Valentine’s Day gifts for kids :: Do you buy into it?

I mentioned on Friday in my Valentine’s fashion edit that I don’t usually “do” Valentine’s Day. I mean, I love a good excuse to get dressed up and go out for a meal just as much as the next girl, but Valentine’s Day come right between mine and Reuben’s birthday, not that long after Christmas and it often feels a little OTT for me. We tend to go to the cinema, out for a casual meal or just order a take out like we do every Saturday night and watch a movie. One thing I’ve never done is buy the kids presents for the ole V-day. I’ve just never done it.

The other day when I was putting together my fashion edit (which mainly came about because Roo is going to a Valentine’s Day disco for school and I have been known to dive at the opportunity to dress Edie in something cute and pink like a tantrumming toddler in Toys R Us) I came across a Valentine’s gift guide for kids from Cool Mom Picks. Turns out, it’s a pretty big thing to do in America, and becoming more popular over here every year.

I remember when I was really little (maybe 3/4 years old) my dad would buy me Valentine’s Day gifts, like chocolates, and send me a red rose with a card. It used to make my day, and I still have the cards tucked away in my memory boxes, though the chocolates wouldn’t make it past the 2pm mail delivery (remember we used to get those, twice a day deliveries?!). I loved that little treat, and like most little girls, I was delighted that Daddy was showering me with additional affection. I’m not sure why that hasn’t coloured my view of gifting kids on Valentine’s Day, you would think it would soften me to the idea, but it hasn’t really. I just don’t see the point, despite loving it as a child, I remember loving every gift as a child so moot point.

I asked Adam if he was planning to give Edith a token gift or a cars when she was a bit older and he said no, in fact, he was surprised I asked. Maybe it was the era I grew up in, where Daddy’s and their daughters had this bond and it was my dads attempt and showing me how a gentleman would treat a lady. Nowadays we wouldn’t so much Frown on that view as we would maybe try to encourage girls to realise they don’t need a “gentleman” to buy them pretty things and make them feel all happy and googey inside, chocolate cake can do that fine and if you work hard you can buy your own shit. Voila.

What are your thoughts? Do you buying your kids little Valentine’s gifts? If you do, is there a reason for that? I’m not judging either way, whatever someone chooses to do with their cash is their choice in my mind, but I do find it interesting to see how we all differ 🙂

H x