Showing love for my family

On the so-called day to profess one’s love to one another, also known as Valentine’s Day, I just hung out with my family.

We might have had a special dinner, but I feel I do not need a designated day to profess my love to them.

I feel I do so every day, by my words and actions.

I make sure my kids clothes are laid out, beds are made and pajamas laid out for bedtime. I make them breakfasts and dinners. I make sure they have everything in their backpacks; and that they have their coats, hats, mittens and boots on. I also double check to make sure their boots are on the correct feet. All of these things I do out of love.

I also make sure both of my children brush their teeth and take their medicine in the morning. I make sure to give my oldest son his daily shots in the evening. Not because I love doing these things, so much as I love the people I am doing them for.

As for my husband, I make sure our bed is made, clothes are washed, dinner is cooked and that the house is somewhat clean.

I will be the first to admit, that since the kids have come along, I have done less and less for my husband. That doesn’t mean I love him any less, it just means my focus is between three people instead of one.

This doesn’t mean that my family doesn’t participate in the normal Valentine’s Day festivities.

I bought my husband a huge box of chocolates and a funny, but nice card; and the boys received a smaller box of chocolates and a stuffed animal. I received flowers, a card and some chocolates.

To me, the best part of Valentine’s Day preparations this year was watching my six-year-old son, Matthew, fill out his own cards for the first time. It was a delight to watch him correctly pronounce all of his classmates names and address the cards “to” and then their name.

He never ceases to amaze me. I cannot believe my little kindergardener is already writing and starting to read.

I was so excited by his progress, that being the photographer I am, I took photos of him writing out the cards for a future scrapbook.

Another great memory I made was when my sons and I made Valentine’s Day cards for others. It’s small moments like those that really stick with me.

That’s why I don’t need a day designed to tell me how to profess my love, I show my family every day; and to me that means more than any stuffed animal or box of chocolates, no matter how tasty that box of chocolates may be.