To think this is a bit much for 8 year olds?

[Mydogatemypurse]

A group of mums at my sons school have gone OTT on valentines day ... ringing other mums to alert them to who is dating who, and making sure that they are armed with presents and cards and making sure they 'dont forget'.
At the school this morning it was ridiculous. With a small group of kids getting showered with gifts/balloons etc whilst a lot were clearly left out.
Now my son isnt bothered in the slightest and didnt bat an eyelid, but my heart sank for some of the others who didnt get gifts and were looking on. I wondered about the impact on their self esteem at such a young age and whether the school should allow this.
Also I feel like a massive prude because I actually felt a bit uncomfortable with the parents encouraging the fuss, taking pictures of the happy couples kissing etc etc.
Am I completely out of touch?? I'm an old fart arent I?

8yo Children exchanging Valentine's Day gifts is creepy as hell. YANBU

It certainly is!

These are children, ffs! They should be thinking of running screeching around the playground (usually in same-sex groups) and poking dog-poo with sticks and giggling, not "dating".

Our children are becoming sexualised far too early - probably as a result of all of this "there are over 1000 genders" talks in schools.

Just let them be kids - they grow up quickly enough anyway.

Valentine's Day is just a Hallmark money-grab anyway.

8yo Children exchanging Valentine's Day gifts is creepy as hell.

Absolutely. These are the same mums who put their tiny daughters in 'adult' clothes and makeup. Then complain when adult men take a sexual interest. Seriously creepy!

It sounds just horrible. Weird competitive parenting and I can completely understand why you might be concerned that it could lead to children feeling sad and left out and dreading the whole business. Grim grim grim

Yanbu

But you've reminded me of my experience of dating at primary school. I discovered I had been 'dating' a boy in my class when he sent one of his friends to break up with me because I wasn't a good girlfriend. Said boy had never spoken to me though had recently attacked me with a water gun whilst I was playing outside with my friend after school. I guess I should have recognised that for the romantic gesture it clearly was. 😂

That’s ridiculous.
They’re setting their own kids up to be disappointed later on in life .

My DC get a card each from us with a chocolate in it and that's that

Why? Are you in love with them in a romantic sense?

Valentine’s Day is about romantic love, surely? A prelude to sex, for most. We don’t bother with it, I’m not sure anyone does in my world, but it’s no harm I guess.

Children though? That’s just weird. My nursery child came home with a Valentine’s card for me which was sweet - if quite odd.

I take it the day has evolved to be about “those you love” rather than “those you’d like to snog”?

My 9 year old DD's class all have "boyfriends and girlfriends" but it's not in the true sense. My DD doesn't even play with her "boyfriend" but she got him a card and a pack of sweets. They don't know what it really means, your class seem to have gone OTT!

Weird and ridiculous.

Yikes. It’s not you OP. That’s weird.

With both my dc there were a lot of boyfriends and girlfriends in junior infants/reception but by 8 that was considered very babyish and the friendship groups were more gendered. There’s still the odd ‘couple’ but mostly it seems to be played for laughs and they were quick to assert the difference between being friends with a boy/girl and being a boyfriend/girlfriend.
8 seems a strange age, to me, for all that.

Luckily I've never witnessed anything this hideous. Wouldn't be happy if it was my DCs class

I've heard it all now. Very weird.

HRWT but the OP made me feel a bit sick.

WTF is wrong with some people?

I found it pretty bad that our schools Y6 Leavers even is called a "prom" - half the girls in ridiculous polyester dresses and high heels, tottering & suffering all evening and not being able to dance etc - all facilitated by their Mums. What a ridiculous spectacle that was.

It’s just another opportunity for those parents to show off and bore everyone with their fb/Instagram posts.
I was chuffed to bits when my 11 year old ds told me very seriously the other day that he’s not having a girlfriend until he’s 17

"They don't know what it really means"
What does it mean when you are 9?

There's always a group of mums like that. I tend to do my best to stay clear.

I've never understood why some people just want to turn their small children into mini adults. It's like their own life is lacking so they do weird stuff like this to their kids.

That seems so unfair on the ones that are left out. Theres no way I'd be spending money on buying gifts for kids because they are 'dating'.

DS is 11, in his last year of Primary school. I was teasing him this morning about needing to come to pick him up with a wheelbarrow to bring all the cards and gifts from his adoring fans. He was mortified by the idea. Shut uuuuuuuup muuuuuum you're soooooo embarrassing.

Not encouraged at all in schools here and quite rightly too. Total tack-fest.

It is very weird. My 6 year old got a chocolate lolly from one of her (male) friends but wasn’t given at school - was left on doorstep for her. She was so happy but he’s her friend, not a boyfriend. It was done more as a friendship tho g and I suspect he did it for some of his other close friends too.

Awful. I agree this is mums with not enough happening in their own lives, living vicariously through their kids.
I think we should encourage young kids to see opposite sex friends as friends. None of this bloody boyfriend or girlfriend stuff.

She’s 6 for the record

It’s not weird it’s another girl. I couldn’t care less. I meant the age. Oops.

Ugh