to be annoyed that school has indoctrinated my child into believing that he should get a valentine's card

[Twiglett]

he's 6

valentine's day / cards is about romantic love

I do not want him to want a valentines from me

it is for grown-ups not children

I really wish teachers would think concepts through

I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth

And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say, "come dance with me"
And murmur vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems at seventeen

A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downs
Whose name I never could pronounce said
Pity, please, the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve
The rich-relationed home-town queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company and haven for the elderly

Remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debentures of quality
And dubious integrity
Their small town eyes will gape at you in
Dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received at seventeen

To those of us who knew the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far away
The world was younger than today
And dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me

We all play the game and when we dare
To cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
That call and say, "come dance with me"
And murmur vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me, at seventeen

hur! what a song

And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces

is that you lot, then?

that's you that is

That's the History Men. I saw them at the Oxford Apollo back in 19 .... whenever it was.

Twiglett did you remember all those words or copy them off the record sleeve?

how sad do you think I am elastic

I googled them

I got a Valentine's card once at school from Jason Watcham, I was 6. I was ever so pleased (and see, I still remember it!!!) I don't think I ever got another and I certainly didn't send any. So many of the kids at my school got cards from their parents, and some from their pets, which for me is just totally bizarre. My parents never sent cards to each other and DH and me don't either. It's a horrible day created by marketing men and then rammed down our kid's throats. DD doesn't make a card at school, I don't think she has any idea what Valentine's day is anyway (she's 7).
Twiglett, no, you are not being unreasonable - or at least, if you are, so am I!!!!

Pretty sad, Twig .

Did you know St Valentine was a Roman who was put to death for becoming a Christian?
Or so some one told me today. Perhaps you would like to check that on Google, Any one?

Wiki is our friend. Various "legends" surrounding the "real St Valentine". There are three associations.

Wiki article on St Valentine

The modern usage of the day for "courtly love" seems to be accepted as having been started by Chaucer in "Parlement of Foules" (1382).

Wiki on Valentine's Day

LOL at getting a Valentine's card from your pet!