Throughout the year--but especially during the long, cold Winter months--we're sort of programmed, I think, to mark time using holidays. In my mind, it goes something like this: October = trick-or-treating (and candy-munching); November = spending time with loved ones (and...feasting); December = presents and family and parties (yet more noshing) and Jesus' birthday. (And so on, but you get the point. Did you happen to notice that we love to eat around here?) But in the past year or so, some of the "minor holidays" have moved abruptly to the Endangered Species List in our house. First, we lost Halloween, when the boys decided in no uncertain terms that they were D-O-N-E with dressing up and going door-to-door to collect treats (and really, why should they, when Mom enables their Chocolate Habit by always having a stash on hand in the pantry? But that's a topic for another day...) Now, they've determined that they have absolutely no desire to exchange Valentines Day cards with their classmates.
For the 5th-grader--marginally aware of, but not yet remotely interested in, girls--this is not an unexpected development. At this point, he'd rather make rude jokes (or noises, for that matter) with his buddies than interact with the Fairer Sex (unless the young ladies are disgusted by his behavior, which if I understand it correctly, scores you Bonus Guy Points). He has begun to be embarrassed--or downright grossed out--by anything directly or indirectly related to "love". Illustrative example: he shared with me recently that he'd had a nightmare about going to Middle School (which he'll be doing in the Fall). First, he found himself sitting in a classroom where all of the other students were girls. Then, he escaped to wander the halls (probably searching for the cafeteria, knowing Derek), and was attacked by some sort of "demon/harpy thing" (Yes, he's been reading WAAAY too much Percy Jackson of late...yet I love that his casual conversational lingo includes Greek mythology terms. My adorable Mini-Me-Nerd). So, I asked him which situation had been more terrifying, and he replied emphatically, without hesitation, "Oh, definitely the room full of girls!" (naturally...)
Of course, the 2nd-grader idolizes and imitates his older brother, and so instantly adopted the official No Valentines Policy. However, there may be hope for the younger Casanova--he told me that one day at Dismissal Time at school, he and his friend Sarah ended up being the last stragglers in the coat closet, packing up their stuff. According to him, because they were the only two left, he turned to her and jokingly asked, "Hey, Sarah, wanna go to a restaurant?" (I'm sure with all the suave sophistication of...a 7-year old James Bond? Nah, probably more like Bart Simpson!) And the answer? On the way back to their seats, she reportedly replied, "Sure, can I pick the restaurant?" (good girl!)
So, it looks Cupid has been banished (Husband has always called it a Hallmark Holiday anyway...I can definitely do without the sappy card...as long as he remembers the Ghirardelli!) What's next? St. Patrick's Day is safe, since we have some Irish heritage (and, well, it's another excuse to eat a special meal!) We're big fans of Fat Tuesday (yep, Pancake Dinner--jeez, you'd think we plan our entire lives around food!) My kids never actually subscribed to the Big Bunny, but Easter just happens to be tied to Jesus' Resurrection (and what do you know: marshmallow peeps! and...chocolate!) so we'll obviously be keeping that one. After that, it's a LOOOONG Summer without a Chocolate Day--I mean holiday. I predict we'll be making some up...chocolate croissants for Bastille Day, anyone?
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