by 
Running off the bus on the first day of summer vacation, catching snow flakes on eyelashes while making snow angels and licking the spoon after mom bakes a treat are inherently magical. Childhood is a magical time and as a mom I must constantly remind myself of that fact in order to keep from running myself to the point of exhaustion trying to create a magical childhood for my children. Before having kids, I knew so much and swore I’d be the mom who woke up early on every holiday, birthday or special occasion and create an extra (aka over-the-top) specialness to the day. If only I could go back in time and tell pre-kid Kate how difficult that is to actually execute when you are elbow deep in 3rd grade homework, potty training and breastfeeding.
Now that the kids are getting older though and the ‘magic’ of some childhood activities are on the cusp of extinction for my oldest, I do try to create (or rather revisit) small traditions we began when the kids were younger to celebrate the smaller holidays and milestones; adding sprinkles to the already sweet childhood if you will.
Valentine’s Day was a holiday we seemed to frequently overlook. With one birthday at the end of January and another on February 13th, we often woke up on the 14th with a nod of “hey, Happy Valentine’s Day” as we quickly ran kids out the door , praying there was just enough Valentine’s Day cards in their bag for their classmates. December through February 13th felt like a gauntlet and February 14th was the finish line with little attention to the holiday itself.
A few years ago, for a holiday celebrating love, I decided to recognize each child’s features and talents and highlight what makes them special….specifically what we love about them.
In the past I’ve used my Cricut machine to cut out basic heart shapes for the sheer fact that it saves time, however this year I used the tried-and-true method: fold paper twice, draw heart, cut one heart and ta-da four hearts are done. I cut 14 hearts for each child and on each heart I wrote a simple note stating what I loved about that child.
“Lily, I love how you are so kind to others at school.”
“Charley, I love how you always ask for an extra kiss at bedtime.”
“Xander, I love your contagious giggles.”
“Jojo, I love how you aren’t afraid to try new things. You are so brave.”
Simple. Specific. Personalized.
Each morning I would place one heart on the wall for the kids to find when they woke up and they would squeal with delight when they found their heart; eager to share their message with each other. More importantly, for the 14 days leading up to the holiday they would head off for school filled with extra love knowing that their momma
recognized their dedication.
adored their silly giggles.
admired their faith in God.
applauded their creativity.
praised their inquisitiveness .
Each heart is as unique as the child it was written for, but the love is equally distributed. This year, while placing the final hearts on the wall one heart caught my attention and took my breath away. Unbeknownst to me, my own mom snuck her own carefully crafted heart on the wall for her first baby to find.
Babies may get older, the childhood magic may dull or fade, but a mother’s love for her child never disappears.
Does your family do anything to add a little magic to this holiday? Share in the comments below!
