Is Valentine's Day still fun?

I have to ask because it created for me the same stress that Christmas cards evoked this year. It became a chore. Specifically, Liliana's school valentines. We received a notice home about the Valentine's party and instructions for your child to address valentines for each classmate, using capital letters. I have to assume that my 5 yo is not alone in her disinterest in writing letters. She enjoys books and verbal discussions of words and spelling, but she couldn't care less about the achievement of signing her own name. I know this will pass, and she will one day be writing term papers. After all, she is only five. In the meantime she is expected to arrive at school tomorrow with 16, yes 16 addressed valentines. I knew this was going to be a challenge.

We picked out a cute foam shape valentine kit with stickers and glitter pens, and I had hopes that this would motivate her. I started days ago suggesting we try some together. The pens didn't work too well on the foam, and she quickly lost interest. I tried to get her to just decorate, but mostly she just wanted to squeeze Hershey's kiss shaped globs of glitter glue on them, globs so big they probably wouldn't dry until Easter. Trying to stay calm, I kept repeating, "Try not to squeeze so much out, you'll run out and won't have any glitter for the rest." She had addressed two yesterday, but I knew 14 more would not get done without help. I pictured the other Moms in the class and wondered how their afternoon was going. It's a private preschool, and I've met more than a few over-achievers and watched them directing their children. Jim and I really value creativity and individual expression, but who doesn't want their kid to make a good impression? I wanted the valentines to be fun, but we had a deadline. I decided I'd write the "To:" part and see if I could get Lili to write her own name. She did one, then went back to globs of glitter glue. By now there is glitter everywhere. I called out each child's name and had her designate which valentine they would get before I printed the name of the recipient. That's participation, right?

"Is this fun Sweetie?"

"Yup"

More glitter goo. We chose one for her teacher, and I wrote, "Mrs. T"

Lili chuckled and said, "That's what Mrs. Tremblay calls herself, Mrs. T"

I was glad to hear her talk so nicely about the teacher who had forcebly picked her up and carried her off to class while she cried for her Daddy yesterday.

"Would you like to write your name on Mrs. Tremblay's?"

In my head I'm cheering, "Come on Lil'! She's going to write your Kindergarten evaluation!"

"Okay" (Yay!!!)

She carefully takes the marker and writes "N"

"N?"

"Oh look, I wrote an N." she says. Then she proceeds to write an "O"

"N-O? That's not your name silly goose!" I'm laughing hysterically inside at the obvious subconscious message.

Then she writes an L and and M.

"What does that say Mommy?"

"Ah, that says No-lem."

"That's my new name."

She's done. I'm left at the glittery table with the valentine's to finish. Do I print her name so it is clear the her Mommy did it for her? Do I try to forge her "signature"? Oh the moral dillemma! Come on, this is preschool. Isn't Valentine's Day supposed to be FUN?!!?! I decide to print her name with my left hand, feeling a bit like a genius. I hope she doesn't tell everyone that I wrote her name........

Three cheers for Eve tonight! We read the new potty book, and on the way up to bed Eve went into the bathroom and indicated (in swedish) that she wanted to sit on the potty. Off came the jammies and diaper. She sat down, and PEED!!!!