# Doper parents: do you get your kids Valentine's gifts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821 "2011-02-09T23:22:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/1 "2011-02-09T23:22:27Z")
I do, but I don’t know how common it is. Now, my two oldest kids are out on their own, and I won’t send them cards or anything. But when they were still at home, there was always a little something for them on V Day. There will, likewise, be something this year for 11YO **mudgirl**. Nothing major, just a little box of four chocolates, or a small stuffed animal, something like that. Maybe a cute pair of socks printed with hearts. You get the idea. I guess I like the idea of letting my kids know that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romance, it’s about love. Obviously, if you don’t get your kids anything, you don’t have to defend your position. I guess I’m just interested in figuring out if this practice is fairly widespread, or if it’s just one of my. . .eccentricities. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/2 "2011-02-09T23:28:53Z")
I’m not a parent, but my parents used to buy us gifts when we were kids. We usually got a bit of candy, and I usually got a book. Often a hardback too 🆒 I am not sure what my older brother got, he did not like to read. Probably a toy or game, or something sports related? Maybe a movie. Not sure. It was just one gift nothing extravagant and it always came with a nice card from our parents. It was nice. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/3 "2011-02-09T23:34:40Z")
No. I consider Valentine’s Day to be a holiday that is specifically about romantic love. It never occurred to me to get gifts for my kids. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/4 "2011-02-09T23:41:39Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > I guess I like the idea of letting my kids know that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romance, it’s about love. This. Even though our daughter is now 23 years old, I’ve always given her a little bag of goodies. The cute socks that norinew mentioned, or the candies, or a little something of whatever it was that held her fancy at the time. I will continue to do this until I’m cold and dead. That’s how I’m wired, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/5 "2011-02-09T23:46:52Z")
Well, it’s good to know I’m not entirely an outlier on the subject! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/6 "2011-02-09T23:47:58Z")
I get my daughter some candy and a gift. My parents, too. Plus I love to buy the kiddie valentines to give to friends. To me, it’s an occasion to let people know they are special to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/7 "2011-02-10T00:38:18Z")
I always got my kids a little box of conversation hearts or a tiny box of chocolates. When they were in school, many many parents had flowers, teddy bears or balloons delivered to their children at school. I refused to participate in what I saw as conspicious gift-giving. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/8 "2011-02-10T00:56:36Z")
I will get my young daughters simple Valentines gifts and I hope they make me a card. Saying that it is only about the romantic interest de jour is barfworthy in my book. Most of those will have failed by April Fools Day. It is about simple love and caring. My grandmother always got me Valentine’s gifts until she died last year and I looked forward to them. That is what is important. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/9 "2011-02-10T00:59:22Z")
I got my little girl a heart shaped box of chocolates. Just a little one. And a cheap little necklace. Her big sister always gets something too but I won’t say what since she is a poster here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/10 "2011-02-10T01:02:50Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I will get my young daughters simple Valentines gifts and I hope they make me a card. Saying that it is only about the romantic interest de jour is barfworthy in my book. Most of those will have failed by April Fools Day. It is about simple love and caring. My grandmother always got me Valentine’s gifts until she died last year and I looked forward to them. That is what is important. Well, I hope you were near an appropriate receptacle when you read my prior post, then. Personally, I treat birthdays and Christmas as official gift-giving occasions and not much else. Valentine’s Day has always felt to me like a shameless marketing attempt to make people feel obligated to buy gifts and spend money. I don’t really care for it and never have. Although if other people want to, that’s certainly their business. It won’t make me barf or anything. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/11 "2011-02-10T01:04:02Z")
Yes, we get PandaKid stuff for V-Day 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/12 "2011-02-10T01:10:58Z")
We usually give a card and a treat. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/13 "2011-02-10T01:17:22Z")
> [@Cub\_Mistress](#): > > I always got my kids a little box of conversation hearts or a tiny box of chocolates. When they were in school, many many parents had flowers, teddy bears or balloons delivered to their children at school. I refused to participate in what I saw as conspicious gift-giving. OMG, parents really had gifts _delivered_ to their kids at school?? ::Gag:: I would _not_ do this. There will be a little something by her breakfast dish Monday morning, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/14 "2011-02-10T01:21:07Z")
> [@Cub\_Mistress](#): > > I always got my kids a little box of conversation hearts or a tiny box of chocolates. When they were in school, many many parents had flowers, teddy bears or balloons delivered to their children at school. I refused to participate in what I saw as conspicious gift-giving. Really? Wow.. The most I ever got at school was I’d buy myself one of the carnations the student council sold. Otherwise, yeah I get him a little something. Nothing fancy or large but something cute and/or sweet like my parents have always done for me. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/15 "2011-02-10T02:49:28Z")
Definitely. Some small candy items, probably. Maybe something a little fancier than usual, like some imported candy from World Market. My mother would give us some Fannie May candies every year, which I miss. Especially the Buds and the Caramel Bonbons. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/16 "2011-02-10T02:54:48Z")
Not since they were little kids. They’ve got significant others to do that with now. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/17 "2011-02-10T02:57:07Z")
I send all my boys cards through the mail. Always have, always will. They, as usual, don’t get me shit. But, it’s a nice little tradition and I think they secretly like it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/18 "2011-02-10T02:59:44Z")
You bet! We find any excuse for little expressions of love. Plus, it’s fun! ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/19 "2011-02-10T03:07:39Z")
I always have had a little gift and card for each of them on valentines day, even now that they’re adults. I think it’s a day to remember everyone you love, not just a romantic thing. Also I saved my mom’s life with a valentine candy\* a few years back so it’s become a special holiday for the whole family now. \*She hadn’t eaten all day except for that one little candy, and it spiked her blood sugar enough that she passed out, got ambulanced to the hospital where they ran some tests and eventually…found the cancer and (pretty much) cured it since they’d found it so early. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821/20 "2011-02-10T03:26:05Z")
Yep. She is in her late 20s. I mailed her the card today and purchased something for her online. She still gets an Easter basket, and her stocking filled, too. As nonacetone said, I will do these until I am old and dead. Oh, and, she is an only child. Did you already guess that? She was born after a couple bouts of cancer I had. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-parents-do-you-get-your-kids-valentines-gifts/570821.md?page=2)