Make it a family love day

Many people assume this is a day just for lovers, but Valentine’s Day is held to celebrate love with family and friends as well. Here is how you can celebrate the day with those close to you.

Margaret Mukasa, a mother of four; three boys and one girl aged between one to 12, has a perfect plan for this year’s Valentine’s Day.

She says, “My husband and I bought roses for each of the children. They had no idea what we are planning especially because we had told them yesterday, that someone else would be dropping them to school today – not us. They are not happy about it because the morning trip from home as a family is always fun, we all look forward to it.”

But that was until they found out what their parents were up to. You can pick a leaf from what Margaret and her husband have planned for their children for your own family today.

Go out of your way
So, the Mukasa children went to bed last night, disappointed that they would not go with their parents the next day. But that was until they woke up to well made breakfast today, different from the usual hurriedly made stuff they usually eat.

The senior Mukasas woke up much earlier than the children to pull this off. And as the little ones headed out of the house, both parents hugged and presented a red rose to each of the children. Also, reservations have been made and they will have a family pizza treat after school at a nice restaurant – that is still a secret.

This fabulous plan was all Margaret’s idea. She says, “It was easy to convince my husband to go along with the plan. He had to be in because I needed help in the kitchen.”

Few parents are this thoughtful and Margaret clearly outdid herself. She says, “It is not something my parents did for us as children so when people in Uganda started celebrating Valentine’s Day, I thought it was only for couples yet it is not.

I want my children to grow up knowing that love is bigger than what is between a man and a woman. But because my husband and I know that what they will have between themselves and their partners in future is grand, we decided to make the family celebration simple by giving them a rose instead of a bouquet and we will have pizza as opposed to having the conventional dinner.”

Lunch at their school
There are so many other things that you can do with and for the children, like driving to their school and having lunch with them without notifying them. It will be lovely to carry their favourite foods.

Gift exchange over red and black dinner at home
Parents can also buy simple gifts for each of the children on Valentine’s Day.

Luckily this, year, the day falls on a Thursday when most people’s schedules are getting lighter. You can get home earlier and try out a recipe that majority of the family members yearn to try out, to make it feel more Valentine’s than the average day. Play with the “official” colours of the day red and black in the dining room.

Movie night
Another way to celebrate the day can be by having a movie night at home. You can either watch a classic or something new that is still showing at the cinema. But watch out for adult scenes as you choose the movie so that no one has to be ordered to keep on closing their eyes as you watch.

Children to parents
Especially if they are school going, children might not be able to spend to make parents feel special. What will help is being creative and working with the available resources.

Give them flowers
Flowers are also very popular on this day but you might not have money to buy roses for your parents. Instead , move around the compound or neighbourhood and pick a few flowers probably of different colours.

Thereafter, tie them up using a ribbon and hand them to your parents. You can even write a letter and place it among the flowers. Last year, nine-year-old Benjamin Mugire, gave flowers to his mother and she was so happy. “This year I am going to give flowers to my father and mother,” he promises.