Why D'ya Have to Go and Make Things So Complicated?
Valentine's Day used to be for lovers, right? When I was a kid in elementary school, we gave out little paper cards, and somebody's mama would bring in cookies and juice. This all took about half an hour out of our school day, and then we went right back to our math worksheets. We knew that grown ups might have a night out on the town with champagne, roses and chocolates because Valentine's Day was primarily about romantic love, something that we, as 4th graders, had no interest in. Somehow this has all changed. I do not have issues with the fact that the holiday has metamorphosed into a day that embraces children as well as lovers, but I do think that we have taken Valentine's Day for children way over the top. Yesterday at school my kids had parties that included elaborate games (Cupid's archery, anyone?), craft projects, a sugar-laden refreshment buffet, and scads of trashy, plastic party favors. The kids all gave each other not only paper car...
