A MOTHER’S VOICE

IN EVERY ISSUE a mother’s voice

A Love for Valentines

IFEEL LIKE IT wasn’t long ago (or perhaps it was) that I was writing about the joy of giving and receiving Valentines. I shared my love for the adorable cards with heart stickers and heart-shaped lollipops that would be traded between classmates at school when Valentine’s Day rolled around. I especially remember sharing how I liked that they were still being handed out and not sent through email or through various social media channels. Well, times have definitely changed and social media is something we’ve all been relying on to keep in touch with friends and family. I expect things to follow suit with Valentines. While some of us will still choose to hand out Valentines this year, a good majority of us will be taking to the Internet to share our sweet messages, complete with hearts and heart-eyed emojis. Despite our Valentine giving looking differently this year, I think I’ll always get excited seeing all of the pink and red filling the grocery stores...and boy, did they start filling the grocery aisles early this year. I remember seeing the heart-shaped chocolates in the store the day after Christmas. Perhaps they knew we were all in need of some extra love and pick-me-ups after getting through the very long 2020. Although my children are all grown, I still find myself browsing through the aisle to see what Valentines are up for grabs. The characters on the cards have absolutely changed over the years. Some of them, I don’t even recognize! However they change though, they still include the Valentine messages that we all have come to love. From “Be Mine” to “U R Cute,” the cards can leave us all feeling a little nostalgic. However, many families take it a step further and create their own special cards. I’ve seen some pretty creative ones over the years. If you want to take the DIY route this year, we have pulled together some fun crafts for you to try in this issue. We think they’re perfect for any sweetheart! However you choose to celebrate your Valentine this year, I hope you and your family all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

AMY PLAISANCE Founder and Editor in Chief