Valentine’s Day as a kid

What do you remember about Valentine’s Day from when you were a kid?

1. PolarBearEverywhere said the following on February 14, 2012 at 7:55 am

   

   It was not so good. It was awkward, super-charged, and destructive. Have not recognized the day since.
2. Gene said the following on February 14, 2012 at 8:18 am

   

   I remember the exchanging of the cartoon Valentine’s Day cards in school, the ones that had candy inside. I especially remember the Teenage Ninja Turtle ones.
3. Gene said the following on February 14, 2012 at 8:18 am

   

   whoops, missed Mutant
4. blhardy said the following on February 14, 2012 at 8:28 am

   

   I was just telling one of my students this morning (as she showed me the rose her dad had given her) that I always felt a little sorry for myself when I was growing up because my Dad never gave me flowers on V-Day and a lot of my friends got them. I knew my Dad loved me, but flowers just aren’t his thing! One year, I told my mom that I always hoped for flowers, and she told my dad. He gave me a rose that year, but then it didn’t mean much because I felt like I had asked for it. From then on, I learned to look for ways that he DOES show me love, without my asking for it, and there are many!

   Valentine’s Day was always pretty disappointing when I was growing up, and I never enjoyed it as much as I do now. Has so much to do with my attitude I know!
5. AndreaElena said the following on February 14, 2012 at 10:05 am

   

   Carefully choosing which valentine to give which kid in my class. And trying to hint every so slightly to whichever boy I was crushin’ on… that I liked him. Obviously, mega FAIL. ;oP But hey, we all survived elementary school, right?

   I’m actually working on valentines for my coworkers right now… PowerPuff Girls, Cars, Elmo, The Smurfs, Keroppi, and My Little Pony are the characters/themes. Gotta love the trip in the way-back-when machine. And stickers. Good excuse to have fun with stickers. (Gee, am I 8 years old again??! *big happy GRIN*)
6. Lidia said the following on February 14, 2012 at 11:29 am

   

   Yes and no. I remember from when I was a teen. We would put bags on the fireplace and everyone would put gifts/cards in them. It was a fun tradition while it lasted, but now my siblings/brothers think they are to old for it so we do not do that any more.

   My sister and I did make cards for all the family, and also all of our friends. And we had some of said friends over for a party. It was a great time for fellowship and playing games.
7. wordgirl said the following on February 14, 2012 at 12:09 pm

   

   Hmm. Mostly, it was fun. There was usually a party at school, of course. Who doesn’t like parties at school?! It’s always been a really big deal to my mom, so I’d help her go shopping for Valentine’s stuff, decorate the house, etc. She still buys me candy every year =) She had this thing about making sure I was wearing either pink or red, and would get seriously upset if I didn’t. My mom was always the one who likes to be in the classroom a lot, too… possibly to the point of smothering my teachers… so she’d always bring lots of treats in for the class party. My classmates loved her, and I’d always get a surge of sleepover invites and whatnot after Valentine’s Day. In the evening, if my dad was in town, then I had a babysitter so that my parents could go out on a date. Actually, they usually had two or three dates nights that week, because they’d also go on these double dates and group dates. That was fun, because my usual babysitter was awesome! My babysitter got lots of money that week =) And candy; my mom got her candy, too. Now that I live alone, it’s not really on my radar that much.
8. Nangobi said the following on February 14, 2012 at 12:36 pm

   

   In elementary school, we would decorate shoe boxes for valentine’s day the week before. The day of, we would bring valentines and put them in each other’s mail boxes. I loved that. I loved decorating a mail box. @Gene- I totally remember
   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle valentine cards.

   In Junior High and High School a lot of it was giving friends valentines. I didn’t have a boyfriend in high school so for me, and my friends, it still revolved around giving valentines within our circle.

   My mom was always big into valentines day as well. We would have a special dinner and everything was pink and red. Usually, my parents would celebrate the weekend before or after so the actual day was celebrated as a family.

   @Blhardy, my dad always buys me flowers. However, within my group of friends, I was the only one. Funny how that changes depending upon what your social setting is. In college, he would send them to my dorm room. At the time, I was super embarrassed. Looking back, I really appreciate that he sent me flowers. There is something about receiving unsolicited flowers that is incredibly nice- no matter who they are from!
9. eameyer said the following on February 14, 2012 at 12:50 pm

   

   Ok, a bit of a “risky” revelation here. Back in the day, we made our cards. I became so good at making GIANT sized cards from poster boards that later I used them to give to guys I liked. Instead of giving a card on V day I’d pick a non descript day or a birthday. I would make a super sized giant card with all kinds of doo gee ma thingies that would “boing” out, unfold, hide a clue about the guys life, hobbies and interests. Never failed to get a guys attention. Since I excluded “love” and “like” messages in it, if he thanked me it kept the status quo of just friends, it was just a friendly card. If not, they certainly noticed me more or asked me out. It worked well both ways to keep a friend or move one forward. Be cautious though…don’t give it to a guy that you would not wish to be pursued by, back peddling after a super spectacular card isn’t easy. :0 Envelopes? never mastered those.
10. Bethiegirl said the following on February 14, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    

    When I was a kid, my Dad always bought candy for my sisters and I, and usually something a little extra special for my mom. He passed away when I was 12, though. For several years after that, his co-worker and close friend would always bring us something as a family gift; he did it in memory of my dad. Now, my sisters and I get something for my mom, and she gets something for each of us. It’s never much, but it’s a nice tradition.
11. KR7 said the following on February 15, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    

    huh… what day? lol, I was way too clueless to have these things even cross my mind as a kid. I spent my childhood playing outside catching lizards, and those little critters don’t behave no differently holiday or not, I tell ya.
12. USALady63 said the following on February 19, 2012 at 5:15 pm

    

    Valentine parties at school and lots of card and candy! Pretty Valentine cards from grandparents too!
13. USALady63 said the following on February 19, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    

    Valentine cards are not what they used to be. You know the little ones you give in school. They were really nice in my day!
14. jesus_girl2016 said the following on February 19, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    

    My dad always got us candy and treats on Valentines day. It was/is a day to shower gifts and attention on the family and show how much we love each other.

    It’s still hard to be single on V-day, but it’s not such a big deal, either .