Valentines Day to Last a Lifetime for your Kids.

Valentine’s Day is a day that has traditionally been reserved for a significant other.? As single dads, whether or not you have a significant other, you cannot forget your children.? Being away from them can make an already frustrating “hallmark holiday” even more frustrating.? Even if we get to see them or they are live with us, thoughts of what the traditional holiday means can leaves us scratching our heads.? Please remember that Valentine’s Day is NOT CHRISTMAS!? The idea is to express your love, not buy their love.? That is sending the wrong message.? If the other parent is doing that, do not feel you need to compete.? The only people in this scenario who ultimately lose besides you, believe it or not, are your kids and their respect for you.?

?Here are some ideas to express your love to your kids:

·???????? Use your cell phone and leave them a simple text acknowledging the holiday and that you love them.

·???????? Send them a card (snail mail is best, e-cards will work too).

·???????? Call them and talk to them.? Even leave a message.? More often, they may not reply, or the conversation is short or awkward, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care, or it hasn’t been acknowledged.? A message as simple as, “Happy Valentine’s Day, I love you.”

·???????? If you send a message via text, email or voicemail, leave one for each child.? Don’t leave it on one voicemail and say, “tell your brothers and sisters, I love them too.”? That could make them think one sibling is more important than the other.? If your younger children do not have access to voicemail, cell or email, be sure to call the house and tell them.? If you are concerned their mother may not give the message, you can say to the older child, “I left a message at home for your brothers and sisters.” If one of your children does have a cell phone or other cloud access like email, that ask the child that does have the phone to speak directly to your other children.

·???????? A gift basket with little things they like.? It doesn’t have to be expensive.? Low dollar amount gift cards like ice cream, McDonalds, Amazon etc.? Dollar store gimmicks can work too.? If that can be too expensive, make coupons on your computer for a “fun day out with dad”, “free hug”, “make your favorite dinner”; you get the idea.? The phrase, “It’s the thought that counts” truly applies here.

·???????? ?If they are staying with you, make their lunch for school and write a note on a napkin.? I know, I know, it may not be a “Dad move”, but they will remember it.

·???????? If you are able, show up at their school and take them out for lunch.? If you have more than one child in school and taking them all out for lunch may not be possible, let them know that their Valentine’s Day gift is to pick them up from school and take them to lunch.? You can decide the timeline; however, make sure they know it in advance.? Most schools are accommodating for special occasions.? ??

·???????? Make their favorite dinner.? Yes, that may very well mean, Mac and Cheese, but if it is their favorite, do it.?

·???????? If they have a sport game on that day, show up and watch the game.?

You get the idea.? It is not what you do or give them on Valentine’s Day; rather it is to acknowledge our love to people that mean the most to us.? Our kids do fall under that category.? You may even have an idea that is better than anything I have mentioned, but as long as you do it, you are good to go!? Remember that your children love you unconditionally! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Check out my website; www.singledadsonline.org