Valentine’s Day always brings back sweet memories for me. Love, friendship, candy, crafts, the innocence of youth. Did I mention candy?
When I was a kid, one of my favorite annual homework assignments was to create a Valentine mail box. I still smile remembering my mom and I spending hours decorating my box. We didn’t have much money, but you’d never know that with the cache of craft materials my mom squirreled away for me. She’d bring out a rainbow of construction paper colors, glitter, sparkles, beads and old Valentine’s to cut up and re-use. Oh, the beautiful creations we made from old shoeboxes and lunch bags!
Picking out the perfect card for each of my classmates from the box of twenty, I would thoughtfully write some message of friendship and love and stuff the envelope with a piece of candy.
The card exchange and party at school where we got to show off our decorated mailboxes, swap cards, eat cupcakes and candy and just be silly were the best! But unlike most of my friends, I didn’t open my cards or candy while I was at school. Instead I hurried home at the end of the day to open and share everything with my mom by my side.
I kept this sweet tradition with my two kids and did the same with my elementary students. It was important for to me to make it fun, as well as a learning experience. My students took turns sharing ideas, following directions on how to cut hearts, and of course we laughed and had great time.
This holiday isn’t just about love; it’s also about friendships, and of course candy! I encourage any of you with children in your lives to take time out to be together and create something special for this sweet holiday. Lola’s Sugar Rush has oodles of fun Valentine gifts and lots of colorful candy to stuff in your friend’s envelopes.
Bring in your finished Valentine mailboxes and we’ll give you a sweet treat to put in it to show you how much we love you and value your friendship!
Be Mine,
Lola
