Going all out for your kids on valentines day

[Supergirl1958]

Seriously when did that become a thing! Tonight I’ve been told it’s ’on me’ that I feel guilty because it’s splashed all over my social media feeds about the efforts parents have gone to, balloons, presents, cakes, breakfasts for their children on Valentine’s Day?

Like AIU to think it shouldn’t be another thing to pressure parents into feeling guilty? Like the elf and so on!!

There wasn’t a single thing on my news feed about parents doing things for their kids on Valentine’s Day. I’d be looking at who you’re friends with as all of my friends know this is ridiculous, hence we’re friends!

We are not American. I think it’s because of the way that most of the mums don’t actually do anything, they “work” 4 hours a week as a yoga instructor or something and mostly live of their DHs money. They have nothing to do all day but spend it and shove pictures on Facebook making those of us that aren’t “perfect mummies” feel inferior

We are not American. I think it’s because of the way that most of the mums don’t actually do anything, they “work” 4 hours a week as a yoga instructor or something and mostly live of their DHs money. They have nothing to do all day but spend it and shove pictures on Facebook making those of us that aren’t “perfect mummies” feel inferior

I hope no one on this thread criticising parents for doing things for their children on Valentine's day posts those awful Christmas pictures of their kids with a pile of presents under the tree filling the whole room. Because quite frankly if you do, you don't have a leg to stand on. It's just different iterations of dreadfulness.

I absolutely don’t do that either. It really winds me up too! Because then come the complaints about having nowhere to put it and then not having any money and January being miserable!! 😬

It's all chavtastic!

Yay!!!!!😂

I would question if the friend is really a friend

Is it that you’d like to do it but for a reason such as you can’t afford it, you don’t? Or is it you don’t think it should be a thing?

Personally, I think it’s a bit cringe, I saw so many tiktoks of mums decorating the whole house and giving so many presents as if it was their birthday and I was so baffled.

I will admit I do go a little overboard with some holidays like an easter basket alongside their egg (new outfit, easter book, new craft) and a christmas eve box (new pjs, choc, christmas book, christmas plate, crafts, 1 toy, teddy) but I think for Valentines it’s a bit ridiculous.

The thing is it’s never too early to teach kids about subjects that matter and will help them to be a healthy minded, healthy bodied and responsible adult.

Things like healthy eating, looking after the environment, over buying wasteful products and animal welfare can all be taught in an age appropriate way.

Lots of people would rather go down the wasteful route and live a social media life or create lots of cheap dopamine hits for their kids.

It’s ok do what suits your family and your goals in life. We don’t have to say yes to every trend or everything on sale.

We bought our child a 90p bag of chocolate love heart coins and a card and he was made up. He made a card at nursery.

We also probably won’t be able to
stop the social media sales monster so the only thing we can do is control how we respond to it. Either switch off social media if it’s not doing your mental health any good or work on your mind and let all the bullshit wash over you rather than make you angry, guilty or sad.

I don’t feel guilty. My little 5 year old DS gave me a small bunch of roses at the same time his dad gave me some. He was just so excited to give them to me his little face lit up. I gave him a chocolate lolly shaped like a love heart, only because I saw it and thought it was a nice treat.
I was quite taken aback people had gone all out for their DC, but each to their own.

Valentine's day is about expressing romantic love for another. It is not about parents doing something with or for their children, neither is it for platonic friends.

I don’t but my kids gifts for valentines but my daughter (6) likes that it’s a big thing that’s celebrated and asked for a fancy dinner, she asked for steak pie and that’s what she got, it wasn’t fancy but to her it was and she was so happy with it 😂 she also wanted to celebrate Chinese new year she just likes to celebrate the different occasions as they learn about them in school

Valentine’s Day is for lovers, or wannabe lovers. American insanity has been imported on this too 🙄

Madness! I've always given my two a card but that's it. This year I painted them a card each. They're 24 and 19

My younger one's nursery really went in for Valentine's day, with themed crafts, writing "friendship" notes and a photo booth 😂. Obviously they didn't get the "adults only" meme. She came home with a clay heart and told me that she "wuvs" her key worker.

I really don’t understand this at all. I’ve seen people on SM getting their kids cards and gifts from them. I’m baffled by it as I thought it was a romantic thing but maybe it’s changed now?

I don’t get it. In what way are your adult kids your Valentine’s?

It's ridiculous consumerism. For the first time ever, I sent my best friend of 33 years a Valentine's message on WhatsApp because she had just been diagnosed with cancer the day before. My DH and I didn't even acknowledge it!

I haven’t really seen much on SM about huge displays of gifts/cards/breakfasts for people’s children. I did used to know one girl who would go slightly overboard for her 4 kids, but I stopped following her on SM a long time ago (no reason for that other than I had a cull lol) don’t know if she still does it!! However she didn’t work so had a lot of time on her hands!

My baby is 7 months. I bought her a card because I am an overexcited first time mum. Husband bought her a rose just because. When she’s older I’ll probs buy her a card, maybe a little chocolate lolly ( oooo naughty sugar). Might even buy some heart shaped pancakes cos I’ll have to feed her breakfast anyway and chuck some strawberries on them. I’m hoping she’ll like fruit, however when I was little all I would eat was sausage and chips, so probably not - ha!

Each to their own I say. Some people love that kind of stuff, others don’t. Do what you want. Not sure if I’ll ever do the elf. Looks like it could be fun until you run out of ideas. Christmas Eve boxes sound a bit wasteful as it’s literally Christmas Day the next day so all the crap inside them is good for like one day?!

I've never come across parents doing anything for their kids to mark Valentine's Day. I wonder if my kids have, though. It could go some way to explain why they seemed so excessively put out at not being included in the romantic dinner for two we had planned after they went to bed!

Not done this

Don't know anyone who has done this

Not seen anything on social media

You don't 'get' that the theme of love has been extended to apply to other people than your crush or romantic partner?

You might not like it or agree with it, but all this faux confusion is rather ridiculous.

People can do what they want! And nice gestures to kids are good. But SM posts about it are for desperate attention seeking losers IMO.