When I was growing up, my mom took advantage of Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to communicate her love to my sister, my brother, and I.  Each year, she woke up early and set small gifts at the breakfast table along with a handwritten note or card that basically were meant to say “I Love You.”

As a 38-year-old grown man now who can still recall these memories, they obviously left meaningful impressions on me. My wife and I do the same thing for our children now, and we hope this tradition will pass down to our next generation.

What we do is go to a local grocery store or shopping center (without our children with us!) and look for small inexpensive items that will express our love to each of them.

Examples of gifts include things like stickers, coloring books, a chocolate bar, or some little trinket from the “Valentine’s Day” aisle in the store. If you have older children, it’s a little bit more challenging, so think about their likes and interests and just be creative.

You can spend as little or as much as you want on each child. It’s not the amount that is important, but rather the thought that counts.

The night before Valentine’s Day, we place the items on the breakfast table at each of their seats with a short love note from us. And we date the note so they can keep it in their “memory shoe box” and look back on it years later.

This simple and inexpensive expression communicates to your children… “Your father and mother love you and want to show it on this special day in this special, fun way!”

It will leave a greater impression on them than you know.

Dad, don’t forget your special woman on Valentine’s Day too! Think flowers and a date! Romance her!

Blessings on your family,
Joey Watkins
Founder, FamilyDads

FamilyDads is a dad-founded and dad-focused organization committed to helping dads prioritize and lead ther family. Signup for the FamilyDads e-Newsletter at http://www.FamilyDads.com