Growing up, Valentine's Day was a great source of anxiety for me. I would go to K-Mart and pick up my themed Valentine's cards and go home to stress. You see, all of the cards used to say "I Love You," "Be Mine," or some other sugar coated greeting that was not appropriate for boys to send to boys. They were also embarrassing to send to girls you didn't like.
I can remember sitting there contemplating the after effects of each Valentine to each person. I can't send a love one to guys, girls I really like (they might find out), or girls I didn't like (they might get the wrong idea). So, out of the box of 48, 40 of the valentines were love related and the other 8 said "your are cool," "glad we are friends," or some other under used phrase. Of the lovie dovie cards there were two types. The first type was the "I heart you" card that can only really be given to a girlfriend. The second type was the watered down card that said "you are sweet" or other confectionary themed phrases. These were divided 20/20. Eventually, I would just break down and send the girls I liked the Be Mine cards, the girls I didn't like got the you are sweet ones, the guys that were my friends got the your so cools and the guys that were not my friends wouldn't really get one from me.
Then came the stress of opening the cards and reading the messages. Does this "Be my Valentine" card really ask the question or was she out of friend cards? Why did Steve give me a "Be Mine" card? Stay away Steve! Julie is really cute and I got the "You are cool" card from her. Does she think I am cool in a good way or in a friends way. I probably put way too much thought into it.
Last night, while doing my daughter's Valentine's Day cards, I noticed a lot more friend cards and almost an absense of love cards. My daughter based her picks on who got what card by what picture they might like and not the phrase. Maybe I am just a freak and think about this stuff too much, maybe my kindergartner is too young to start worrying about the messages that the cards are send, and maybe card makers are making it easier on us to give out cards.
7 comments:
This is sort of explaining a lot... oh, and I didn't mean anything by that card, btw.
I remember having to stress over this whole thing too, so you aren't alone. It could just be a guy thing. Personally, I think schools either need to stop with the whole Valentine's Day charade or let kids actually choose who they give their cards too. I say it is better you learn early that no one likes you. That gives you ample time to plot out how you'll take out your revenge on society.
sorry Steve, had to pick a name and that was the first that came to mind.
Now the messages are esteem boosters and are worthless anyways. stuff like your perfect and your one of a kind. I hate the whole self esteem kick.
Hah --- don't get me started on the "everyone's a winner" "we don't keep score or give grades" "everyone that participates gets a trophy" crap thats going on in schools....grrrr.
yeah! everyone should just know how useless they are and accept it. :Pgreat. another stupid thing for me to look forward to. i never did the valentine's day card thing when i was growing up. i also didn't get any. heh.
I meant my comments as a joke. I agree with you, Steve, on the whole "everyone's a winner" thing. The whole, "You did your best," thing is another one being overused. I completely agree that you should always do you best, but it doesn't excuse you from the outcome or consequences. Failed a test but did your best? How nice. You still get an 'F'.
hah, I had no problem like that. first of all, I got only few cards in my life, and secondly, I've never sent any to anyone xD
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