From Roses to Ralphing

Call me a cynic, but Valentine's Day looks a WHOLE lot different to me than it did 5 years ago. I think there is a very brief moment in time where a girl can really relish in this day and enjoy the entire Hallmark experience. Say, the first or second time you celebrate with your sweetheart. Or, perhaps, the first Valentine's Day you are officially a married gal. That's about it. Before that, you are angry at everyone that has a boyfriend, secretly thinking about how unfair it is that there is a bouquet of flowers with their name on it instead of your own. After that, you tell your husband to not waste your combined income on flowers that will die within a week. A pair of shoes that you pick out for yourself two weeks ahead of time is much more practical.

And, once kids come-- you can pretty much throw the romance out the window right along with those dead flowers. Instead, you will be spending three hours assembling treat bags for the pre-school party and figuring out how to make heart pancakes at the wee hour of 6 a.m. on a Tuesday-- just so your child, who happens to have a working mom, can also experience the holiday in the fullest capacity, just like all those kids whose moms don't have anywhere to be. Except for in the kitchen all morning. In their pajamas. Fashioning shapes out of Bisquick.

I am bitter. I know. My husband is awesome, and got me the sweetest card- presented it with the warmest cup of coffee, that I got to enjoy for all of five seconds before the dog started throwing up all over the floor and my naked three-year-old launched a sling shot at a favorite glass frame. I am sure you can figure out how the story ends.

I know I am not the only one in the Valentine's-Day-equals-stress boat. A girlfriend of mine frantically texted me at 9:08 p.m. on the eve of February 14, after working a 12-hour day. She had been volunteered to provide two dozen cupcakes for her daughters preschool party. Publix had no more cupcakes. She opted for the wine aisle instead of the baking aisle. After hitting the local Walmart, she headed home to drink the away her guilt.

We should not feel ashamed over the lack of Martha-Stewartesque running through our veins or feel any more pressure to produce 56 perfectly-produced embossed themed goodie bags for our pint-sized pre-schoolers any more than a 20-something should cry over the lack of a floral arrangement on her side of the dorm room.

Yes, Valentine's looks a whole lot different these days-- but you know what? I would trade it for the world. Throw up, sling shots, luke warm coffee and all :)

Happy Heart Day!!