Love and Appreciation Day

Growing up as a child Valentine's Day was a specific day out of the year to show love and appreciation to everyone that makes an impact on your life.  Now it has evolved into a day in which a mass of participants, willingly or unwillingly, purchase insanely expensive gifts, over-priced cards and chocolates, and stuffed animals that has a shelf "life" (emphasis on life and the amount of time it spends on the shelf) of possibly one month. As an innocent child with innocent views on life,  I remember my Mother giving my older brother, younger sister, and I small gifts and saying, "Happy Valentine's Day."  This sub-conscious memory in time is what motivates conscious decisions to ensure my kids have an urge to show appreciation and love to the loved ones in their lives.  I find it more and more necessary to do this as an attempt to desensitize my kids from the following flaws surrounding love: the best way to show love and appreciation is to purchase, the misuse and misunderstanding of the word love, and the acts of showing appreciation and love should be expected only by women.  My only question is how do I do this with a 5 year old son and a 2 year old daughter?

 

I need to devise a plan that would teach my son and daughter how to appreciate and show gestures of love.  I'm a firm believer in practicing what I teach so this is going to be a hard feat to accomplish.  I'm no stranger to self-diagnosis.  I've spent hours on end posing who I am, why I act the way I do, and what effects my own upbringing have have on my children.  In all actuality this will force me to adapt to new ways appreciating and loving my own loved ones.  I'm not a cold-hearted person, I'm just desensitized by my own upbringing and flawed understanding like the masses of today.  Back to the game plan...  My children need to see me frequently showing appreciation and love to their mother (my wife).  Of course this needs to be on a regular basis so they see the efforts one performs for another they appreciate and/or love.

 

I wanted to have my son give my my wife and daughter a flower each and a card he made, but by the time I get home from work, he and my daughter is sleep.  I also wanted my daughter to give my son and wife something small like a piece of candy and a card.  No matter how I view it, fundamentals, morals, nurturing does begin at home!  I have a full year to prepare and show my kids how its done!  

 

Arch1tekt™

20130214 Love and Appreciation Day