A bouquet of roses, a cellophane-wrapped box of chocolates, conversation hearts, romantic greeting cards, sweet construction paper and doily creations made by young hands in art classes. These are things that mean Valentine’s Day to me.
But what does Valentine’s Day mean to a ‘tween’?
Most ‘tweens’ that I know celebrate the holiday at home — meaning Mom or Dad makes them heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast, or gives them a tee-shirt with an image of a cute bear clutching a heart to it’s furry little chest with the slogan “Bear Hugs for You” on it. I am aware that some ‘tweens’ have boyfriends or girlfriends, I’m using my “air-quotes” here, but I suspect most are still in the secret crush zone.
So Valentine’s Day still falls on the parent’s shoulders and pockets!
So good mom that I try to be, I have been trying to decide on how I could make Valentine’s Day fun for my family. I could go the ‘everything pink or red dinner route'; beets, strawberries, apples, spaghetti and fruit punch? Might be fun?
Maybe a movie — but which one would hold the interest of my diversely aged group of family members? The six-year old likes to watch Hot Wheels Battle Force Five and Wipe Out on TV. The twelve-year old likes viewing Jerseylicious and What Not To Wear. The twenty-three year old’s Valentine is currently living half-way across the world so she will not be pleasant on Valentine’s Day no matter what movie I pick…I like watching British Sit-Coms and George Lopez re-runs. My husband likes sporting events and Law and Order.
What to do, what to do?
To the computer!
I Google good ‘tween’ movies for Valentine’s Day. One site suggested the following film titles: The Parent Trap, Hannah Montana The Movie, (I do love that song The Climb, but I digress), A Walk To Remember, Ever After: A Cinderella Story. I have had to watch so many versions of Cinderella themed movies as of late that I think I will cross that one right off the list. 17 Again,-WHOA-okay, I’d watch that cute Zac Efron anytime, (but, I digress again).
My ‘tween’ turned her picky little nose up (pun intended) at all of these ideas. So I surveyed her on what she would consider a good Valentine’s Day movie for us to watch. After several moments of careful consideration, she came up with these titles: Serendipity, You’ve Got Mail, The Notebook, p.s. I Love You, and Titanic. I actually enjoyed all those films myself and wouldn’t mind watching any of them again. Not sure that some of them would be totally appropriate for the first grader in the house, but I could distract him during certain scenes — “Oh no Gray! The dogs eating another Lego!” He and the dog would both be out of the room in a shot!
I have no problem with my twelve-year old daughter watching these films, but I realize other ‘tweens’ parents might disagree with me. Personally, I have more of a problem with ‘tweens’ watching Disney movies where kids sarcastically talk back to their parents and bully other kids. And those Twilight vampire/werewolf movies — I forced myself to watch one with my daughter about a year ago because she was reading the books and had to see the movie too. 
I had to get on the exercise bike in the family room to force myself to sit through it.
I have the same problem with Harry Potter movies, although they did wonders for encouraging reading in my kid last summer! I find these types of films far more unacceptable for a ‘tween’ to see than a little tastefully-filmed nudity on a couch on a doomed ocean liner, or in a Model T car in its storage area with the windows fogged up and then Rose’s hand slaps against the window and then begins slowly sliding down…Whoa, Titanic was a great movie wasn’t it? Wonder where I put my copy of it?
Guess we could always watch an oldie but a goodie, except my kids get so bored watching a movie like South Pacific or The Sound of Music. I’m still thinking…I’ve got it. Field of Dreams. It’s got Kevin Costner for me, baseball for my son and husband, but wait, nothing for my daughters. Sleepless in Seattle? It’s harmless enough for the six-year old, romantic enough for the ‘tweener’ and the twenty-three year old, sappy enough for me to like, but my husband would say it’s a ‘chick flick.’
I’ve got it! On Golden Pond. It has Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda — two of my favorites. Six-year old would find the cranky old man funny, husband who is getting crankier himself lately would enjoy it, and the girls would like the long love story between the older characters.
Love Story, now that’s another good one to watch on Valentine’s Day. That was simple — now where did I put my copy of Titanic?!
