Cupid needs a diaper change and a nap
Legend says Santa hits white sand beaches on December 26, a well-earned reward for the hard work of gifting the world with knick knacks and board games and electronic book readers. What does Cupid do the day after Valentine’s Day? Is he smugly thrusting his fat baby toes into sand on a pristine shore?
I just spent my 15th Valentine’s Day with my husband. I have no doubt that he loves me and I love him. We don’t need Cupid’s inspiration for our hearts to zing. I am impervious to the arrows because Cupid is pretty much just a big baby. Don’t let the lustrous locks of hair or mad archery skills fool you. Like most tots, he is motivated by an appetite for mischief. Plus, his brain is still developing.
When Cupid counts, he says, “One, two, free, eleventy, nineteen, six, ess, four.”
Cupid is nutso about Elmo.
My oldest kids are in middle school. To them, Valentine’s Day is full of mysterious possibilities. Suddenly, it’s not all about folded Valentines in paper sacks, sugar cookies, red punch. While they’d never admit it, they were counting on the big dumb baby to bring a little romance into their lives.
I did, at that age.
If Cupid doesn’t come through in the coming years, I will be there to share stories of lonely February 14ths when it seemed everyone else in the world said yes to Be Mine. My plan is to remind them that Valentine’s Day is never meant to be a gauge of their worth, their beauty, their loveliness. Look who’s in charge!
He wears Pampers, Size 5.
Taking Valentine’s Day seriously is about as smart as letting their two-year-old brother drive to the store or vote. If we did that, we’d be dining on bananas 3 meals a day and singing Hail to the Chief to DJ Lance Rock.
Unfortunately, culture and tradition have taken humble February and smeared lipstick right in the middle of the year’s greyest month. At least it gives us something to do.
Kids are vulnerable to the message that love is expressed in pounds of chocolate and roses given in batches of twelve. They don’t fully grasp how true love and devotion are defined by what happens on February 15th and beyond. Being sensible about St. Valentine doesn’t mean I’m going to kick my husband in the shins for bringing chocolates and roses to me. In fact, I’m happy with romantic gestures any time of the year. But I won’t let them define the solidity of our marriage.
It’s our job to demonstrate how rich and beautiful true partnership can be. It’s worth waiting for.
As for Cupid? He’s a little smelly and he’s rubbing his eyes. Say nighty-night.
The grown-ups get to stay up.
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You nailed this one, head-on.
But I’d say cupid wears at least a size 6 diaper.
I agree that Valentine’s day isn’t the end all be all of love. As most people say, love should be shown year round. This married woman doesn’t mind celebrating Valentine’s day though, because sometimes her husband, who in fact loves her very very much, needs a little help remembering to show his affection and a date on the calendar is a good reminder. the same goes for our anniversary, birthdays and Christmas.
When it come to my daughter though, I want her to know that Valentine’s Day is really just a silly holiday and not worth all the hype. She’s loved year round by countless people, in countless places. That’s the lesson I hope she picks up on.
Right on! Well written and so true. I am about to write a blog on how I think V-day confuses the children. To me, its a trumped up holiday that often times makes single gals and guys feel bad. I despised this holiday back then and I certainly do not care for it now. It’s a good lesson for the kiddos. Thanks for sharing this!
I love it your post! We’ve always celebrated our “original anniversary” on Valentine’s Day, because they were so close together. (Nothing wrong with being a practical romantic!) This year marks 14 years together!
In the past, I never expected the cliche, and we’d always do something special, whether it was the surprise weekend getaways of the days before having a kid, or the thoughtful non-typical gifts and awesome romantic dinner he’s made by hand.
There’s almost always the unexpected thrown in with a little bit of the cliche.
This year, in addition to the fun AND cliche “Anniversary/Valentine’s Day gifts,” I got another gift: the look on Claire’s face when Daddy brought HER roses, too. To her, they’re not cliche…they’re beautiful, and I think that’s awesome.
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Wonderful post. Love this:
I’m happy with romantic gestures any time of the year. But I won’t let them define the solidity of our marriage.
Hear, hear!
Oh man, I was hoping cupid was at least potty trained…
I feel like chocolates and roses are for the unimaginative. Don’t get me wrong, I like chocolates, although I do find cut flowers a little annoying, but it seems to me those gestures are crutches for young crushes or lovers who are still learning how to express themselves.
I love love all year round!
Smelly cupid….funny!