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Ahh Valentine’s Day, the commercialized day of love. How wonderful, and yet, very stressful for a parent. When you have kids, Valentine’s Day takes on a whole new meaning. You now have to show all the kids at school that they are loved, teachers they are loved, the bus driver they are loved, your own kids they are loved, and don’t forget your spouse. You get it. Everyone needs to be loved.
If you are like me in previous years, I waited until last second or I forgot until the day before. But now, I prepare early, and it takes off a ton of stress. Here are a few things you can do early to feel less stressed the week of Valentine’s Day. After all, they put all the “stuff” out before Christmas these days.
- Get the kids’ school Valentine’s early. You don’t have to fill them all out. I mean that is a plus if you happen to have the class list but, at least have them. These days they are putting less in the stores, and they tend to get picked over quickly. If you know that your kid likes something particular, go ahead and grab them. Candy has a long shelf life.
- Get the teachers a little something. We all know teachers are amazing and special. They deserve a little something to say, “we love you”. Gift cards are awesome, but anything is better than nothing.
- Get the supplies for the “box” the school always asks you to make. Most schools ask for supplies or ask you to make your child a Valentine collection box/bag. Go ahead and get your supplies. Pom poms, heart stickers, glue, scissors, etc. I keep this little craft kit on hand for times like this.
- Get your kids’ Valentine’s gifts. If you are like us, you get your own kids something special to wake up to. It doesn’t have to be big. I always remember getting little things from my parents and loved it. It will brighten their day and make them feel special. Go ahead and buy them early. Then you can put them up and have them ready for the big day. You can even start a new tradition, if you don’t normally do this.
- Hire your sitter. If you like to go out with your partner or plan to spend the holiday away from your kids, hire your sitter. If you wait until the week of, it is highly unlikely you will find anyone available.
- Make your dinner reservation. If you know you want to go out, make your reservation now. This is the busiest day of the year for restaurants. If you wait, you may have to settle on something other than your favorite.
Lastly, don’t forget your partner. If you guys’ exchange gifts or cards or anything you can get it early. Maybe it’s a trip or dinner and a movie. Let them know they are loved!
Hopefully this is helpful to get you thinking about the big day of love. Don’t stress yourself by waiting until last second. Hopefully, your family will spoil you a little too.
Read my post on taking care of your mom self to give your family some pointers.
Sending Lots of Love-
Kristy M., Mommy to Many