Fortunately, Nathan and I are in total agreement on this. We have only celebrated it once in twelve years, and that was only because my sister-in-law kindly offered us childcare so we could have our first date-night after Beckett was born. So, technically, we were just celebrating a night away from burp cloths and stinky diapers. And if I’m being honest, it looked a lot more like me anxiously checking my phone under the table than it did gazing at Nathan lovingly over filet mignon.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t go out and enjoy each other’s company at a fancy restaurant if you can safely swing it.. Buy each other gifts, if that’s going to brighten your day. Eat some cherry-filled chocolates, or accidentally eat the gross maple-filled one when you misread the guide. We all need something to enjoy right now.
But, I’m not going to act like that’s celebrating love.
Matt de la Peña seems to know that, too.
In his picture book Love, illustrated by Loren Long, de la Peña creates a montage for our children of the ordinarily extraordinary way of love. He inspires an observant eye to see love in all those everyday things we do that bring us together. From playing in the sprinklers on hot days with your neighbors to waking up in your mom’s arms after a bad dream. From fishing with your grandpa to crowding around the man strumming his guitar in the subway.
He describes love to our children in a way that teaches them that love is actually the millions of moments that people show us we’re not alone in life.
So, I’ll celebrate love when I notice Nathan plugged in my Airpods that were out of battery because he knows I’ll want them later for my run. Or, when Beckett describes me as “snuggly” in an assignment for class. Or, when Oliver runs up and hugs my leg while I’m cooking dinner. I’ll celebrate love when I see my future niece’s ultrasound or Beckett has to immediately share his new Lego creation with his cousins. I’ll celebrate when a package arrives from my father-in-law full of books and science kits for the boys.
Thanks Matt de la Peña for showing our kids to look for love in those places, too.
#mattdelapeña
#valentinesday
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