tiny heart lessons.

valentine's day has turned into a big money making scam.  that's a given.  it's pretty shameful how americans waste so much money on frivolous nonsense for people who don't need a darn thing.  the best gifts are free, or close to it anyway.  and they shouldn't be limited to one day a year.  don't get me wrong...i'm not some anti-valentine monster going around breaking cupid's arrows.  i just think people take this hallmark holiday to impersonal places it shouldn't go.... like, hallmark.

i've definitely been guilty of participating in the charades of cute stuffed animals, candy and meaningless cards.  and i do still buy my little boys really cute valentine's shirts (disclaimer: they are always shirts that can be worn all year, not just around valentine's).  but, this is really the first year that ben knows that valentine's day exist....or at least that he might remember.  i wanted to start his view of this overindulgent day on the right foot.  a heartfelt foot.

last week we got our weekly newsletter from his preschool and it had a list of all the kids in his class and a note saying to bring valentines to school wednesday, february 10th (today).  i am a teacher, and i know that valentine's day is a great excuse to have a party and have a nontraditional school day.  that's all fine and well with me, but i am not okay when it starts to promote buying wasteful junk.  so, i saw this as an opportunity to teach ben a small life lesson.  might as well start young!

now, i'll be honest....it would have been so much easier for me to take ben to target and let him pick out his favorite superhero valentines and then write his friend's names on them and be done.  but, that would totally be fostering several things i'm against: 1) purchasing stupid junk, 2) giving meaningless words, 3) having your mom do all your work for you.  SO, those of you who know me well know exactly where we went for our task at hand...hobby lobby.  we got some plain red cards and some felt hearts.  it took us several days to complete the cards because ben did the majority of the work and after a couple cards, he would say his hand needed a break.  since this was his gig, i let my impatient nature subside and i complied with his break schedule.

here's how the process went:  i would write a classmate's name on the front of the envelope and ben traced every single one with a silver sharpie.  he put a felt heart on the front of every card and envelope while choosing specific colors for each person. on the inside of each card, ben drew a heart and signed his name.  but, the BEST part of each card was just above where he signed his little-left-handed-three-lettered name.  he and i sat down and talked about why he liked each of his friends and why he was thankful for them.  then he told me exactly what to write in their card.  so, for the sake legibility, i quoted him word for word in the cards.  it was precious.  some things we wrote were, "i like it when we play trains," "you are my funny friend," "i love it when we dig dirt outside together," "you make me laugh," "thank you for helping me write my name."  now i realize that none of those statements are groundbreaking or breathtaking... but being able to articulate what you appreciate about a person is a huge thing.  it's a trait i want my boys to learn and practice not only on valentine's day, but every day.

so, i sent ben off to school today, with his homemade valentine's in tow, to have his valentine's party.  he was very proud of the work he had put into his cards.  he wore his funny shirt that only the teachers will be able to read, since the rest of the audience is 4 and under.  his gimmy bought it for him a couple weeks ago.  i took a picture of him because it really is a funny valentine shirt, but still something he can wear after the pink and red day is over.  and, of course, we had to get a pic of ben with dooley.  i mean, it can't be a photo shoot without the dog begging to be free from ben's loving grip.  :)

take a step back, ladies.  this stud is all mine!  well, at least until he's 30...

ben got super grover new balances for his birthday (november) and he is just now fitting into them.  they are my favorite kicks that he's ever had.  i just think they are so stinking cute, AND i got a great deal on them!  i just had to post a picture to share.  my next trick is teaching him how to tie them himself! imagine that--self sufficient AND thoughtful!  well, what can i say?  we know how to breed 'em.  :)