When she comes downstairs she will find another giant pink dog - this one a long "wiener dog" that says, "I love you this much" down the side. It will be sitting in her seat at the kitchen table. In the bay window that's currently adorned with Valentine clings.
She'll find a total "sugar cereal" as I call them sitting on the kitchen table beside her bowl. Beside it will be a heart-shaped card and a pack of gum. And she'll find a Valentine cupcake packed in her lunch bag today.
None of these things are things I would normally do. I don't let my kids have "sugar cereals" before school. And I rarely pack desserts in their lunches - I'm kind of a stickler about good nutrition, especially during the school day. (I do let them have dessert after dinner though!)
When she told me she wanted a big stuffed animal for Valentines, my knee-jerk thought was, "Really? That's the last thing I need to buy you." She already has a lot of stuffed animals.
But then I saw it from another angle. I can refuse to buy her the giant stuffed animal she wants, deeming that frivolous or unnecessary. But I have distinct memories myself of wanting to win the giant stuffed animals at the amusement parks. What is it about people-sized plush bears? And what is it about adults that forgets what it is about giant plush bears?
And from yet another angle, I don't want her to feel she needs a boyfriend in order to receive Valentine's gifts. And sure I could let Valentine's go by without packing her a pink sugar-sprinkled, white sugar-iced chocolate cupcake in her lunch. Tell her she can have it at dinner. But then she'd watch all the other kids eating their red dye #12 treats today and she would feel deprived. Maybe one of her friends would share their heart-shaped cookies with her but that's not what I want either.
I want to be the one who surprises her and satisfies her wishes. I want her to feel no need to look outside our home to feel fully loved. And so, I drove home yesterday accompanied by two giant pink dogs. And I couldn't have been more thrilled.
Sometimes you have to buy twice as many of the thing you didn't want to buy in the first place because that's what you really want.
What Valentine suprises are up your sleeve today?
Hey beauty, Love this post today, of course, I always love your posts!
ReplyDeleteGirlie, you are ALWAYS welcome at my house! Come on over, we'll move those book cases and find an appropriate rug for my poor neglected room.
Actually, I think all that room truly needs is us in there sipping something cold, yakking about life and God. :)
DeleteMy girls are too far away, all growed up, my grandson is in college (I sent him an email) and my granddaughter I won't see either (sent her an email.) I use to love buying things for them. My husbnd (until this year) has always bought us all valentine candy. You are a good Mom.
ReplyDeleteAww thanks, Alice. Happy Valentines Day to you!
DeleteI, too, was thinking more candy certainly was not what my boys needed for Valentine's Day but it is what they wanted. What you said in your post is so true. I want to be the one who surprises them and satisfies their wishes. So, yes, this mama gave in and bought each of her boys a big bag of their favorite M&M's, a pack of their favorite gum, and a couple of other Valentine surprises : ) Happy Valentine's Day to you! I'm sure your daughter was thrilled with the pink doggies!
ReplyDeleteHey Pam. Happy Valentine's! Well done, mom.
DeleteNow go buy yourself a little sweet treat on behalf of me. Your favorite coffee drink. Or a gourmet cupcake. Something. :)
I am taking treats to my daughter's teacher in a heart shaped basket. It's nothing expensive, but she will be surprised. My son is getting a little bottle of real cologne. He will be thrilled. My daughter is getting two little tiny dogs (one of which is pink) that she can clip to the zipper of her backpack. I will be mom of the year in her eyes!!!! And I spent some time in Isaiah this morning and wrote a blog post about God's LOVE... a little gift to myself. Hope your daughter loved her oversized pink dogs!!!!! Happy Heart Day!
ReplyDeleteOooh, the young man is getting REAL cologne! :)
DeleteSounds like y'all are having a great day over there. Blessings!
Rachel ~ You got me crying here!! LOVE THIS! So true: "I want her to feel no need to look outside our home to feel fully loved."
ReplyDeleteYour daughter must have been over the moon today!!! We want to see a pic!
Our kids came down to surprises at their breakfast seat too. And special Valentine's place settings. I was able to celebrate with them in their classrooms today as well. So thankful to Jesus!!!
The hubby and I have our eyes set on a date at The Bone Fish Grill. Yum! :)
And our kids only have "sugar cereal" on Saturday or a special day too.
Hugs and prayers,
Sharon
Hey Sharon. Thanks for your sweet comment. Well of course you decorated your kitchen table this morning with special place settings - I did too! :) I'd show you a pic but my camera battery is now dead and I can't find the charger anywhere. (sigh)
DeleteI loveee Bone Fish Grill - great dinner option. Hope you two enjoy!!
We sent Valentine's Day bags to our daughter and her three college roomies. We want them each to know that they are loved.
ReplyDeleteI love that you took care of all three college roomies too!
DeleteI never received a "care package" when I was in college. When I sent my younger sister-in-law one while she was at college, she said she felt so loved. :)
Blessings to you.