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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you get your children anything for Valentines day

282 replies

Thatsthesoundofthepolice · 12/02/2025 22:16

Or do any activities with them?

I’m seeing it more and more as a thing for kids to be involved in, as in crafts or getting heart cupcakes..do you do things like that?

OP posts:
thaegumathteth · 13/02/2025 00:37

I'm 43 and my mum always got us a wee sweetie. Which is weird because she wasn't into Easter eggs or advent calendars.

Anyways when mine were little I bought heart shaped cookies to decorate or something. They're teens now. I've bought them some chocolate, £3 each.

TheoTurkey · 13/02/2025 00:38

In case the picture doesn’t get allowed, it’s just a cute board book with a puppet

SnowFrogJelly · 13/02/2025 00:40

Thatsthesoundofthepolice · 12/02/2025 22:16

Or do any activities with them?

I’m seeing it more and more as a thing for kids to be involved in, as in crafts or getting heart cupcakes..do you do things like that?

Don't be silly it's not for children!

Devianinc · 13/02/2025 00:42

When they were little I did. Now they’re grownups and I don’t anymore.

VivienneDelacroix · 13/02/2025 00:50

BeaAndBen · 12/02/2025 22:44

No, although I have made heart shaped biscuits for the class when they were doing a themed activity in primary school.

When I was in high school (in the dark ages) you could pay 50p to have a carnation delivered to someone in their form room on Valentines Day. (5th form and 6th form) It was an annual fundraiser.

I thought it was the most amazing thing at the time, but as an adult looking back - oh god, the potential for bullying and heartbreak. What we’re they thinking?!

Still happening at my children's secondary school, but with plastic roses (yuck).

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 13/02/2025 00:52

I do yes. I started last year after realising none of my previous partners never bothered to do anything for Valentine's day, or birthdays, or Christmas!

So any opportunity to celebrate and model gracious gift giving and as well as the importance of thinking of others I take it.

One day my son may have a partner or someone special in their life and I'll be damned if he turns out like his dad, that's for sure.

BeaAndBen · 13/02/2025 00:59

VivienneDelacroix · 13/02/2025 00:50

Still happening at my children's secondary school, but with plastic roses (yuck).

Oh good heavens! And I thought it was such an antiquated thing to have done fraught with problems - not to mention the plastic waste.

Goldenbear · 13/02/2025 01:14

Whatnowthenfordone · 13/02/2025 00:24

I can understand it being different if you’re not in the UK. In the UK, though, it’s been about romantic love for centuries.

Who cares - why does it matter, oh it doesn't..

mumzof4x · 13/02/2025 01:22

I do
Dd is 14 and her and her girlfriends usually organise a Galentines evening or sleepover that will involve lots of Pink valentines themed girly things / chocolates / fluffy socks / pjs / baskets of goodies like face masks and make up etc
They just have a really lovely time and usually drink pink non alcoholic fizzy something, and generally have a great time.
Dh and I on the other hand will do nothing usually !

neverthelastone · 13/02/2025 01:24

DP and I don’t do it for each other as it’s too naff, but I usually get DD a little fun card and something little like heart-shaped post-its, a chocolate lollipop, or something else small but cute.

My parents always gave us an anonymous-but-clearly-from-them card each in the 90s, and I thought it was a sweet tradition: it used to cheer me up as a self-conscious teenager to at least get one Valentine! (They weren’t lovey-dovey cards, just pretty flowered ones or similar.)

coxesorangepippin · 13/02/2025 01:37

Usually a card and a few chocs, yes

suburberphobe · 13/02/2025 01:42

Valentine's Day is about romantic love.

Getting something for your kids for it sounds kind of creepy.

WhiteRosesInMyDreams · 13/02/2025 01:45

Valentines Day feels a bit cringey to me. I might send my 3 DC a pic of our naughty cat saying he loves them with some hearts added or something.

I gave my two teen DDs flowers the other week (one was having a bad time at school, the other had worked hard for her GCSE mocks) so they’re not neglected 😁 I’m just not a big fan of VD as it feels a bit cheesy (can understand why others like it though).

Klovos · 13/02/2025 01:51

Do you also go on romantic dates with them?

PeloMom · 13/02/2025 01:54

No. I do help them write cards for classmates though. Reasoning is selfish- to practice writing skills

YouAgainDamnIt · 13/02/2025 01:55

I always get my teens a box of chocolates or sweets or something. Never miss a chance to make someone smile in these grey little times. Grin

MumChp · 13/02/2025 01:56

No.

bridgetreilly · 13/02/2025 01:56

Halycon · 12/02/2025 22:43

RE the romantic vs parental love thing.

Maybe Valentine’s Day has evolved a bit in the same way that Christmas Eve boxes, North Pole breakfasts and the Elf on the Shelf have become a part of Christmas.

That is not exactly an incentive for me! They are all commercial inventions designed to guilt trip parents into wasting money.

thrifty24 · 13/02/2025 01:58

No. While I'm on though, I'm planning on catching the new Bridget Jones film this weekend as a solo V day treat at Everyman. I'll be ordering a large vino and snacks and probably surrounded by couples. Tempted to take my little blanket too!

renthead · 13/02/2025 02:08

Here in Canada it's very much a platonic love/children's holiday. You buy little paper valentines that are specifically for school, and give them out in class (you're not allowed to exclude anyone so every child gets a valentine from every other child). It's a lot of fun and a great childhood memory for me. My DDs love it.

I get my DDs a little heart chocolate or something small. If we still lived in the UK I'm not sure I'd bother!

Iwanttoliveonamountain · 13/02/2025 02:19

Valentine is about sex. Why would you want to sexualise your children? That’s kitchen based grooming

Whatnowthenfordone · 13/02/2025 02:21

Goldenbear · 13/02/2025 01:14

Who cares - why does it matter, oh it doesn't..

It’s just plain weird. Why make a romantic day centred around children?

steff13 · 13/02/2025 02:27

Iwanttoliveonamountain · 13/02/2025 02:19

Valentine is about sex. Why would you want to sexualise your children? That’s kitchen based grooming

You're suggesting that everyone who buys their child a Valentine is grooming them? What is wrong with you?

And it's never been about sex, it's about love.

Dogaredabomb · 13/02/2025 02:57

Dad used to send me cards from 'a secret admirer' my friend's Dad would send her secret cards from her dog 😂

ArmyBarbie · 13/02/2025 05:11

Nope. It's for romantic love.