Valentine’s Day BEFORE and AFTER Kids

February 13, 2017

 

What do you make of Valentine’s Day now you are a parent? No, no… seriously. I am interested. Do you:

 

A) Find it’s a good excuse to sit back and relax. Lapping it all up and basking in the extra V-Day attention and loveliness. Because you know… you’re worth it!

 

B) Fakeaway and pretend that you had no idea what the date was as you are far too busy being a parent to even know what Valentine’s Day actually is.

 

C) Occasionally catch yourself daydreaming about Valentine’s Day in all its glory BEFORE the kids. Then more often than not, sucking it up when you get handed a supermarket (dog eared) card and droopy bunch of flowers.

 

 

*If you said A, whoop whoop! I am not jealous. Well… maybe just a teeny bit.

 

I would love to say it’s A all the way for me! But let’s be real here. It’s nowhere near A anymore. A has set sail, and is now a distant memory of the past. A pooh stick that once, in all it’s glory won the race, but is now an old twig stuck somewhere down stream.

 

 

Valentine’s Day BEFORE And AFTER Kids

Now, I am not saying that Mr Button is useless in the Valentine’s Day department. I am saying we are BOTH pretty useless these days. All our time is taken up by being… well… parents. And to be honest, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

Just for fun, here’s a tongue-in-cheek look at Valentine’s Day BEFORE and AFTER kids.

 

 

BEFORE Kids

Loads of cards from gawd knows who. They couldn’t all be from my mum right?

 

Valentine’s Day

 

 

 

AFTER Kids

No cards.

 

Valentine’s Day

 

 

 

BEFORE Kids

Lavish gifts that cost way too much! But were amazing.

 

Valentine’s Day

 

 

 

AFTER Kids

No gifts.

 

Valentine’s Day

 

 

 

BEFORE Kids

Beautiful bouquets of flowers.

 

Valentine’s Day

 

 

 

AFTER Kids

A bunch of wilted stems.

 

Valentine’s Day

 

 

 

If you are reading this pre-little ones, make the most of it, because Valentine’s Day will never be the same again. But I will let you in on a little secret… it will be filled with even more love (and handmade cards and gifts) than you ever thought possible!

 

 

Valentine’s Day

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day from the 3 Little Buttons x

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66 responses to “Valentine’s Day BEFORE and AFTER Kids”

  1. Heather Keet says:

    Hubster and I have never been big on Valentine’s. I like pretending it doesn’t exist and most times we just order dinner in. #DreamTeam

  2. Weve never really done Valentine’s Day – good job as I’m travelling today #dreamteam

  3. Jaclyn Bree says:

    I never did celebrate Valentine’s Day, and I certainly don’t at all now that I’m a mom. But I’m ok with that. Every now and then I do catch myself wishing Hubby would surprise me with some chocolate or something but really, if I’m honest, I’d rather not waste the money.

  4. We definitely won’t be making a big deal of Valentine’s Day this year. A glass of wine and some cheese after our daughter has gone to bed – that’s about as romantic as it’s going to get. #DreamTeam

  5. Jeannette says:

    Valentine’s after kids is the best. Yes, there are wilted flowers and no fancy dinner. But the wilted flowers my 5 yo picked specially for me and made me a card with all the . What can be better? #dreamteam

  6. Awww … I love this. It’s very low key for us since the kids came along, but if my eldest’s reaction to the little gift I gave my husband this morning is anything to go by, we may have to step up our game. The girls LOVE any excuse for presents so we may have to start getting better at it.
    #DreamTeam

  7. We had a funny discussion about Valentine’s Day last night – material, commercial rubbish vs I’d quite like a present pleeeeeease!! (guess whose standpoints each were…) Love your sketches #DreamTeam x

  8. Mrs Lighty says:

    So very true! Although a card came yesterday to say that a parcel couldn’t be delivered (we were, of course, in when this happened but that’s a minor detail!)…Mr Lighty says it’s my Valentine’s present! Of course I haven’t got him anything…so does this make me option B?! #DreamTeam

