Happy Valentine’s Day!
This can be a great time of year; pretty cards, decadent sweets and special attention from loved ones.
But when you have a child with health challenges, it can be pretty hard to feel the love. And if you’re a single parent, it can be exceptionally isolating when love is all around.
Here’s the thing: sometimes, things just suck. So take a little time to allow yourself to be there before the Pollyannas descend on you and try to tell you why you shouldn’t be (or that you should take time to do something for yourself, or journal, or visualize, or whatever.) Unless they’ve been there, they don’t know. I hope they never have to.
But you do.
You know that when you get back from your tea break or your bubble bath or your once-a-year pedicure, your child will still have a serious medical condition…and relief is fleeting at best.
So how do we get this love boat back to port?
Here are a few activities to help you and your child revive, renew, and reconnect:
-A Love Tree
Cut hearts out of construction paper and let your kids put Valentine messages on them. If you’re feeling creative, you can use white spray paint on some branches and hang the messages there with ribbon. You can also hang them from IV poles, bed frames, monitors and hospital windows (ask the nurses first, please!)
-A Love Map
Have your child write the names of friends and family at random spots on a large piece of art paper. Then, ask him or her to draw lines between names to show how each person knows the other. Talk about how those relationships came about; and how you can create new ones. It’s a great way to visualize connectedness!
-Feed Your Love
Who says cookie cutters are only for cookies? Get an inexpensive heart-shaped cutter and try it on apples, pears or watermelon. If you can tolerate grains, press it into bread or toast. Top crackers with heart-shaped cheese! Fruit leather’s another fun thing to make shapes in. And, of course, it’s always fun to make Jell-O hearts!
-LOVE SONGS!
What better to lift your spirits than music? Find your favorite love tune! Tell us yours below!
Here’s mine:
And finally, this: there is love. Always love.
With Big Love,
~Michelle
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