to type out something very similar.

Enjoy your day, OP it sounds lovely.

ANiceCuppaTeaandBiscuit · 11/02/2026 20:49

OP my dd has loved seeing all the shop windows and hearts everywhere. They had very cute gift boxes in Tiger, so I got one, and I’ve put a little valentines soft toy and some chocolate hearts in it, and a cute card. I also got some heart shaped balloons to put up. I know she’ll really enjoy it. Of course I’ve also got DH stuff. It’s just a bit of fun, and will hopefully will bring some smiles.

Goditsmemargaret · 11/02/2026 20:49

This is cute op! I used to make cards for both my parents as a child. My parents broke up when I was twelve. Once at seventeen years old, I don't know what came over me but I decided to make a card for my dad as I was meeting him for coffee after school. Or I might have bought it, I can't actually remember. I do remember how he looked when I handed it to him though, we both laughed a lot. He nipped out at one point and as we were saying goodbye he said "here, some fella asked me to give this to my gorgeous daughter, he's too shy to approach her himself" and handed me a card from the newsagent next door. He's dead now and it's a dear memory.

To answer your actual question we will decorate the sitting room, probably go out for cake and exchange cards.

harriethoyle · 11/02/2026 20:48

DancingOctopus · 11/02/2026 20:21

Nothing.
I saw a card in my local supermarket that said " To my Mummy on Valentine's Day".
Who is going to send that? Oedipus?

Ahahahahahaaaaaaa! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

saltinesandcoffeecups · 11/02/2026 20:46

If I didn’t think the irony would be missed completely and if I had the attention span and memory of something greater than a goldfish I’d come back to this thread on Valentine’s Day and hit the ‘love’ heart reaction on some grumpy posts here! 💗❤️‍🩹🤣

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