Do You Really Think I Am the Bee's Knees?

Both of my children have had notes sent home with them this past week with the names of their classmates so they can write out their Valentines. My son even has to decorate a shoebox to put his in. This got me to thinking about Valentine’s Day when I was in elementary school and what a big deal it was, at least to me anyway.

We usually made our “mailboxes” in art class. The teacher would wrap shoeboxes in white butcher’s paper and we would decorate them with crayons or construction paper. There was a little slot cut into the top for your Valentines to go in.

My teacher would send home a list of names and my mom would take me to pick out my cards. I would usually pick out ones that had cute animals or something on them. I would then go home with my cards and my list and begin a very important task. I had to make sure that I gave the right card to the right person. My memory isn’t the greatest, but I remember like it was yesterday how carefully I would make my decisions about who got which card. Of course all of the boys that I liked got the “Be Mine”, “You’re a Sweetie”, and “My Heart Hops for You” cards. The boys that I didn’t like would get the “You’re a Cool Kid” or “I’m Glad We’re Friends” cards. I didn’t want to give the wrong boys the wrong impression. I also had to make sure that my best girl friends got the coolest cards.

After our Valentine’s party at school, I would take my “mailbox” full of cards home and shut myself up in my room to read them. At this point I analyzed every card that was given to me and I would try to read into their messages. So, what was Jeremy trying to say when he gave me a card that said, “You are the apple of my eye”? Did I really make Shannon’s “Heart go Pitter Patter”? And why would Steven give me a card that said, “Best Buds”? I thought he liked me more than that! It sounds so silly when I think about it now, but it was very serious business when I was in third grade.

I am curious to see if my kids will be as serious as I was about Valentine’s Day cards. Right now, thankfully, they are more concerned with picking out the coolest cards and trying to talk me into buying more candy.

~Raydra