S/O VDay Plans: Are Valentine's gifts for kids a thing?

[rubberchicken]

Saw in the thread below that some people give their kids valentine's day gifts.  Is this a thing? I thought it was odd that people gave their kids gifts for Easter, but is it Valentine's day too?

Oh god, it's a thing isn't it.  And I'm going to get sucked into, lest DD be "that poor kid" in school who didn't get any Valentine's Day gifts.  I blame you all.

[helenahhandbasket]

LOL.

I got DD a little something, but I don't think you are scarring your kiddo or anything if you don't get them a gift.

I also think Easter gifts are sort of weird, but I will proabbaly wind up doing a small easter basket.

[20thirteen]

I didn't get DD anything either. I didn't think anything of it until I saw people posting their V Day gifts from their parents. I don't recall my parents doing anything for me growing up, but my brother and I were born so close to V Day that we didn't really notice (bro the 15th, me the 18th)

[Unknown]

We got our LO something small. Growing up we got candy and a card from my mom.

[callmeKD]

my DH gets sucked into every holiday. he bought me and G V-day gifts. it's very sweet, but also annoying at the same time.

[emmaswan]

I took my DD out for a whole V-Day date It was awesome!

[librarychica]

Feb 17, 2015 13:35:41 GMT -5 Unknown said:

We got our LO something small. Growing up we got candy and a card from my mom.

This. So far we have done cookies as a family and that is it. One day I may buy some tiny boxes of candy.

[liziz]

We always got small gifts growing up, maybe candy and a cute pair of socks with hearts or a silly stuffed animal. And always a card.

My mom's birthday and my parents' anniversary are also this week, so I think they ended up buying things for us while out shopping for each other.

ETA: My mom is a teacher and really likes to theme/celebrate things, so I think that's part of it too. We were likely to get a themed meal as well (pink heart pancakes, or something).

[emmyg65]

When I was a kid we got a card and candy (like the smallest Russell Stover heart) for Valentine's Day, and a small basket with some candy and a storybook for Easter.

[k3am]

DD got a V-day themed shirt to wear, but that's about it. And probably will be the extent of the "gifts" she gets for random holidays.

What's next, a gift for MLK day?

[harperandco]

I didn't get DD anything, but she's only 11 months so I haven't done any permanent damage...yet.

[somebabiesmom]

My mom always made a big deal out of bdays and The traditional holidays. And when that wasn't enough we found vday and May Day were being celebrated too. It's something that I think is so wonderful about my mother that I never even thought about not doing it. Even in the face of my H who barely celebrated bdays. I still have to argue w him to give the kids more than one present on their bdays... Little does he know that it's a fight he will never ever win. I'd go underground with my gift giving if necessary.

[mana8503]

My dad always got us something little for v day. Candy etc. We always send SS and SD a card and $10 from H.

[ericalee27]

It is not a thing at my house. Promise!

[mustardseed2007]

I think a gift/basket at easter is more of a thing than vday. I did get DS a book, but I wasn't going to get him anything at all until his scholastic book order came in. I like to dole those out over time.

[2chatter]

Totally a thing here. My mom got me candy, books, card, etc. My Dad always got me a big chocolate heart. My kids get a small chocolate box and clothes plus a vday themed craft we do that morning. This year it was watercolor books and we were up and painting at 6:30 AM on Saturday. And they each got three tees (the weather is changing here and they have all grown - I hit up the local resale on Friday night and there were so many cute things I might have gone a little overboard).

Easter is baskets with crafty stuff and either PJs or swimsuits - whichever they need at that point.

Just not too big on all the candy - just wait until school and parents are sending full size candies with the little cards. UGH.

[RiseAndWine]

I don't want it to be a thing in my house. DH got DS a little stuffed toy and I told him we weren't doing that every year. The kids get to celebrate in school and I think that's sufficient. I also don't really think they need candy with their school Valentines and get annoyed that so many do this because I'm not going to be able to escape it without being the evil mom!

[sudokufan]

We got Bud his very own box of Toy Story valentines to keep. He's a little young for candy, but he might get some when he's older, but no toys or anything to add to clutter if I can help it. For Easter we always got candy in our baskets, but that was it, and I'll continue that tradition. Well, and maybe add a story book and bubbles. Damn you, slippery slope!

[xanthepants]

My dad always got us a small box of chocolates and a card he bought (not mom) until he died. I loved it. Mom still always sends me a card with a little $. H gets her a little something and I got her a little something. I'll probably always do it. Sorry. Peer pressure!!!

