When I was younger I got hurt quite a bit from valentine's day. I would decorate my box...as the teacher required it. Bring it to school. I would address my valentines to ALL of my friends in the class because that was the polite thing to do...carefully making sure that none of the boys ended up getting anything too terribly mushy. This was back in the day when it wasn't a requirement that everyone receive something. I always had less than everyone else...ocassionally I would get something ugly with a penciled in NOT stuck between the words "you are \/ cute" - yep, right where that insertion mark is. You can imagine my mortification. As a teen I never had a valentine or boyfriend of any kind. Once I had a stalker...but that just makes the holiday worse. In fact, when my husband and I were dating I was diametrically opposed to the holiday. To me it meant a time when people were FORCED to demonstrate their love in ways that should happen all year long. A few years after we were married, David was a field engineer. He had been travelling for some time and came home for just 3 days in the span of 3 months. February 13, 14 and 15th. And if you blush easily...don't read any further!!!! Later I would be able to pinpoint PRECISELY the date that Madelyn was created. Since that time, Valentine's day has meant something entirely different for me. It really is a celebration of love and the amazing things that love can create.
I'm sure glad that every child is required to send a valentine to every child in their class...but I'm thinking 3rd grade next year will be hard for one of our daughters. At least, I remember 3rd grade being hard for me. Sometimes it is easy to forget those terribly embarrassing moments of opening the box to see who sent you a valentine and most importantly - who didn't. My ever sensitive husband pointed out to me on the 13th that "tomorrow might be a little difficult." It brought back all of those memories. For me now it is a beautiful holiday full of wonderful meaning...but at one time it wasn't. In many ways I feel like I'm 8 again...hopefully Valentine's day wasn't as traumatic as it could have been. I'm not sure how to broach the topic or make sure she is ok....everyday is an experiment in parenting.
3 comments:
Taking it over from Muscat Confidential, being a journalist here is so difficult. So while Muscat daily is atricious at times, I know what they go through to get their stories and what they have to stand by while their stories are edited to suit publication. i love the way your blog looks.
Thanks Restless Quill for the complement! Yes, I totally hear you...but I also think that SOMETIMES they just have poor journalists. Since I'm not in Oman anymore it is hard to say what Muscat Daily is like anymore...but I doubt it has changed too much. Thanks for commenting...I jetted over to your blog and I'm glad I did!
AND I just read everything that you had to say here. Wow. What an honest woman you are. I wish you were still here and writing about your times here. I am so enjoying rediscovering this city through everyone else's words.
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