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

Nothing, just our usual weekend activities as a family and with friends. I've always seen Valentine's day as a couples thing...

I have always got our kids a little card "from ??" on it and some small heart choccies. Kind of tongue in cheek but nice, no? I didn't think they really noticed but my daughter (now 15) said to me yesterday - 'I'm really looking forward to some nice choccies this week' 😁

Roses are red
violets are blue
valentines is for families
and for pets too 😂

These replies...my god people are so miserable.

Definitely not a new thing. I'm 48 and my mam used to put little notes in my lunch box and a chocolate lolly from Thorntons (literally aimed at kids over 40yrs ago!) Is Valentines is ONLY for romantic love for you that's great, but for some people it's simply about love and that's fine too.

Our kids have Valentines Disco at school, a Valentines shop, Crafts, and far too young for romantic love, it's just a bit of fun.

On Saturday we'll be having a Family Valentines Day, we're having a movie, I decorate the kitchen with string hearts and confetti, my lovely mam is coming (my dad has recently died) and there will be a card and some chocs for everyone, plus a lovely table of treats like chocolate strawberries 🍓 ❤️

My dad used to buy me and my sister a rose each on Valentine's Day, never thought it was weird just nice.
DH doesn't believe in Valentine's Day for me, let alone the kids so we won't be doing anything with them. I expect DD will be out with her boyfriend anyway.
Why are people so worried about parents celebrating with their children? It doesn't affect you. Let people do what they want.

You are not being unreasonable at all!!!

We are having a ‘Galentines’ night on Friday with an old school rom com movie, antipasti, a heart shaped box of chocolates, popcorn and matching pyjamas!

Actually I might buy this for DD!

Now that’s cute. Enjoy your day!

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.

I always get them a card and some chocolate, just something small

Shit. I forgot about the dog 😂

Life is too short to be this miserable honestly

Amen @Jellybunny56

Fuck me this thread is quagmire of misery.

Not weird…….just someone who always wanted to inject a little love and fun into life. We always had a fun activity to do growing up. Baking, picnics, treasure hunts, valentines, Christmas traditions, Halloween parties with siblings. It’s only as an adult do I realise that we had nothing (materially) growing up and both parents gave us the happiest of childhoods in any way they could. I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s what kids remember.

Weird as hell that people involve kids in Valentine’s Day…it’s for couples

Not much!!
DH and I don’t even celebrate / acknowledge Valentine’s Day.

I sometimes give them some love heart sweets, or a heart shaped biscuit or something. But that’s it.

Lego set here … why not?!

Bought my teen son some heart shaped sweets/chocolates, always have done since he was little. My parents use to do the same when i was younger and still send over some kind of cake with a heart on every year even now.

I’ll be making them cards Friday night and leaving them on doormat for them to find Saturday morning. Will also buy the heart shaped crumpets from Aldi.
They are 7 and 6

While OPs day out sounds great, and I’m sure her DC will love it, am I alone in thinking it’s better for kids to not be the centre of every single celebration? For there to be occasions that don’t involve them being given ‘stuff’, but to witness attention being lavished on the other people who are important to us? Of course our children are hugely important but so are the adults who care for them and it’s vital they learn their needs aren’t always paramount.

That sounded more serious than I meant it to! Worth considering though if we want our children to grow into generous, empathetic adults.

Someone’s clearly never heard of Galentines either then!!

Life is too short to be this miserable honestly

I’ll be taking dd2 to a friend’s house where all her girls are having a “galantines” afternoon, dd1 is out with her girlfriend who she’s dated for almost 2 years and dd3 will be bored and wanting entertainment (she’s 14 but rubbish without her twin at home). I’m on call for work so will be chilling at home then dh is cooking a nice meal for him and I.

there’s always been a few mums who do valentines for their dc but it’s only the slightly weird helicopter mums round here and definitely not seen as normal.

I won’t be doing anything for my adult DD but can’t see the harm in it if people choose to celebrate any day with anyone. I will be kind of doing Galentine’s Day on Friday, coincidentally as there’s a women’s AA meeting 🤣.

We’ll make pink cookies. But that’s not an unusual occurrence in this house. I can’t be doing with extra celebrations in the house.