Lessons To Teach Your Kids This Valentine's Day

It's February, and the shelves are lined in red and pink for Valentine's Day.

Have you ever given much thought to the opportunity you have on Valentine's Day to teach kids about love?

I'll be honest, it used to be a fleeting thought, but for the last few years, I've been trying to be more intentional.

Here are some ideas I have picked up that I am passing along to you.

Show Kids They Are Loved With Words

Words matter. The more often kids hear they are loved, the more likely they will believe it.

Valentine's Day makes it easy to show your kids you love them with words.

Write them a note and put it in their lunchbox. Write a message on their bathroom mirror. Say it out loud. Better yet, shout it!

Show Kids They Are Loved With Time

We all know that actions speak louder than words.

In addition to using words on Valentine's Day to express yourself, use your time.

Put down your phone, turn off the TV, and spend some quality one-on-one time with your child.

Do a craft, bake, or enjoy a shared activity together.

Show Kids They Are Loved With Gifts

While kids shouldn't be taught that gifts equal love, a thoughtful gift is a nice gesture of love.

When these gifts come along with your words and attention, they are even more meaningful.

Show Kids How To Love Others

On Valentine's Day, kids give out little valentines to their classmates and friends.

This is an excellent opportunity for you to teach them the importance of showing love to everyone – even people who are different than them.

In addition, they are learning from you how to show love to others. Let them hear you tell your spouse you love him, see you exchange gifts, or spend time together.

Show Kids How To Accept Love

It's also vital that you show kids how to accept love.

Receiving love is essential to our overall well-being.

The easiest way to teach this, beyond showing kids unconditional love, is to accept the love they give you.

This means not wiping off the slimy kisses or resisting hugs. It means hearing their words of love and responding.

Show Kids You Love Yourself

Dee Ray, director of the Center for Play Therapy, explains, "It’s not enough for a parent to love and accept the child for the child to truly learn self-love. [Kids] must also see that the parents love and accept themselves. Watching a parent make mistakes and be imperfect, yet still be loving and accepting of self, is a powerful way to encourage children to love themselves.”

Show Kids It Is More Than One Day A Year

One final Valentine’s Day love lesson for kids – it is more than one day of the year.

Make sure you tell kids that the ways love is expressed on Valentine's Day can (and should) be done throughout the year.

What do you plan to do to make Valentine’s Day special for your kids?

Let Your Clothes Give You a Tropical State of Mind

The 2020 summer is going to look much different from any other summer I’ve ever known. It is looking more and more like we won’t be going on as many summer vacations to beautiful destinations. And, I’m not going to lie, it has had this traveler feeling a little down in the dumps.

But instead of wallowing about all the places I won’t get to go this summer vacation, I am choosing to lift my spirits by embracing a summer vacation mindset wherever I wind up. So bring on the drinks with little umbrellas and bring on the summer fashion!

Of all the times for tropical, beach fashion to be all the rage, this is the year! I guess we all want to have a tropical state of mind, even if we aren’t traveling to our favorite tropical destinations. If you need a fashion pick-me-up, here are some of my favorite summer fashion trends.

All About Raffia and Tropical Prints

From designer brands to Target, resort wear is 100% in. According to Italist, “A 2020 fashion trend and predominant aesthetic for Spring-Summer is natural and tropical-inspired style. Specifically, bags and shoes constructed of woven raffia, rope, bamboo, and other plant-derived materials that evoke a certain summertime slowness that we desperately need.”

You have probably seen fashion featuring raffia, which is made from palm leaves, showing up everywhere from runways to department shoes. It is used for handbags and added to the wedges of shoes. It shouts “tropical escape.”

In addition to raffia material, tropical prints are back in a big way. Whereas Hawaiian print shirts were once deemed unfashionable and only worn by older men, they are now all the rage. Not only are these tropical shirts back in fashion for men, but women are also embraced tropical prints for clothing. Tropical prints embrace tropical flowers, trees, oceans, islands, gardens, flamingos, and more.

If you want to embrace a tropical state of mind, even while staying in New York City, these are a few ways to add a vacation feel to your wardrobe.

For Your Bags

The raffia trend is huge when it comes to handbags. Even if the material is not truly raffia, you can find plenty of woven bags that are in fashion. Whether you are making a quick run to a store or finally heading back to the office, this tropical bag will remind you that summer is here.

For Your Shoes

When it comes to summer shoes, it is easy to embrace all things tropical. From raffia wedges to floral slides, tropical is in! If you treat your feet like they are on vacation, your mind will follow.

For Your Clothing

As I already mentioned, tropical prints are back in! While some women are ready to go all-in and dress head to toe in tropic prints, other women may want to just add a kimono to their wardrobe. Either way, a fun, bright print that reminds you of all things summer is just what you need to lift your spirits.

For Your Face

Last but not least, trick yourself into believing you are on vacation the next time you leave the house by sporting a tropical print face mask! You can even find face masks with the same tropical print as your resort wear clothing.

10 Ways to Make Your Kids Feel Loved This Valentine’s Day

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating romantic love. I am a big fan of celebrating marriage, but I also think it is important to model healthy romantic love for my daughters. I want to raise my girls to be independent, strong women, but I also want them to grow up knowing they are worth being cared for and treated special. I think Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to shower them with love and remind them just how special they are to me.

Now I know all moms are already busy enough, so I have focused on ways you can make kids feel loved that don’t take a ton of time or cost an arm and a leg. Check them out!

Surprise Them with a Valentine’s Card

For kids, Valentine’s Day is all about the valentines they will pass back and forth with classmates. But it will make them feel loved if they find a surprise Valentine’s Day card or a love note from you in their lunchbox.

Make a Special Valentine’s Day Breakfast

Start the holiday off right with a special Valentine’s Day-themed breakfast. Add some food coloring and make pink milk. Cook heart-shaped pancakes and add red and pink sprinkles.

Blow Up Balloons

I don’t really understand, but for some reason, my girls think balloons are the greatest things ever! If you surprise them after school with a helium balloon for Valentine’s Day, you are sure to get a huge hug.

Bake Them a Heart Shaped Treat

Food is not just the way to a man’s heart – kids love special treats just as much! You can keep it simple and make some break and bake Valentine’s Day cookies or bake an extravagant heart-shaped cake.

Hang Up Some Decorations

An easy way to acknowledge the holiday is to hang up some decorations around your home. Head to the Dollar Spot at Target to stock up on cheap (but super cute) decorations or make your own homemade sweethearts to post on your child’s bedroom door.

Treat Them to an At-Home Spa Day

I’ve already taught my daughters the joy of a spa day – at home, that is. Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to treat your kids to some extra pampering. Give them a pedicure or manicure. Or, treat them to s special pink bath with a pink-colored bath bomb.

Share the Love with Others

Valentine’s Day is all about love, but what If you use it as an opportunity to teach your kids to share the love with others? Go shopping for canned goods or hygiene items and drop off donations at a nonprofit organization in your community.

Give Them Their Own Bouquet

I love having fresh flowers in my home. But, for many little girls, receiving a bouquet of fresh flowers is a very grown-up thing. So, this is a super easy and effective way to make your daughter feel loved and grown.

Read Books About Love

Before saying goodnight, pull out one of your old favorite children’s books and read it together. Even if they are “too old,” there is something special about reading “Guess How Much I Love You” or “I’ll Love You Forever” with your not-so-little kid.

Include Them in a Grown-Up Fancy Dinner

Finally, if your Valentine’s Day is more of an at-home affair, include the kids! Let them see what a fancy, at-home date night involves. Light the candles, use the fancy china and pour them a mocktail.