Valentine's Day Part 2

Sorry I didn't return yesterday. Ethan's dental work took much longer than anticipated. He did not come out of the anesthesia well. (Or else he was in a lot of pain-he was unconsolable.) I have more to say about dentists and the likes but will save that for another post.

Another quick Valentine's Story.

When my oldest, Christina, went to junior high life certainly changed. This is the year that there are no more classroom parties, no mandatory giving of Valentine's Day cards to every student. Instead, the parties are replaced with the option of "buying your sweetie" something. Two weeks prior to the Lovefest Day, students have the option of purchasing items such as candy, flowers, singing telegrams, etc. from their student council. These items are then delivered only to those students who are very loved by fellow students.

As a side note. The Christian school some my kids attended had a different policy. It started in elementary school. The option that made it better was that parents could purchase a teddy bear, candy, flowers, etc. and have them delivered to their child. This option gave the greatest possibility that every child could feel loved and special.

But this was not an option for Christina that fateful Valentine's Day. When she arrived home her head hung down, her backpack looked like it must have weighed a ton the way she dragged herself in the door. This was my first clue she did not feel loved at school. Her little sister, Elisabeth, was happily singing at the kitchen table. She was carefully opening each of her Valentine's. She would read it in a sing-song voice and talk lovingly about each sender. Sitting beside the notes was a growing pile of candy.

"Look at this one!" She cried out. "Jonathon said he thinks I'm cute and he gave me TWO pieces of candy."

She turned towards Christina as she entered the room. "Look at all of my Valentine's! I got 25 and 2 from my teachers! How many Valentine's did you get????"

Christina stopped to get a drink of water without even looking. But Elisabeth was persistent.

"Well, how many Valentine's did you get? Look at all of my candy, did you get lots of candy?"

"No. I didn't get anything."

"Oh, I guess you don't have any friends." Elisabeth turned and went back to her singsong Valentine's, completely oblivious to what had just transpired.

We actually laugh about this now. Christina is 24. But I think Elisabeth is still mortified that at age 7, she just blurted out whatever she was thinking without a thought.