Love and a New Year
“There are three holidays happening this weekend! Who can tell me which holidays?” I ask the kindergartners and first graders in my after-school program. They offer some imaginative responses (Martin Luther King Day?), but eventually, we elicit the correct answers: Valentine’s Day, Lunar New Year, and President’s Day.
So in honor of the coincidence of Valentine’s and the New Year, we make red envelopes, but enclose Valentine’s cards instead of money. I tell my kids, think about somebody you love, and make your card for them. Ewww, LOVE!
No, it doesn’t have to be mushy gushy love! You can give your card to your parents, your teachers, your brother or sister, or your friends. Because no matter what kind of love it is, we can all tell someone we love them. So they calm down and settle into choosing recipients, and the red-envelope-Valentine’s-cards they make are wonderful.
I unfortunately didn’t take any pictures of the red envelopes, so this is a freeform card by one of my first graders.
People love to hate Valentine’s Day, but it’s just like I told my kids– we all have love to appreciate and love to give. My family is in Ohio, and my boyfriend is in New York, and they’re the prescribed people to spend these holidays with. But I’ve chosen to celebrate by doing what I love and spending time with amazing friends. Plus, Ernie sent me a coupon to Pinkberry, and even though I am not big on holiday commercialism, I have to admit, tart frozen yogurt covered with delicious toppings still screams LOVE to me. So my friend Dan and I set out to get our buy one get one free froyo. Plus, Pinkberry has switched to unlimited toppings. Deeelicious.
Happy Holidays! Go tell someone you love them, even if it’s not in words. Red envelopes, handmade Valentines, Pinkberry all accepted.
Get your own buy one get one free Pinkberry through February 19, 2010.
