Metal Meredith

Not only am I struggling to keep up with my two kids, but I have somehow come out on the other side of this pregnancy giving Martha Stewart a run for her money.

Phil and I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. I require love, affection and special attention 364 days of the year. I figure he can take this night off and let the other poor souls take all the glory. However, I don’t want to screw Vivienne out of something fun.

I remember Valentine’s Day in school where you had to bring in these tiny paper Valentine’s for each student to be placed in a shoebox decorated especially for the day. That never meant much to me. But then there was my mom, who every year seemed to outdo the next with gifts. I would know that when I woke up on Valentine’s morning, there would be a special present and treat for me either outside my bedroom door or on the kitchen table. I don’t remember most of these. A blur of candy and cupcakes decorated with white and pink frosting remains.

I do remember one specific gift, although I can’t tell you why. One year, when I was about 12 or 13, I opened my bedroom door to find a large posted of the Eiffel Tower that I had been coveting from Pier One and a big floor pillow that was pink and grey. Whether it was the fact that I wanted them so bad and I had no idea I was getting them or the fact that it was much better than a package of Hershey’s Kisses, I don’t know.

I wanted to share that excitement with Vivienne, so I thought I would help her make some Valentine’s for her class. Last year, I bought them from the Dollar Store. Vivienne stamped all these tiny little brown bags with hearts and “V’s”, added a few Hello Kitty sparkly stickers and we stuffed them with a few pieces of candy. I am really impressed with myself but I think Vivienne just wanted to get through the stamping and onto the candy part. Either way, we had some fun.