What Valentine's Day means to me as a Mother.

Valentine's Day is a day where traditionally flowers, candy and gifts are exchanged between loved ones. It is a day when women expect a card, flowers, chocolate and some extra romance. Where kids take cards to school and a treat to share with classmates. Until I had children I never thought much about these so called "commercial" holidays. It was nice to know that there was one day in the year that my husband would predictably bring home flowers and my favorite chocolates.

When you become a Mother everything changes. Your focus shift and so does your perspective in life. I did embrace the magic of childhood; it is short but oh so enchanting. I did want my children to have a delightful childhood but at the same time one that ingrained in them core moral values. You see, these Holidays can serve many purposes...they can be fun, they can build meaningful memories and they can be used to develop character.

I see Valentine's Day as a tool in ways to teach my children how wonderful the expression of love towards others is. How much meaning and satisfaction it can bring into our lives. It is a whole month that I can use to help them strengthen habits of expressing love to those around them in a season that it is accepted and celebrated. Hopefully I  can encourage them to carry on expressing it through out the year. It is the month where I can nurture them to be thoughtful and sensitive in finding ways to serve others. And you know what is the best part? It can be done in a way that is delightful for them. 

So remember that "The influence of a Mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation" (James E. Faust). I do love Valentine's Day more than ever and the potential for sharing love that it brings to our family.