Trixie in Transit

I have been reading up on how families and individuals celebrate special occasions in their lives.  One of the magazines I receive has a monthly article on interesting ways to make ordinary days or events into grand occasions.  Between these articles and my natural love of planning (and – ok – my deep love of party supplies too), I have decided to start working on traditions boxes which I can store away for next year.

2008 is the Year of the Baby.

I am sure you haven’t forgotten that….So whatever I do now, simply makes us more prepared when so-and-so is underfoot next Spring.

I started this week thinking about Valentine’s Day.  What does it mean to me?  How did I celebrate this as a child? How do I celebrate it now?  What are the good aspects of the holiday and the less desirable?  What thoughts does WaWa have on this subject?

My childhood Valentine’s Days were pretty simple.  My father was in charge.  This day was the one day all year where he had total responsibility for the event.  No nagging from Mom.  My father was blessed with two daughters in a row and celebrated the holiday by purchasing a large box of chocolates for his wife and then two very tiny boxes of chocolate for his daughters.  Mom got the double layer Whitman’s Sampler.  We girls received the tiny 4 piece box with soft, chewy centers. When my brother arrived, he too would receive the 4 piece box.  There were no cards.  No gifts. No lavish displays.  We made whatever crafts were required in school and did the whole classroom valentines exchange.  But at home it was pretty quiet.

Not surprisingly I grew up to be a pretty tame Valentine’s Day celebrator.  As a teenager, someone in the family realized that I liked the nut-mix better.  So out went the soft, chewy centers and odd flavored gels.  In came nuts, peanut butter centers, and rich dark chocolate.  While I can’t be positive, I think my older sister had a large say in moving Dad towards the nut mix.  If that is indeed the case, then I owe her mightily!  As an adult, Valentine’s Day is pretty small potatos.  WaWa and I were married on 2/15 which means that we should have double the fun with back-to-back holidays but that is never the case.   Rather we tend to ignore the dates except for the rare card or dinner out.  I am usually the card giver.  WaWa is usually the dinner out guy.  We like it calm and simple.

So when I watched my best friend, Overwhelmed, go overboard one year for Valentine’s Day, I wondered if I would be more like her when my child arrived.  Would I call around and find a friend to come over and help me decorate until 1AM?  Would I press said friend into painting and decorating a large trunk full of toys?  Would I force said friend to over indulge in wine?  Ok, maybe I would invite you over for a drink and to make cupcakes or something but I draw the line at having you sniffing paint fumes until the wee break of day.  At least in my basement.

While it was a lot of fun and my godchild loved the gifts and the garland and the confetti, it was a lot of work.  I just can’t imagine sustaining that level of effort over the long haul.  I am not a big fan of bright red stuffed animals which never get played with nor am I a fan of sweethearts.  I hate the pressure to find a date or to have someone to say “I Love You” to on this one day of the year.

So my ambition is to have a smaller tradition.  Something managable regardless of income.  Something creative and fun but not overly sugary.  Something that incorporates showing affection to more than just one or two people. 

Before I share with you the traditions WaWa and I have decided upon, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  What did you think you “would never do” but now find yourself doing?  What is your favorite part of the day?  What is your child’s favorite part of the day?