Remember Valentine's Day? Do you? Huh? Remember when you lovingly decorated that magical receptacle of love, oh yes, the traditional Valentine shoe box, with all manner of red, white, and pink paraphernalia, then excitedly yet tenderly placed it at the edge of your desk on The Day, you know, inviting-- nay, beckoning-- any who would dare to deposit into it notes of affection and possibly undying love? Remember?
Remember how you would breathlessly open said Valentine Receptacle of Love and Possibly Broken Dreams and peer into the Valentiney goodness, just praying there would be enough valentine cards to cover at least the bottom of the box, so anybody who was sneaking a peek would KNOW that you had friends? Remember?! Some were homemade, some reflected the popular cartoons of the era, but all shouted out of their own accord, "You like me! You really like me!"
Remember how utterly horrifying it was to NOT get a Valentine from someone in class? Do you? HUH?! Maybe the cute little boy with the big blue eyes who you chased, tackled, and smooched on the playground; maybe the silly girl who you may have laughed at (inadvertently!) when she took the dare to eat paste; possibly the snooty girl whose lunch box matched yours exactly and who could not seem to get over the idea that YOU were copying HER.
But DO YOU REMEMBER? Good lord, do you remember the SWEET AGONY?
*sigh*
These days teachers eliminate the stress by sending home carefully prepared lists with names of every person in the class, including the teacher. Oh, and teacher's aides. Teacher's aides! On the list!
I don't know how I feel about this. I mean, how are we supposed to gauge our children's overall popularity with this type of false, self-esteem boosting, namby-pamby behavior? Huh? I mean, is my kid popular or WHAT?!
Honestly.
6 Comments:
-
Random and Odd commented:
OMG! You are SO funny!
I'm adding you to my blogs I read list! I don't want to miss out on what you have to say!!
I know what you mean about the whole Valentine thing at school.
I remember...Jason Thomas made me something for VD and no one else got anything from him. He picked me!!!
I think that is when my love of geeks started!- » 2/14/2005 10:47 AM
-
Cat commented:
Oh, ho ho, I didn't even get around to discussing The Whole Other Side to the Valentine's Day ordeal... Uh-huh, YOU know, waiting to see your secret crush's response to the handmade, cutesy-smootsey, lace infested tribute of your undying luuuuuv.
Torture! TORTURE, I say!- » 2/14/2005 11:24 AM
-
Unknown commented:
Ha! Trust me, your kid is popular. There is plenty of time for the sweet torture when they get older.
- » 2/14/2005 11:33 AM
-
Random and Odd commented:
Mike, no worries on having my kids knowing about disappointment...my kids are pretty popular, but I think it's because I tease the hell out of them at home.
My daughter said to me, "Mom, I love you, wanna know why? Because you taught me that there is nothing a 10 year old boy can say that can't hurt my feelings."
I was confused until she added, "You told me that I will be flat chested and dorky until High School and then it will all fall into place. Besides you tease me more than anyone I have ever known."
I guess this means that me jumping out and scaring her all the time is going to make horror movies a little easier for her? It's all about the prep work!- » 2/14/2005 2:42 PM
-
Cat commented:
Oh NO! I haven't warned my girls yet! "Flat chested and dorky." Got it. This is GOOD stuff... Ooh, better add, "geek magnet" and "emotional car-wreck," you know, for good measure.
Har. Kristine, love that you scare the bejeebies out of your kids. My mom used to do that. I HATED it, but it makes a funny story now. :)
Mike, YOU GET IT! Woot-woot! Incidentally, my son is in 3rd grade, and he was ALL about the decorated shoe box assignment. He stressed for a week!- » 2/14/2005 3:20 PM
-
commented:
Very nice commentary on the VD phenom. One of my coworkers yesterday was very bitter about VD... Until the group leader presented her with a red rose. Changed her whole outlook.
- » 2/15/2005 7:17 AM