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In Which I Protest Valentine's Day

Okay folks, I'm officially frustrated with Valentine's Day. Now I'm not so cynical as to say we shouldn't have Valentine's Day, and I'm not even bothered by the greeting card industry and commercialism. I like cards and chocolates and flowers as much as the next girl and I'll take any opportunity, real or manufactured, to celebrate my sweet children with pink pancakes and sappy cards.

My problem is with the school. The ritual of valentines in the classroom. Grayson is not even two yet. He has no understanding of cards and sentiment! Yet we were instructed to send in eight cards, addressed to "My Friend", "From Grayson".  He doesn't even sign his name yet!  Candy he understands. Cookies make sense to him as a gift and as something to enjoy and be shared. So in protest of this insanity, Brooklyn (and Madi) and I are going in to his classroom tomorrow to help the kids decorate sugar cookies. That's how I stick it to the man! ;0)

Brooklyn is old enough to understand and express her own feelings, so Valentine's Day and school activities will actually mean something to her. But even she has been directed to bring in 35 cards, signed by her, but not addressed to anyone so that passing them out will be easier. Doesn't that sort of negate the whole point? Shouldn't it take a little bit of time and personalized effort? I don't have a problem with making sure you have one for everyone - in fact I think that's a great opportunity to talk about inclusion and loving your neighbors, but to not address them at all really does not sit well with me. I have no protest for Brooklyn's class. But I think when we pray tonight we will pull out her class picture and pray for all her friends. That'll show them :0)

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