Love Notes: The February Tradition That Mostly Stuck the Landing
Ah, February—the month of love, chocolate, and trying not to lose your sanity in the post-holiday slump. Last year, I decided to channel my inner Pinterest mom (a role I typically play for about 12 minutes before returning to Netflix and chaos) and start a new tradition: leaving little love notes on my kids’ doors every night.
The Plan:
For 28 glorious nights, I would write heartfelt messages on little paper hearts and tape them to their doors for them to find in the morning. It would be magical, affirming, and probably win me “Parent of the Year” in their eyes.
The Reality:
Instead of Pinterest perfection, I grabbed some index cards and Post-it Notes to keep things simple. Spoiler alert: the Post-its didn’t survive. Half of them fluttered to the floor like sad little reminders of my chaotic life. By the end of the month, my kids had about a dozen notes each—not because I ran out of love, but because I ran out of memory.
What started with gusto (and beautifully written messages) quickly turned into me scrawling “You’re the best!” on an index card at 11:58 PM and slapping it on the door with whatever tape was within arm’s reach.
The Impact:
But here’s the thing: even with my inconsistency and questionable materials, it was absolutely worth it. The kids loved it. They STILL have the surviving notes taped to their doors and bring them up in conversations like, “Remember when you said I’m the funniest person ever?”
The biggest surprise was my tween. Let’s be honest—most of the time, he’s about as emotionally available as a brick wall, but those love notes? They cracked him wide open. Seeing tangible reminders of how much he’s loved made an impression on him in a way I didn’t expect.
This Year’s Goal: Full February Love Fest
This year, I’m going all in—no more half-hearted Post-it Notes. To keep myself on track, I’ve created a free printable full of candy heart-inspired messages that are cute, pre-written, and durable enough to survive door-slamming and tape mishaps.
There are tons of options to choose from, so you can pick what fits your kids best. And because I know we all have “those days,” I’ve included blank hearts for those last-minute strokes of genius (or scribbled “I love yous” before bedtime).
Fun Ways to Use the Love Notes
- Classic Door Love Notes: Stick a heart on their door each night for them to wake up to. Bonus points if you don’t wake them up at midnight with your tape-related fumbling.
- Lunchbox Surprises: Pop one of the hearts in their lunchbox for a sweet midday pick-me-up.
- Bedroom Mirror Magic: Tape a few to their mirror so they’re greeted with positivity first thing in the morning.
- Treasure Hunt: Hide the hearts around the house for them to find throughout the day. Whoever collects the most gets to pick the family movie or dessert.
- Mail Delivery: If your kids are into pretend play, deliver the hearts via “mailbox” (a shoebox or envelope taped to their door works great).
Examples from the Printable
- “I love your creativity—it’s one of my favorite things about you!”
- “Your laugh is my favorite sound.”
- “Thanks for being such an awesome big brother/sister.”
- “You have a heart of gold, and I’m so lucky to be your parent.”
- “I love your sense of humor—even when it’s a little too much for me!”
Final Thoughts
If you’re anything like me, and your ability to stick to Pinterest-worthy traditions is, let’s say, “fluid,” remember this: it’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing your kids that they’re loved, even if it’s not every night or in the most polished way.
Grab your free printable and join me in spreading some February love (and laughs)! And hey, if we only manage a dozen nights again this year, we’ll just call it “minimalist parenting.” ❤️
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