A poetic Valentine scramble

I can’t say this Valentine’s Day went as planned.

Oh, how would I have loved to have been one of those creative moms posting my adorable Valentines on social media.

That wasn’t me.

Not this year. It’s not that I didn’t have grand plans.

It’s not that I don’t love my daughters. It’s not that this isn’t the family I dreamed and wished for all those years.

It’s just life has been hard and messy the last couple weeks.

No hot water at the house for 12 days. A septic tank spill over into the yard rounded out a few highlights.

I’m not saying that’s any excuse not to show up perfect, but I looked up and boom. There was February 14 staring me in the face.

Husband received a scribbled homemade card.

But what was I to do for my grown-up girls now living hundreds and thousands of miles away?

My sweet friend suggested, “How about you write them a poem?”

I would’ve never thought of that in a thousand years.

So here it is. I share not to make hooray for me, rather sharing compassion with you.

You, who also skidded through Valentine’s Day the best you could.

A Valentine’s ‘Just Send Cash’ Poem

There once was a Madre from Georgia

She loved her children, she told ya

She couldn’t imagine a better day Where we celebrate and say You’re my Valentine

I truly adore ya!

She planned there was so much she would do

Her plans grew and grew To show her children “I love you!”

She could send balloons

She could sing them love song tunes

If only she watched deadlines loom

Then, what can she say?

Life got in the way

She and Father had no hot waters

It distracted her from her daughters

There was also the septic tank overflow

So gross you don’t want to know To send cards and gifts she didn’t go

It’s not the way her love should show

Please don’t be Valentines sad Or at your beloved Madre mad Think not this a day of Valentines trash

I’m sending my love and a bit of cash

Please use it as you leave home Do something nice.

I hope you enjoy your Valentine’s poem.

For never have there been daughters so fine

There’s no doubt you were meant to be mine

Into my heart you’re forever sewn

I love you even more now that you’re grown

Go spread your goodness in the world

Knowing that you are my favorite Valentine’s girls!

Mark this down as the year I paid off my Valentine’s guilt with cash.

The response was swift. One daughter declared it the best poem she’d ever read.

The other simply texted, “Wow. That was a lot to wake up to.”

No one returned the cash, so I must not have been that much of a failure. It could be that a new Valentine’s tradition has been born.