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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

about Valentine's cards for children?

178 replies

LifeIsButtercream · 13/02/2011 09:41

Ex-H has sent DD (21months) a Valentine's card.....

..... a special 'To My Daughter' Valentine's card.....

.....last time I checked Valentine's Day was for couples? I've found cards all over the place 'Happy Valentine's Day to my dog/cat/parents/left toe/nearby lamp post'

AIBU in thinking this is a little bit of commercial over-kill?

And for the record - I'm not just sulking because my toddler has more Valentines this year than I do (i.e. she has one) Sad

OP posts:
amidaiwish · 13/02/2011 18:20

i will put some heart shaped chocolates in the DDs lunch boxes tomorrow, it's nice

dd2 (age 5) has spent all week making valentines cards for my sisters, her friends (girls!) without any encouragement from me i can assure you... i think it is sweet

i wouldn't actually BUY one though...

bobala · 13/02/2011 18:23

I have valentines caterpillars ("love bugs!") to put in lunchboxes tomoro (choc mini roll with face usually -M&S have got on the bandwagon by sprinkling these ones with mini pink hearts and renaming!) My 12/14 year old sons will either love it or throw it quickly in the bin! I have an American child in my class so fairly sure there will be one 5 year old delivering cards tomoro altho the rest of my class wont have a clue!

slipperandpjsmum · 13/02/2011 18:30

My Dad (now passed away) always used to spend hours making me a card and creating his own verse. Maybe they were not the most artistic creation ever made but I loved them and miss them every year.

AintMissBeehiving · 13/02/2011 18:39

We do Jack Valentine here too, as part of our Naarfolk tradition. As well as marrying your cousin obv. Wink

FrameyMcFrame · 13/02/2011 18:45

My Dad used to always send me a valentines card :)

sparkle1977 · 13/02/2011 18:52

Couldn't agree more. I think Valentines Day is for adults (or at least people over the age of about 10), involving children and animals just feels a bit wrong to me?

bupcakesandcunting · 13/02/2011 18:54

"mum used to send me one when i was a geeky munter teen"

Grin

I used to insist that my mum sent me one and she did until her friend told her it was ridiculous, when I was baout 8, the stupid fucking cow. I still hate her for it and refuse to talk to her.

nzshar · 13/02/2011 18:58

Yep to me valentines is not just about those you love it's about those you love in a romantic way feels wrong to include children in this.

I tell my son I love him often christmas and ofcourse his birthday are when I buy gifts of love for him.

Valentines is about me and DP, though maybe a little biased as it's our anniversary too.

lingle · 13/02/2011 18:58

My mother in law in Califormia has sent:

  • spongebob squarepants "to my grandson on Valentine's Day" cards to the DSs

and

  • "to my son and his wife on Valentine's day" cards to us.

Just imagine how big the Valentine's day ailse must be in US card shops.

The children also get special "my grandson on Halloween" cards.

exoticfruits · 13/02/2011 19:00

It seems odd to me.

taffetasplat · 13/02/2011 19:01

Shodan - that is lovely, how lucky you are to have such a loving and thoughtful father.

GrannyMo · 13/02/2011 19:02

Instead of new baby card, for nephew born on 14th Feb. we gave a small valentine card.

cupcake001 · 13/02/2011 19:18

My mum used to send me a valentine every year (also birthday cards/presents as my bday is on valentines day) she'd put a ? In it and it took me years to work out it was her! She still did it once i worked it out, i totally loved it and loved her for it.

chickadee87 · 13/02/2011 19:19

i made valentines day cards with my little charges to give to their parents, it just said inside ' i love you lots and lots'

They are only 2yo's but they stuck tissue paper, hearts and glitter onto a heartshape :)

HecateQueenOfWitches · 13/02/2011 19:23

valentine's day is traditionally for people to declare romantic interest in someone.

Hallmark decided that didn't bring them enough money. So they came up with cards for couples, for parents, for friends...

And people see the cards and buy into the crappola.

Well done Hallmark. I admire your business acumen.

Oh, and tesco, m&s et al, bravo for seeing a chance to grab a bit of that for yourselves and convince us all to go bonkers with chocs, flowers and poncy puddings.

What's the saying? Something about a fool and his money? Grin

abgirl · 13/02/2011 19:25

I am giving my DSs a card each (which I've made not bought) because however much it might be for couples, they have both heard about it lots at pre-/school in the last week. I was in a v sad minority when asked at primary school 'who got a valentine's card today?' and I don't want my DSs to feel unloved...

ReshapeWhileDamp · 13/02/2011 19:25

When we were kids, my mum made us fab valentine cards - often with funny photo montages on front (my brother as Superman was one I remember!) and funny, teasing rhymes inside. We knew who'd sent them, it was just a sweet thing she did.

So now, my sons send their GPs valentine cards (and one to DH, too). I grew up with this, don't think it's odd. Grin

PonceyMcPonce · 13/02/2011 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jugglingjo · 13/02/2011 19:37

Anything to make it more fun and personal.

Our DC's have cut out little hearts and put them on my pillow.

Some years we've all made each other cards and put them by the letter box - as though just arrived in the post.

I just don't like feeling constrained or obliged by consumer "rules"
ie. You must send a shop bought card to your partner, and no-one else.

CheerfulYank · 13/02/2011 19:55

Are any holidays what they "traditionally" were anymore?

tralalala · 13/02/2011 20:05

I still have a valentines card made by my lovely dad to me aged 3 (it says 'though you are small I love you all') he is the least 'commercial' person I've ever met!

BigChiefOrganiser · 13/02/2011 20:08

So are the preschool teachers going to look at me like Hmm tomorrow or let me off as we are not from Round these parts. We've been told to bring cards in for the whole class, all 13 of them. They can't even write their own message, they're 3, and we don't do valentines. I almost caved, but thought sod it, it's not our tradition.

CheerfulYank · 13/02/2011 20:24

I don't think they will, and your DC will be happy to get them. No harm done, I say :)

Eskimoo · 13/02/2011 20:26

I know somebody who's DD (9) is going out for an early bird meal with her 'boyfriend'........ Parents dropping them off and picking them up......jaysus is that just not bizzare??

VerityBrulee · 13/02/2011 20:38

I have just made my dc heart shaped shortbread biscuits for their lunchboxes tomorrow, used a tooth-pick to make their initial in dots on the hearts. We will be having heart shaped pancakes for breakie. Any excuse for a bit of kitsch around here Grin

Dh usually makes me a card, being a creative type, which is lovely. He still owes me a Christmas present though Hmm