5. Share a favorite Valentine’s Day tradition.
Valentine’s Day means a whole lot when you think you’re missing out on something. You think everyone is getting roses and chocolates and giggling over heart-shaped pizza and that you are the only one listening to Whitney Houston love songs on repeat…all by yourself.
Growing up it was as if I measured my worth on Valentine’s Day based on what it was I was able to collect at school. My God how I longed for a heart shaped box filled with chocolates. I didn’t have boyfriends. The first man I received that coveted box of chocolates from was my step-dad Bob. No matter who was in or out of my life, or how moody and stubborn I was, the one constant I could count on was a box of chocolates from him.
I fell in love with Valentine’s Day again when I had kids. I loved any excuse to celebrate them and make them feel special. I loved how excited they would get and I know they are reaching that age where they will start hoping for heart-shaped boxes from secret admirers.
One day I might find them listening to Whitney Houston love songs on repeat all by themselves (she’s timeless)…I can see myself peeking in on them, whispering “but *I* love you!!!” before quickly ducking away from a flying shoe.
No matter how moody and stubborn they are, I’ll always slip them something special for Valentine’s Day, just like Bob did for me.
Maybe they’ll grow up appreciating the fact that no matter what boyfriends or girlfriends were in or out of their lives at any given time, the one constant they could count on was a box of chocolates from their mother.
I guess I inherited something from him after all.