Valentine's Day

Well, it is Valentine's Day.  Again.

I am not much of a Valentine's Day person.  If you want to talk about holidays that have gotten totally sucked into commercialization, Valentine's Day is at the top of the list for me.  But, today, I saw something that made me smile.

While running into the grocery store to get last minute treats for the party at my son's preschool this morning (considering I also forgot to work on the Valentine's cards for my two oldest kids' parties until 12:45 last night, this isn't abnormal), I parked next to a state trooper.  My first thought was that someone must have shoplifted.  I have no idea why my mind went there, but it did.

I look over and see a young man, the trooper, holding a pen and staring pensively at a card with a red envelope.  By the time I got the kids out of the car, which involves dealing with two carseats, grabbing my purse, and putting shoes and socks back on my youngest (the kid thinks getting in the car means barefoot time - even in the middle of a brutal winter), this guy was still staring at the card.  I don't think he had written a word yet.  For some reason this totally made me smile.

I've gotten pretty cynical about Valentine's Day.  It has seemed like a holiday a lot of people feel obligated to participate in.  Too many people judge gifts they are given or receive without caring about the meaning behind them.   (If you would like some interesting reading Google the true meaning behind the holiday.  And the Google logo is really cute today.) But here was a guy who was spending extra time to write the perfect message for the person he loved.  I'm probably reading too much into this.  I mean, maybe he was asleep with his eyes open.  Maybe he was a bad speller.  But, I like to think he was trying to find the perfect words to express himself to someone loved.  Who cares what the gift is as long as there is heart in the message.  Or maybe that is just my way of thinking. 

    

Insomniac child

Dear lovely, brilliant, golden child who won't sleep,

Mama loves you so much.  Please go to sleep.  We've tried foot rubs, and back rubs and singing songs.  Rocking and cuddling but you still are awake.  Now, we are snuggled up in bed, the fan is on for white noise, the lights are out, and you still don't seem to want to wind down.  I love you so much.  I love that every few minutes you need to ask me a question, or make an observation, or rub your blankie on my cheek so that you can share it with me.  But, mama is tired.  So please go to sleep.  We both will be much happier for it in the morning.  

Love, 

Your mama