  9. We’re very much in the ‘Dine in for 2 ‘ camp since we’ve become parents! 🙂 #DreamTeam

  10. Me nd my husband don’t celebrate valentines day, but my little girl has made me a card #DREAMTEAM

  11. Kelly says:

    This is lovely. We have decided not to do Valentine’s this year… although I am secretly hoping for some flowers! Ha! We’ve never been that big on it because hubby’s birthday is a couple of days before. I’m looking forward to getting cards from Jacob when he’s bigger #DreamTeam

  12. We don’t do anything! Never did before we had our son either. It’s just one of those holidays that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. That said, a bunch of flowers wouldn’t be thrown back in his face if he did get something… #dreamteam

  13. I must say it is no different for me. I have always been adamant that I just don’t get it or like it. I love to be lavished with thoughtful gifts, I like roses but they are not my favourite so would be happy with something else. I don’t like boxes of chocolates I would much rather have a bar of galaxy or a flake. The issue I have is why today? When I was first dating my husband I think he thought I was tricking him when I made a big deal out of telling him not to bother. He took it as a ‘test’ and got me the flowers and the card. I think my face said enough, I appreciated it of course, the roses were beautiful and the card was suitably vomit inducing but it had cost him double the amount it would if he made that same gesture in March… When I would have REALLY appreciated it because it would have been 100% unexpected. Does that make sense? Or am I a total Valentine Scrooge? Either way today is no different…. Off to sainsburys I go 😉
    #DreamTeam

  14. Petite Words says:

    Hot air balloon rides, WOW! Happy day of LOVE. I do like to celebrate today, but we should all be doing little things always, love is EVERY day after all (: #dreamteam

  15. Made me chuckle… The year before I got with my now husband I got three bunches of flowers! THREE! And two were mysteries. WTF eh?? #dreamteam

  16. Kat says:

    This is so true! I’ve never been one for celebrating valentines day but it’s much more a family thing for us now. #DreamTeam

  17. swapna says:

    We’d make fun of Valentines day than celebrate it! haha

    #dreamteam

  18. Money Corgi says:

    Nice illustrations

    I think its a cool idea to get the kids involved in creating a handmade gift for mum/dad. either adding something to a card or helping making something from scratch

  19. We’ve never been fans of V-day so nothing has changed for us now we have kids.
    I LOVE your little pictures – so cute!
    #DreamTeam

  20. We’ve always been a bit rubbish at gift buying whatever the occasion! I’m going to milk it tonight though and get a takeaway! Haha!

    #DreamTeam

  21. Carol says:

    Very cute ideas and graphics

  22. Such a cute post!

    Before kids: excited about sexy time
    After kids: dreading sexy time- cant keep eyes open

    #dreamteam

  23. Ah I love this! “Do you want me to buy you something?” Is also classic Daddy Pig! 😉 There is nothing cuter than a hand made card though. xx

  24. Lucy At Home says:

    Haha yup this is oh-so-true! Valentines pans out pretty much the same as any other special occasion (birthday, christmas, mothers day, etc) – Hubby realises that it’s supposed to be a special occasion the next day, he comes to ask me if we’re buying each other presents, I tell him if I’ve bought one or not, and then he asks me how much I’ve spent! Hahaha. It’s not exactly romantic but he tries his best! #DreamTeam

  25. Hahahah, I love the drawings:)
    Valentine’s day post-kids is a myth, you’re so right!!!
    Here’s a little parody I penned for this ‘love’ly day, just for us mums
    http://talesfrommamaville.com/love-is-in-the-air/
    #DreamTeam

  26. Left Back says:

    We only do a card so it’s not changed after kids #dreamteam

  27. Charlotte says:

    Usually I would say A was definitely out of the question. However this year my mother has the kids, the hubby presented me with a silver rose to last a lifetime. I am being sent out to go shopping for myself while the hubby prepares a three course meal for us later. Its nice to be surprised occasionally #dreamteam

