Valentine’s Day in the Family
Cupid’s arrow is not just for sweethearts and couples. Valentine’s Day is also a celebration of love among family members.
Parents having hectic schedules often find it almost impossible to deepen their connection with their children, writes Dr. Laura Markham at www.ahaparenting.com. In the home setting, despite one’s intention, expressing gratitude and love to family members often get set aside. Everyone tend to think there’s no need to go out of their way, since they are family anyway. Valentine’s Day is an occasion for that.
There’s no question that everyone longs to be cherished. And since Valentine’s Day is generally devoted to be a day of love, it presents opportunities for showing love in the family – not just with the parents but with all family members. Dr. Markham mentions possible things to spark affection in the family:
Having warm
conversations. It may be difficult to convey affection other than a smile and a hug. But even such gestures are quite indirect and, thus, sometimes get misinterpreted or ignored altogether. A warm conversation to go with the loving gestures can more certainly send out the affection. Teary eyes from a sweet word heard can never be misunderstood if corresponding words are uttered, “I am deeply touched by what you did. Thank you.”
Rethinking gifts. Expensive tangible gifts are not really what make up a meaningful Valentine’s Day. There are other, more meaningful gift ideas – handmade cards, kind
words and extra moments for bonding with one another. It does not have to be physical gifts only, although physical gifts are also okay if these effectively and sincerely convey gratitude, intimacy, fondness and trust.
Making time to
spread love . No matter how hectic, no matter how full the schedule is, people who wish to find time find ways to make time. It is good practice for family members to make time for reaching out and brighten other people’s day – the bus driver, the janitor, coworkers, neighbors, a homeless person.
At home, parents can spend time to be with their children, for some heartto-heart conversation, for conveying appreciation for and hearing out one another. Small children may give their parents Valentines cards that they themselves made.
However people want to spend their Valentine’s Day, may it bring more love and genuine happiness for all.