stupid holiday traditions

[chhotii]

Being so sick over the weekend, I didn't empty out Sophia's backpack until this morning. Then I found the letter from Sophia's teacher, listing the names of all the little kids in the class, so that Valentine cards may be prepared for each kid. For this is how it works in elementary school: you don't give Valentine cards to the kids you "love"; no, you have to be totally equitable, and give each kid a pretty much identical Valentine out of a pre-manufactured pack. What, exactly, is the point of this? I imagine that Valentine cards are a lot less interesting now that they forbid cards with candy from school.

I had totally forgotten about this aspect of Valentine's day, so we have no cards. At this point, cards are not happening. I am still sick, and thus I am not promising to do anything from my to-do list, let alone Sophia's. Sophia is in after-school program until 5:45 today, then she has to do her homework and eat supper and go to bed, so she has no time to shop for or sign cards before tomorrow morning.

I'll put the Valentine's day cards on next year's to-do list... but, really, would I be wrecking my kid's budding social life if I blow this off entirely?

Comments

[quietann.livejournal.com]

In this case, I might make the effort... just remembering the year I did not have valentines cards and it was pretty rough socially for a while. There was another kid whose religion prohibited doing the cards, but he did have that to fall back on, and was pretty serious about it, for a 4th grader.

BTW -- we were also required to give everyone in class a card, though I usually did a special one or two for my best friends. And we always always gave out candy hearts.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I'd also say go to the effort to grab a pack of cards at the market. Forget about her social life, she might feel very uncomfortable in this newish class if she can't give a card out to people when they give her one. You don't want to do that to your kid.

[spinrabbit.livejournal.com]

Yes it's stupid, but I think it'd freak her out not to have them.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

pull something off the webs, print as many as you need, go!

could work?

#