What do you wish your College kid(s) would do for you this February 14th? For me, I would like a phone call, telling me all about classes, work, friends, what they have been doing to keep busy, etc. Or even just a quick call to wish me and my wife Happy Valentines Day. We will be sending our daughter a care package this week and obviously this is our ploy to receive some reciprocated love. I would like to hear from other College parents, what your strategy is for getting a little love back from time to time and what you want/ wish from your kids this Valentine’s Day.
Actually, another dialogue I would like to open up in this thread is, what are you going to do for your kiddo this Valentine’s Day to show some love to them?
I really don’t expect anything from my kids. I send them fun care packages because it is truly MY pleasure to do that. I I don’t want a “strategy” for getting my kids to show love or affection. Either they feel it or they don’t. I don’t want it unless they genuinely want to give it and honestly me feelings are not hurt if they are simply too busy to do so at a specific time.
As for what I send, I send my dd who has an apartment a frozen heart shaped pizza and cookie. My younger in a dorm gets some cute valentine’s pj’s and socks
Dd and I make it a fun galentines day. It doesn’t have to be on the 14th. This year we are planning to go to one of those paint bars on a Friday evening. We had the groupon for one that we wanted to use over the holidays but never got a chance to do so. I haven’t painted in ages so it will be interesting to see how our paintings compare with each other. On Saturday we will make some valentines day treats at home. She always finds something fun to bake or make. This year she wants to do fruit and candy skewers made to look like an arrow. Once we made apple roses. Maybe that will turn into an edible arrangement. Probably in the evening we will make some popcorn and watch the movie Valentines day. Maybe on Sunday I will take her out for crepes or to brunch at Cheesecake factory since that is something she enjoys. May pick up some flowers from the market just to cheer up the home. We also have my nieces birthday two days after so we will be attending her birthday party on the weekend too. There are no formalities. We just do whatever we feel like doing.
My son sent me the most beautiful b/d card and gift in early February. I don’t expect anything for V day. Maybe he’ll send to his g/f. I did send him a humorous card and cookies from Dancin Deer. They will arrive on Friday, so he can use on weekend or share with roommates, etc.
I never realized this was a holiday celebrated between kids & parents.
I sure hope my parents never expected anything because they never got anything and vice versa. I’ve hated the holiday for as long as I can remember though and honestly haven’t the slightest clue if my parents even celebrate it with each other. My money would be on “no.”
What I hope most for is that each one of them will find someone really special and amazing to eventually spend Valentine’s Day with themselves - I know they love me, I don’t need chocolate, roses or a Hallmark card to proof it! - but I wish for love for them.
That said, I did order some Cheryl’s cookies for my youngest who is a sophomore in college.
My dad used to buy my sister and me small bags of chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Thanks for the reminder to call my family next week, OP 
I view Valentine’s Day a marketing ploy to boost candy, card, and flower sales. In 31 wonderful years of marriage DW and I have exchanged Valentine’s gifts and/or gone out for VD dinner exactly ZERO times. The idea of celebrating VD with my kids is absurd to me, but not as uncomfortable/creepy as the thought of developing a “strategy for getting a little love back” from them.
^^^ that was uncalled for.
I get cards, gifts and phone calls from my daughters every Valentine’s Day. Only the cards say “happy birthday”…
I send my kids boxes of Ethel M chocolates every year for Valentine’s Day. :x No ploy, just showing them that I love them and am thinking of them. I always get a phone call (but probably would anyway).
Since my daughter was small it has just been the two of us as I have raised her by myself. I always looked for ways to make life exciting in our home and since she is my only child I love any opportunity to do something nice for her. We would have themed parties at our home often as she was growing up. My hope is for her to have fond memories of all the fun we had as she was growing up. Right now she is in college but is close enough to come home on a weekend. Now that she is grown up and not dating anybody I still try to do special things for her and she in turn tries to make things special with her younger cousins. We didn’t spend a lot of money but we always tried to have a good time. I don’t have to do anything to get love from her. As mother and daughter our relationship is one of mutual respect. Now that she is an adult I feel I can tell her anything and she is there to give her honest opinion and guidance. I don’t see anything absurd or creepy about that. We have shared good times and bad and maybe for that reason we are close to each other and look out for one another. One day when she is in a serious relationship then someone else will do for her. If one chooses not to do anything that is their choice but if someone wants to have some fun I don’t see anything wrong with that.
My D1 is in a serous relationship, and I still send her chocolates. Nothing wrong with having lots of people love you!
S attends college overseas and anytime I hear from him (we usually keep up via email) is good.
I’m in the camp of VD is for lovers, not for kids or parents. But hey, no one is hurting anyone by showing their love with kisses and candy and flowers, its just not something I’ve ever done.
Valentine’s Day is a great day to celebrate all those we love!
H and I got engaged on Valentine’s Day. He’s such a romantic! While he shows me he loves me every day and in so many ways over the years, we still try to do something special to celebrate the day we decided to get married. And we’ve always “shown a little love” to our D. I’m sending out a package today with some trinkets and candy. Why not? Life is short-be happy! She has classes all day that day, and H and I will be on vacation, so we may not talk to her. I’ll text some heart emojis and say “I love you” since I do, after all. It’s got nothing to do with romantic love.