  28. ‘I can go and buy you a present if you want me to’! Hahahaha. Brilliant. And well, true, sadly! #DreamTeam

  29. Lisa says:

    I’m not sure I’ve ever really done anything much for Valentine’s Day. Even before the girls arrived their dad point blank refused to celebrate because it was all too expensive (note, we are no longer married). Today I am celebrating whilst watching The Hunger Games with my 11 year old, and it’s perfect. Have a great day #DreamTeam x

  30. Jaki says:

    My handmade valentines cards from my little man are the most precious cards I’ve ever had – although my dozen red roses from the hubby this morning were pretty special too. #dreamteam

  31. Helena says:

    Love the little illustrations that go with this. Things sure do change after kids arrive. #DreamTeam

  32. Oh I’m definitely not a valentines day person so having a legitimate reason not to care is great! Although I suspect tonight will mainly be spent settling an emotional toddler to sleep who is suffering from a major case of the terrible twos… That’s not my preferred night either. Hmm. #DreamTeam

  33. I don’t think I ever got much before having kids to be fair. Haha.

    #DreamTeam

  34. Haha. Very accurate! Valentine’s day is also my husband’s birthday so we used to do bigger celebrations. Now, three kids later, he is lucky to get a card!
    #dreamteam

  35. Yes! life sure is different after kids. But I’m totally okay with that =) LOVE that last pic! #Dreamteam

  36. Hubby and I have mostly stopped doing Valentine’s Day the last few years, although we do exchange cards and he usually buys me a bunch of roses.
    This is our first Valentine’s Day as parents and we’ve done cards and he bought me a cuddly toy. It’s the first year I haven’t had roses, but I’m not upset by it. I think this is the first year though that we haven’t had a ‘special’ Valentine’s Day meal (we usually get one of the supermarket meal deals). We just didn’t really think about it as we’re so busy working and looking after little one 🙂 Never mind, beans and whatever’s in the freezer it is! #DreamTeam

  37. Samsam says:

    I can really relate to this post, we couldn’t do much on Valentine’s day today because we had no one to watch our toddler so fingers crossed we can celebrate on the weekend #dreamteam

  38. Valentines day is a hard one. But I suppose you should always try and make time for some romance. Hubby made me and the boys a lovely dinner so mine was fab. But I do think romance shouldn’t;t be confined to one time of year. Thank you for hosting #DreamTeam

  39. Ahh we get each other naff cards and that’s it. We have our birthdays and anniversary in February so we can’t afford to spend loads on each other too. But we have a nice dinner. It’s perfect for us.

    #DreamTeam

  40. yvonne says:

    I didnt get anything for valentines 🙁 must as I complain about it being commercial – it would have been nice to get a card xx #DreamTeam

  41. Aww… I’ve never been a big fan of Valentines. I don’t like cut flowers and it always seemed like a hassle to find a gift so soon after Christmas, so this year Grumpy Dad and I are basking in the glow of forgetting Valentines Day exists. Although it has got us a lot of funny looks from people asking what we’re doing :-s #DreamTeam

  42. Kate Holmes says:

    Mine got red roses in last night after many years of bitter experience of me sulking at not being treated like a princess. Those drawings are amazing.

  43. Hah! Valentine’s Day gets pretty expensive for my husband! H has to get flowers for me and our two little girls!! That the most romantic thing we do though as some little monster insist on sleeping in our bed… #dreamteam

  44. Helen says:

    Last Valentine’s is was so overdue I could barely walk, I can’t even remember what we did. This year I bought a pizza and to make it extra romantic – frozen chips! We did cards, although Dadius Prime had to very indiscreetly borrow a pen at 6.45am and buzz off upstairs for five minutes, ha. Ah well, here’s hoping. #dreamteam

  45. Gary says:

    We hadn’t even written our cards until the kids had gone to sleep. The wife went to a spinning class while I finished DIY in the bathroom! That said we did eventually sit down for a lovely M&S meal and glass of bubbly – it was nice to take the time out and spoil her #dreamteam

