Valentine Chaos

Okay. I absolutely see the wisdom in only filling out the "from" area on your valentines. C was asked to bring valentines to her 26 fellow preschoolers. Her preschool teacher, whom I really like, asked each child to fill out the "to" and the "from" on each valentine. "It will help them develop their handwriting!" I agreed with that and C filled out each one by herself.

The big party was Wednesday. We were told the last 45 minutes of preschool would be reserved for the merry-making. When I got there at noon, I was greeted by a scene I can only describe as: INSANITY - PRESCHOOL STYLE.

Each child had decorated a brown paper bag with crayons. They also wrote their names in crayon on the bag. However, the bag was turned upside down while they decorated, so after the bag was opened and ready to receive the expected goodies, their names were promptly displayed upside down. Reading a name that a 3 or 4 year old has written themselves, is one thing, but reading the name, in crayon, upside down, on a paper bag, while in the company of 26 screaming-sugar-induced-hysterical preschoolers, and their mothers, is quite another.

So basically, there were 26 moms walking around, bumping into each other, trying to put the right valentine, in the right brown paper bag. All of us were tilting our head way over to one side, trying to read the names. Everyone was asking everyone else if they'd seen so-and-so's bag. Meanwhile, all 26 children were either fighting with another child, playing with another child, or just standing back, in awe at the incredible melee in front of them. Holy crap.

It took me 30 minutes to pass out the Valentines. I don't think I have ever seen F so relieved to go home. This whole thing could have been solved by leaving the "to" area blank. It was a learning experience for all of us, well maybe just for the adults. I don't think the kids cared at all. C was just happy to see that she got a tinkerbell pencil & a tattoo.