Valentine’s Day – A different take.

Monday was Valentine’s Day. So many people hate it because it’s commercialised now, a Hallmark holiday. Others love it. The usual argument from the haters generally is “I don’t need to be told to buy my wife/girlfriend/partner flowers or a card. I can do that any day.” But seriously how many actually do that? How many men on the spur of the moment bring home flowers for their wives/girlfriends/partners? You know what is often said when they do the spontaneous flower giving, “What’s he done?”.  Anyway I do like Valentine’s Day. This year my hubby and I just exchanged cards. Then I decided to buy him some flowers – because I wanted to, not because I was pressured into it.

Valentine’s is a big issue at the schools. The kids give out Valentine’s to all their classmates and buy their teachers gifts and flowers. It was something I found unusual last year because it was the first time I’d experienced here in the US.

Something wonderful happened to me on Monday morning, but before I tell you what happened I need to give you some background.  I volunteer up at the kids’ school every day. Morning and afternoon. I like it. I feel useful and I know they need help.  I’m happy to deliver handouts to classrooms, sort the mail, photocopy homework packets, replace books on the bookshelves in the library. So it came about that there is one particular class that is a challenge and I always seemed to be in the library when that class was there. Well now I help out with the class. I check in the books or on one occasion demonstrated how to debate to the class.  There are some good kids in that class, one of them is a wonderful big brother to his little sister and he is a quiet boy that want’s to learn. He’s a sweet kid.

I also now help out with carpool of a morning, opening the doors to ensure the kids get out safely and traffic moves so it’s not such a hindrance anymore to parents, people who live in the area etc.  On Monday this particular young man gets out of the car and he has his hands full with Valentines stuff.  I say good morning to him and the next thing I know he’s handing me a balloon, a soft toy and some chocolates – “Happy Valentine’s day Ms Flockton” he says.  I tell you that made my day. 

So there is a different take on Valentine’s day. A simple gesture from a young man makes me glad that I help out at the school. I’m not saying I’m making a huge difference and inspiring the bad kids to be good, but someone appreciates that I try so that the good kids can learn.

NF