  46. Beautiful illustations the last one says it perfectly – family love x

  47. Emma says:

    Hahah!! We would swap cards before the little one, and occasionally go out for a nice dinner, but more often than not we’d choose to do something before or afterwards when it was cheaper!! We did actually do cards this year, and I was given a lovely picture for my desk at work 🙂 that made my day and as you’ve mentioned I received my first home made gift!!!! That was truly the best gift ever! #DreamTeam

  48. I got a text message this year – “Happy Valentines day – I’m sorry, I had no idea and just heard it was today on the radio”

    Honestly this makes me smile and laugh, it means he cares, just forgot. And that’s ok.

    He got a pudding with a heart on it that I got in the click and collect shopping earlier from Tesco.

    Both things made us smile – and that’s what’s really important right?

    Love the post – the wilted flower is my fav I think!

    #dreamteam

  49. Haha I love the cartoons!! We’ve never done Valentines day really but Gaz did buy me flowers this year which was a shocker, even more so as I hadn’t even bothered getting him a card! #dreamteam

  50. Chloe Wood says:

    So true – no time for romance! #DreamTeam

  51. ohmummymia says:

    To be honest our boy didn’t change anything because we’ve never celebrated that day. I want to believe that my husband loves me every day and he doesn’t need any occasion to buy me a flowers:)
    #DreamTeam

  52. Amie says:

    We aren’t all that big on Valentine’s Day but I love it now with my babies just having a night in and a surprise bouquet of flowers turn up at the door which was amazing! Great post 🙂 #DreamTeam

  53. Edward says:

    I funny post Ann. As we get older the experience of Valentine’s day changes but not what it means #dreamteam

  54. Cards and flowers for us and a nice meal. I love the ‘i can go buy you a present if you want one’, I get that too! x
    #DreamTeam

  55. ROFL! HAHAHAHA! My husband made me a Scrap book of love stuff and our dating story before we got married. He delivered it with roses in front of the entire office, who all think he’s Richard Gere or something. Fast forward 10 years and it’s all very sweet but not so Richard Gere. Great post! Yvadney x #DreamTeam

  56. luckily before kids Hubby was always on call so we never really did anything and now we have Ben its not really any different other than hubby did actually have the night off but got home late so i got drunk off half a bottle of prosecco and went to bed hahahahahah #dreamteam

  57. We had takeaway and tv! Before kids we probably would have had a meal out. I love my dressing gown too much now! #DreamTeam

  58. Michelle says:

    Brilliant. I didn’t even get a card this year lol #dreamteam

  59. Great post. We’ve never really done Valentines Day as it’s also my husband’s birthday so tend to focus on that instead which I think is much more important x
    #DreamTeam

  60. James Hopes says:

    Really enjoyed that one! Our Valentine’s Day was actually pretty decent this year. Lots of chocolate and a nice Italian for dinner! But definitely the past 2 years have been rather ‘low key’

  61. Nige says:

    We have celebrated Valentine’s Day so it’s no different love your drawings thanks for hosting #deamteam

  62. My mummy is definitely ‘C’ Valentine’s Day is a distant memory she’s got more luck going out and buying stuff in for Valentine’s Day!! 😉 #DreamTeam

  63. Wendy says:

    Haha I love this. We still try to celebrate valentine’s day but now we have 2 kids we no longer have the energy to make the same effort we did back in the day. We try and have a meal once the kids are in bed..just about managed it this year without falling asleep! Hope you had a good one xx #dreamteam

  64. We still make an effort but our effort is a dine in for 2! Any excuse for a nice meal and bottle of wine or fizz! I was disappointed not to get a card from Miss Belle’s nursery this year – got one last year! #DreamTeam

  65. Haha I love this and so true! We didn’t buy each other any gifts this year, I bought a card but failed to write in it eeeek/ Next year will be better we keep telling ourselves 🙂 Thank you for hosting #dreamteam with me xxx

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