"They're a bit on the small size," said my sixth grade son, as he painstakingly sliced through a pan of home made pink marshmallow rice crispy treats for his classroom's Valentine party.
"Tell them these are European-sized treats," I replied. "Less is more." Michelle Obama would approve - for part of her campaign to radically reshape school nutritional practices across the country does include an occasional nod for permissible party treats.
Bring it on, Mrs. O, the nation needs a new outlook on clearing the decks of dirge that has devastated school lunch programs over the past couple of decades.
Poised to depart the comfortable shores of elementary school at the end of this school year, my third and youngest son's Valentine treat-making activity marks the peak of a small mountain of memories of kitchen-table crafts.
How many hundreds of hand made Valentine cards created in my kitchen, I've completely lost count. Today was quite possibly the grand finale for my parenting services in the production of multiple student treats. No more cupcakes for the classroom on birthdays, no more sheets of cookies at Christmas.
Readers outside of America must think us a trifle mad to make such a sugary meal out of Valentine's Day. It came as a surprise to me when my first son's nursery school's February note home called for Cupid-themed sweet treats for toddlers.
In my book, a Valentine is a Valentine, and a person should only, honestly, have one (at a time). Secretly or openly. Where has the all the heart-pounding, passionate romance gone? Not something to be packed into overblown, imported blooms and helium balloons. Bring back the unsigned card in the mail.
Or take a leaf out of the Perpetual Almanack of Folklore, if you are single. For today's the day to write the names of prospective lovers on slips of paper, roll them in clay balls and drop into a bowl of water. The first name to rise to the surface on February 14th will be your Valentine!
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