The celebration of love is right around the corner – Valentine’s Day. Although Valentine’s Day is often though of as a ‘couples’ holiday, in our home, we celebrate it as a family. We make it a special day to show extra love and TLC to one another. Here are a few ideas on how you can celebrate Valentine’s Day family style.
Keep it Simple
Valentine’s Day plans don’t need to be elaborate especially when celebrating it with an entire family. It’s best to keep it simple. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to celebrate Valentine’s Day family style. All it takes is creating a loving environment right in your own home.
Make It Personal
Each year, my husband buys me a store-bought card for Valentine’s Day. And I am always amazed. Because, somehow the card he selects is always the PERFECT one. It’s as if he had written the words himself and it always describes our journey together as husband and wife perfectly. It’s clear that he spends a lot of time finding that special card.
On the other hand, I take a more personal, homemade approach. Every year, I make Valentine’s Day cards for my kids and my husband. For example, sometimes it’s a note using the letters from their name to spell out what I love about them. Other times, I’ll write a letter telling them what I think makes them so special. They may not always tell me so, but I know they like these handmade cards because I’ve found past ones that they’ve saved and tucked away.
What I like about this idea is that it’s personal and it comes from the heart. It helps me too because it’s really an act of gratitude when I reflect back on the wonderful gift God has given me in my children and husband. Furthermore, it helps me reflect on the good things — what makes each of them so special and how they have brought joy into my life.
Putting my thoughts down on paper is special to me also because it reminds me of my father who used to write things down ALL the time. To this day, we have found many of his letters and journals and it gives us comfort to read what he had to say. In many ways, it has helped shaped his legacy as a husband and father. I hope these card and letters will do the same for my children.
Wake Up to Something Special
Typically, Valentine’s Day falls during the work week so there’s not much time for a fancy breakfast. However, you can still start the day with something special. For instance, in our home, I’ll leave the homemade cards I made for my kids on the kitchen table along with a goody bag with their favorite candies. Sometimes I leave my husband’s card and some chocolates on his pillow or in the kitchen where I know he will see it before he leaves for work. It starts the day off on a positive, uplifting note. After all, who doesn’t want to wake up to something special?
Share a Family Meal
I know I’ve said it before, but sharing a family meal is so important. It’s a good ritual to have any day of the year but especially on Valentine’s Day. If you don’t make family meal time a priority in your home, why not start this Valentine’s Day? What better way to show your family you love them than by spending some quality time together with good conversation around the dinner table.
What is your family’s favorite meal? Is it pasta, or chicken, or seafood? Find one meal that every member of your family enjoys and make it for dinner. If you don’t have time to prepare the meal yourself, go to your family’s favorite take-out spot and bring the meal home to enjoy. Similarly, you can create a restaurant ‘feel’ at home by setting the table with your good dishes and glasses. Or you can take a more laid-back approach and use Valentine-themed dinnerware to make the meal more festive. These days, there are plenty of holiday-themed paper products or plastic ware that look just like the real thing but are still festive while making clean up a breeze.
Don’t Forget Dessert
Who can resist a decadent chocolate dessert for Valentine’s Day? Not my family. We are a huge fan of Warm Chocolate Melting Cups (a.k.a. Chocolate Lava Cakes). So much so that we’ve been making the same dessert for Valentine’s Day for years. In fact, it’s one treat that I’ve reserved just for this holiday alone. The good news is that it’s a decadent dessert but lower in calories too. Therefore, it’s a win-win for everyone. Also, what makes this recipe extra special is that it makes individual portions so everyone has their own dessert to enjoy. Top it off with store bought whipped cream for an added treat. Or, if you have time, make your own which only requires three ingredients.
Click here for the Warm Chocolate Melting Cups recipe. Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home.
Click here for the Homemade Whipped Cream recipe. Recipe courtesy of sallysbakingaddiction.com.
End the Day With A Family Activity
If time permits, plan a family activity after dessert such as playing a favorite board game or doing a puzzle. Similarly, if you have a favorite TV show or movie, that works too. It doesn’t really matter what the activity is as long as you are doing it together.
It’s the Thought That Counts
Don’t buy into the hype that you need to spend a lot of money to make Valentine’s Day a special one. It’s simply not true. Remember, it’s the thought that counts.
So tell your loved ones how much you love them.
Give them your undivided time and attention.
Be in the present moment with them.
At, the end of the day, give thanks to God for His love which is a perfect example of how we should love others.
By doing so, you’ll have the perfect recipe for celebrating Valentine’s Day family style.
“Let all that you do be done in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)
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