When I was in elementary school, one of my favorite days was the one that I got to exchange valentines with my classmates.  It was such a thrill to go to the grocery store with my mom and pick out a box of Care Bear or Rainbow Brite themed foil valentines.  I’d rush home and carefully tear them apart.  Then, I’d spend hours addressing them to my friends, taking extra care to make sure that each one expressed the perfect sentiment for each friend.  After we traded them at school, I’d treasure the new valentines I brought home for months.

So when Zack started preschool (what seems like ages ago), I reverted back to my elementary school ways.  I was giddy to choose a box of Tonka Truck (his then obsession) valentines for him and was delighted to address them to his new friends.  These valentines even came with stickers as favors to include, which I thought was perfect for his little class of 2-year olds.

On Valentine’s Day, Zack came home from preschool with a paper bag he had decorated, and it was full of valentines.  Where they simple foil valentines like I had sent?  Oh, no.  Y’all, I had fallen victim to my first experience with mothers trying to out do one another.  There were homemade baked goods, handmade paper valentines and “bouquets” of lollipops.  Apparently, my cute Tonka truck valentines made me look like I was just phoning it in. Gah!  What a stress for a first-time mother.

When did preschool Valentines become such a big deal?  At the time, I blamed Martha Stewart.  But now that we are in the age of Pinterest, creative handmade valentines are all the rage.  Zack is now in elementary school and Emma is in that same 2-year old preschool class.  As I’ve matured as a mother, I no longer feel the pressure to produce the class’s best valentine.  But as a sometimes crafter, I can’t help but want to try…

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