A String of Love

Early on in our parenting career, my husband and I decided to make Valentine's Day more about the family and less about us, as a couple.

That doesn't mean that we neglected our relationship. We just chose to celebrate our Valentine's Day the following week, once the crowds and the chaos died down a bit.

We adopted a few traditions along the way to help make Valentine's Day a festive time for the whole family. I referenced one of these traditions in last weeks blog post titled, "Jars of Love". In addition to this beloved tradition, we also hosted our annual Red Dinner, which helped our children learn first-hand how to dress and behave during a fancy meal.

However, one of our most treasured traditions came in the form of our Valentine's Day garlands. Each year, in the early hours of February 14th, I would hang a garland of hearts from our children's bedroom doors. These garlands were made of simple, hand-cut construction paper hearts and twine. However, it wasn't the hearts or the twine that made these garlands so special. It was the words written on them.

Before the hearts were taped to the strands of twine and hung from their respective door frames, my husband and I wrote love notes to each of our children. The love notes on these hearts specifically focused on what we loved about our children from one year to the next. After all, each year holds different opportunities, as well as challenges. From tackling trigonometry to auditioning for a play, each note reflected our love (and pride) for how our children learned to overcome the obstacles they faced throughout that year. These garlands of love were prized-possessions for each of our children. Tucked away in desk drawers and storage bins, these hearts became a cultivated collection of love and praise through the years. The words that were written were treasured as much as the loving hands that wrote them.

Our children are now adults, living in various locations. They quickly learned that opportunities and challenges are just a part of life, even in adulthood. Yet, I think the concept behind this Valentine's Day tradition still holds true, regardless of age. So, I started making a version of these cherished love notes to send to family and friends. Whether it's securing that coveted internship or navigating a painful breakup, everyone can benefit from words of encouragement, expressing our love (and pride) for how they learned to overcome the obstacles they faced throughout that year. These hand-written words of praise can be a special reminder to all of those we hold dear, regardless of their age. After all, we never fully outgrow the need to feel loved.