[twinmomma]

I got the girls each a little heart with the conversation hearts in it. I wanted to get them a little something, and figured they'd find the hearts fun. Plus, they can now be used as potty training rewards, which I needed to buy anyway. I don't plan to go beyond something like that any year.
For Easter I do make little baskets for them with jelly beans and chocolate bunny and a few dollar store toys/trinkets. We always got that growing up.

[twinmomma]

I got the girls each a little heart with the conversation hearts in it. I wanted to get them a little something, and figured they'd find the hearts fun. Plus, they can now be used as potty training rewards, which I needed to buy anyway. I don't plan to go beyond something like that any year.
For Easter I do make little baskets for them with jelly beans and chocolate bunny and a few dollar store toys/trinkets. We always got that growing up.

[rubberchicken]

I don't really have anything against valentine's candy. But I am a crotchety old biddy who rails against the consumerism and pinterest-ification of childhood. Life isn't a party, you don't get a gift every day. DH has a friend who insists on making every day "magical" for her kid. You should see all the pinterest crap she's actually done. Well, lets see how "magical" it is when that kid grows up and gets a job.

grump grump

The ironic thing is, I DO give my kid gifts for Easter. Only because her allergies make it impossible to do an Easter basket with candy. But still. I'm a hypocrite.

[kendraj426]

I didn't do anything for DD except buy a cute outfit for pictures. Growing up, we always got a card, candy from a local handmade chocolate shop (we only got this candy on Holidays so it was something special to cherish) and a small gift. For Easter we always got a basket with candy and small gifts that fit into plastic eggs and books. I still vividly remember the year I got a koosh in one of those eggs. It was like the best Easter ever (I feel I may be dating myself here... lol).

When DD is old enough to understand holidays I do plan to do the same that my mom did for me and my sisters growing up. It was fun to celebrate together and have a special day where everyone was home and engaged with each other.

[kendraj426]

Feb 17, 2015 16:08:04 GMT -5 rubberchicken said:

I don't really have anything against valentine's candy. But I am a crotchety old biddy who rails against the consumerism and pinterest-ification of childhood. Life isn't a party, you don't get a gift every day. DH has a friend who insists on making every day "magical" for her kid. You should see all the pinterest crap she's actually done. Well, lets see how "magical" it is when that kid grows up and gets a job.

grump grump

The ironic thing is, I DO give my kid gifts for Easter. Only because her allergies make it impossible to do an Easter basket with candy. But still. I'm a hypocrite.

I am totally with you on the pinterest-ification of childhood! I got gifts on random holidays or just random days when my mom found something she especially thought I might like. But, it wasn't every day. And I didn't expect to have a sandwich that looked like Elmo in my lunchbox or an after school snack that looked like Kermit and a fun new craft to do every day. Because my mom had other things to do with her time like take care of the house, herself and my dad (a full time job in and of itself!), and try to wrangle 3 kids spanning 10 years and all our activities!

[tas1883]

I didn't do anything unless you count DD getting to spend an entire day with me during tax season which is something in its own right.

H on the other hand after doing this big speech on V-day not being a birthday or Christmas went out and got us each a heart box of chocolates and an orchid along with heart ornaments that we could decorate with. Then DD gave me a big flower arrangement of flowers and a balloon. The thing I loved the most was the homemade card he helped her make.

Easter I do baskets and I avoid the whole candy scene so they are filled with things we need or crafty stuff.

[shakinros]

Nope. Nothing in this house. We were out of town, but I probably wouldn't have gotten her a present anyway. We made cards for the other kids at daycare as a craft project. I am feeling conflicted about even doing that! A mix of am I trying too hard vs. will the other parents be pissed we didn't send candy?

DH's mom sent a v-day hallmark stuffed animal. We will do a small Easter basket.

[CurlieWhirlie]

My mom always used to give me and my brother little gifts for holidays, she'd surprise us with them on our breakfast plates in the morning. But it was always homemade cards and a couple of candies or something. This was throughout the 80s and 90s. This year I made my five-year-old a construction paper Valentine and he was delighted.

[Deleted]

We got cards growing up from my mom and Grandma and that was it. So I got the kids cards. They got cards and presents for DC, so they are not deprived. BTW, when did it start that a mini present has to accompany class cards. When I was a kid all we got was cards.