Reflecting on Childhood Crushes and Modern Valentine's Day Traditions

Reflecting on Childhood Crushes and Modern Valentine's Day Traditions
Grzegorz
Grzegorz5 months ago

Do you recall your very first crush? Even though it’s been over fifty years, I still remember mine as if it were yesterday.

When I was around 5 or 6, I encountered a girl named Melissa on the school playground. Being painfully shy, I never mustered the courage to approach her directly. Instead, I spent recess observing her from a distance, though now it seems a bit stalker-like.

Valentine’s Day seemed like the perfect time to try and become friends.

Recently, my wife has been busy helping our two sons craft homemade Valentine’s Day cards. When I was their age, I don’t remember engaging in such creative activities. My mom would buy a box of pre-made cards, and I would simply fill in the names of my classmates.

However, I do remember the thrill of decorating shoeboxes to collect Valentine’s cards from classmates. Do kids still do that today? Opening the box to see how many cards I received was always exciting.

Let’s get back to Melissa. I spent a bit more effort on her Valentine’s card, selecting a store-bought one and adding a short, sweet note. But that didn’t feel personal enough, so I considered writing a more detailed love letter. The fear of it falling into the wrong hands stopped me; the idea of my friends finding out was mortifying.

Maybe candy was the key to winning a girl’s heart. I wasn’t thinking of a fancy box of chocolates but those tiny, chalky candy hearts with messages like “Be Mine” and “Kiss Me.” Maybe I could add a few to her card.

Ultimately, I backed out, too scared of rejection. It’s a common part of growing up, and truthfully, I didn’t become comfortable speaking to girls until my 20s.

Nowadays, Valentine’s Day isn’t a big deal in our household. While the kids participate in school-related activities, my wife and I don’t celebrate it. Early on, she made it clear she didn’t need gifts or special gestures. She often jokes that she eats enough sweets already and isn’t fond of flowers.

For years, I suspected she might be testing me, contemplating whether I should buy something anyway. However, we’ve never exchanged gifts for the occasion. Perhaps we once went out for a nice dinner, but even then, the crowded restaurants likely deterred us.

At present, Valentine’s Day is primarily for the kids. Grandma has sent our boys a delightful package filled with homemade cookies, Hershey’s Kisses, and matching pajamas. Although they were eagerly anticipating Valentine’s Day parties at school, the snowy weather postponed them (likely rescheduled for Tuesday).

When my eldest was a teen, my wife sent Valentine’s balloons and treats to his school. His reaction was priceless—probably blushing through several shades of red.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com.)

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