in fifth grade, my teacher said i know that you mean everything that is on these cards- ugh- I think the girls were going to be sick!

Comment by Jenny M on 1/24/2008 @ 8:13 am

Valentines’ Day was one of the best because all the boys you had a secret crush on got the best card in the box of assorted cards. I remember going to the store and picking through all of the boxes of cards and trying to get “the box” that no one else would buy so my Valentines would be different from any of the other kids cards. Well, that never happened. It was also really cool getting one from a friend or that “special” someone in your class that you thought was so awesome. The cupcakes with all of the gooey, yummy frosting in pretty girlie-girl pinks , reds and purple made you want to eat at least one in each color. But the best part of all was making the “shoebox” mailbox covered in construction paper hearts and lace doilies that would sit on your desk waiting to be filled up with special messages and conversation candy hearts from your friends and even some of your not so friendly classmates. Each year you got to make a new one. Then take it home and place it in your room to cherish and read your Valentine’s over and over again. It was really great when you would get a Valentine from someone who you thought maybe did not like you or kind of was a bully and then they would surprise you with a really neat Valentine. As I look back and have my own kids now that do this every year, I think it was a great way for kids to express themselves or share feelings and let others know that “hey, you are really a great person and I care about you and like you.” The world today could use a Valentine’s Day every month. It really makes you feel good!
Lori Martori
Scottsdale AZ

Comment by Lori on 1/24/2008 @ 9:18 am

Hi, I remember that we always got to make the pretty box to put our Valentine’s Day cards in! That was my favorite part of the whole day! The teacher always reminded us to make sure we made a card for everybody! Thanks,Cindi

Comment by Cindi Hoppes on 1/24/2008 @ 9:54 am

It’s funny. My memories of Valentines Day are completely full of school only. My parents didn’t “do” Valentines Day ever! But I do remember making the bag all through elementary school to bring home all of those yummy red and pink lacy mini love cards. I remember being the first person in first grade who could successfully cut a heart by folding the paper in half… that was BIG TIME!

Comment by Jill on 1/24/2008 @ 12:13 pm

My mom got married when I was 9 years old. The first valentine’s day with my new step-dad my mom and I decided to hand-make valentine’s cards for each other. I made my new step-dad a construction paper card with a real flower glued to the front. He made me a beautiful hand made card (he is an artist). I still have it.

Comment by Tara on 1/24/2008 @ 12:27 pm

I always made sure to give a ‘mushy’ one to the boy I had a crush on. I was SURE he’d like me back afterwards.

Comment by taryn on 1/24/2008 @ 12:55 pm

When I was in the fifth grade, I had a crush. I convinced my Mom that I wanted to buy my teacher a teddy bear and a balloon because she was my favorite teacher. Boy was I lying, sorry Mom. She purchased the teddy bear and the balloon, I added a little piece of felt to the little bear and wrote I love you on it. I gave it to my crush. He liked it but nothing ever came of it, besides friendship. I’m glad we were friends.

Comment by Marissa on 1/24/2008 @ 1:15 pm

i so loved the card exchanges at school!! after the exchange us girls would compare cards that we received from our favorite valentines!! being a teacher i knkow love to watch the expressions as the cards are opened!! thanks

Comment by stacey moore on 1/24/2008 @ 8:03 pm

Hmmm…we always gave valentines to EVERYONE in our classes when I was little…and we got them for everyone too, so it was super fun to open all those 25 valentine cards! And once a boy gave me a pencil as a gift…I thought it was the greatest ever! haha.

Comment by Andrea on 1/24/2008 @ 8:03 pm

We always made a colored paper basket the day before Valentines as an art project. We taped the basket to our desks for the Valentines to be put in. It was so much fun to give them to everyone and get them in return.

Comment by Rita on 1/24/2008 @ 9:02 pm