I was a child in the 1960’s, (yes, I’m a dreaded Boomer)when things were simpler, or so it seems to me now. I suppose every generation thinks the same of their childhood. I’m sure some day some aging adult will look back at this decade and think, “wow, remember when we had cellphones! Like you actually had to hold this little device in your hand to call someone! Crazy!” Everything changes over time.
School seems like it was much simpler back in the 60’s to me as well, but again it’s all in your own perspective. We didn’t have computers to learn on, the playground toys were not as elaborate as the ones today. No one had figured out back then that merry-go-rounds, swinging gates and monkey bars were probably dangerous for small children to be playing on. Remember this was also a time when there were no seat belts in cars let alone car seats. Apparently children were more expendable back then.
One thing that hasn’t changed is some school traditions for children. Kids still bring birthday treats to school, they still have Christmas programs although I believe most now call them Winter programs, and they still have Valentine’s Day parties.
Valentine’s Day parties means you have to make a Valentine card box so all the kids in your class can deposit a card for you in it and hopefully there will be a sucker, some chocolate or other treat attached to that card. It also meant some of the mom’s would send along cupcakes and cookies for the class party and it was a wonderful day all around.
As a child I remember having to find a shoe box to decorate for Valentine’s day. First you would cut a slit in the lid of the box for other kids to drop your cards in. This is an important first step and one I often forgot. Then wrapping the box in aluminum foil to cover it, (we always had limited colored paper at home) I always liked the shine of aluminum foil anyway. Next cutting out pink, white and red hearts to glue all over my shoe box for the finishing touches! In a good year there may even be some glitter in the house that you could really bedazzle your box with. The box was all ready to go!
Later when I became the mother of four, I remember almost dreading Valentine’s Day! I had to help my four children at one time or another each construct a Valentine’s Day box. Boxes then were still fairly simple and still usually started with a shoe box, but the designs were beginning to be more complex. Kids wanted the box to actually “look” like something, not just be decorated. Usually it was still simple, a robot, a house, a castle, (toilet paper rolls were used with the shoe box) but it tested my skills as a mom. There were always those over achiever moms that sent their child to school with a masterpiece.
I also dreaded being on the list for sending class treats that day. My kids usually brought store bought cookies to school for their birthday treats, so on Valentine’s day it was usually store purchased cupcakes because we all know I can’t bake. It’s not a good look for a mom or her child to send store bought anything to school. People wrongly assume every mom is a baker. I’m sure other mom’s were judging me.
Today, I watch as my grandchildren make Valentine’s day boxes for their classroom parties. Ok, I watch as my children make them for their children, lets be honest. I’m proud of their skills and imagination, (my kids). I’ve also seen some young mom’s I know post photos on social media of some pretty amazing Valentine’s boxes they made for their little ones. I’m impressed with you over achievers. You’ve really taken Valentine’s day boxes to a new level! Now they are animals and characters and feats of design and engineering I could only imagine. Where do you get all that energy!
My heart, however, goes out to all of you mom’s who, like me, just have enough creativity in you to find a box, some colored paper, some glue and maybe a printed out design or two and help your child mash it all together so they have a box to take to school for the party. Kudos! I love you all!
Here is to all of the parents this week who have labored and cut, designed and glued, paper machéd and colored some type of Valentine day box for your children so they could have the same joy you did as a child of opening it up and discovering all the little cards and candies. Hopefully most of the cards have a treat taped on them, as we all know Valentine’s Day is really just about the chocolates.
Until next time!
Stay safe, wear a mask, social distance, BE KIND!
Toni