Sometimes Valentine's Day can be more of a dread, for the single parent, than a celebration. Here are some simple ways to improve your Valentine's Day experience by taking the focus off of just the couple, or commercialized versions of the holiday, and highlight the close bonds of family and good friends, instead.
Plan a get-together. Whether it be just you and the kids, or a gathering of good friends as well--perhaps another, or other single-parents and their children, set some time aside for really celebrating the joys of relationships and of love in general.
It doesn't have to be expensive. Some of the best Valentines ever can be those of the homemade variety. You just can't go wrong with some inexpensive arts and crafts supplies, such as doilies, construction paper, glitter, yarn, sequins, etc. to craft some homespun Valentine's Day wishes and decorations for each other.
Express yourself. Make sure to let your children and others close to your heart know that they are special to you, and why. It's important to share these feelings with loved ones, even if you aren't the greatest at it normally. It's a great way to strengthen those relationships, and to feel good, too!
Make it happen--together. Engage in an activity you all enjoy, such as taking a walk or a bike ride, or playing board games. Make a special meal together. You may want to decide together, ahead of time, who is making what, or just wing it. Either way, you'll be spending productive, quality time with those you care for, so it's bound to be fun and also interesting.
With these suggestions, you can reinvent your Valentine's Day celebration into an "everybody" way to enjoy the holiday. You'll find reasons to look forward to it, and likely make some treasured memories far more lasting than would the tired old box of chocolates and bouquet routine!
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/4351548677/">Pink Sherbet Photography</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>
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