Graham Cracker Love

Prior to the big storm, I mailed off Valentine treats to my parents. I made them "Salt Kissed Chocolate Grahams" tied the cellophane with a pink velvet ribbon and off it went through the snow and ice to make the long journey from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts.

As I stirred the chocolate on the stove it I enjoyed thinking about how lovely my parents made Valentine's Day for me when I was a child. Each Valentine morning I came downstairs to find little gift at my place setting. A box of chocolates, a small heart shaped box, a necklace, a beautiful valentine card, some home made fudge, these were some of the things that delighted my sister and I every year on February 14. They were never expensive gifts, but just little touches that showed a lot of love.

These tiny little gestures of affection made such an impact on me----and I'm just talking about Valentine's day. I don't have children of my own yet, but this is a small example of how impressionable children are and how much of a difference a good parent can make in a small person's life.

Parenting may not be easy, but I really do believe the more you love on your kids, the more it will come back to you. Even if it is just in the form of a chocolate covered Graham Cracker, it will be sweet nonetheless.