I hate Valentine's Day. I know that is such a harsh statement, but for the past five years I have had the opportunity to relive Valentine's Day from the eyes of one-hundred 8th graders. Do you remember what that was like? Somehow these kids convince their parents (most of which don't have enough money to provide their students with pencils and paper) to buy cheap stuffed teddy bears made in China holding red hearts that say something so ridiculous as "Love You Forever." Girls come with roses wrapped in cheap cellophane that their "boyfriend"s mother purchased from the man standing on the street corner. Of course none of these things fit in the student's locker and they either traipse around with them from class to class, proudly showing off the cheap jewelry that they have convinced themselves is a real diamond (but it is most definitely not) and whatever else they have received from their true love.
So yesterday, one of my students came into class with a large stuffed animal holding a rose. She asked me if I could put it back behind my desk for her during class because it was too big to fit in her locker. I replied, "Why don't you just throw it in the garbage? You are going to do that in two weeks anyway when you break up." My class all sighed and gave me dirty looks, while my student vowed that she would at least be with this boy for the next month because she really, really liked him. I marked it down on my calendar and we are planning to revisit this discussion on the 28th.
I know that this was a pretty harsh response and I should at least allow my students to live in this fantasy world while they are young. But I always see the other kids, the brilliant, quiet girl that sits in class and barely says a word, but is a fantastic writer and reads great books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Pride and Prejudice and understands them and loves them in a way far and above her 8th grade peers. She continues to sit quietly on Valentine's Day...she doesn't have any stuffed animals or cheap chocolates that come in a cheap, red, heart-shaped box with a picture of a frog on it. I just hope that she understands how great she is and doesn't worry about all of these ridiculous valentines.
Don't get me wrong. I am lucky enough to share the day with the woman of my dreams. I am glad to have a chance to express to her how much I love and care for her, how lucky I am to be her valentine. But seeing the emotions and craze of these 14 year old students, makes me so happy that I don't have to go through that again.
