Rose did not celebrate carnival in her preschool, because there is no such custom here. However she had her first real Valentine’s Day experience. A few days before February 14th, we were instructed to bring 10 cards, signed with the name of our child. At our local Walgreens, I found a special school package for $3. Rose was delighted, saying the names of her friends and showing small red envelopes. The children exchanged them with each other and enjoyed pizza. When Dean was young, kids put cards in envelopes hung on the back of the chairs in the classroom. The hidden purpose of the event was also to teach about the and kindness towards each other. Since Hillary Clinton’s loss in the presidential election, it seems to me that parents and teachers pay more attention to how important it is to be a kind person.
In the afternoon, we went with Maya and Rose to our weekly music class. Â There was a new rhyme dating from XVIIth Century England about a John who wanted to kiss.
The commercial aspect of Valentine’s Day is of course also present here (live weddings on morning TV, countless shopping suggestions for the loved ones), but it also shows that it is a nice day to tell your close ones, not only partners, that they are important to us. There are Valentine’s cards for a husband (also from a husband), a wife, but also for a mother, daughter, etc. On the windows of my neighbors I see suspended paper hearts. When I was picking up my coffee, I heard a nice Happy Valentine’s Day, same when I was rescheduling my doctor’s appointments.
At the Whole Foods the shoppers were lured by beautiful flowers: tulips and dozen of red roses. The last ones are resposibly grown and imported from Equador. The local producers get help with needs of communities.
Dean and I couldn’t go out for a romantic dinner, so we decided to take a chance on going out with the kids.. After the music, the four of us went to the Korean restaurant. There were many kids, and somehow we managed to eat and make it before the date night couples arrived. Back home, when the kids were sleeping, we watched a very romantic comedy: Bad Moms Christmas🙂
The optimistic mood of Valentine’s Day was  dissrupted by the horrifying shooting at a Florida high school.
The next day the children in the kindergarten are to be dressed in red, this time to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
I hope you had a nice and kind Valentine’s Day 💖
