Human rights for all humans, no exceptions, no excuses.

My parenting partner and I used to give our son sweet, little, gifts and cards on Valentine’s Day.  One year, we covered his bedroom door with red and pink hearts containing handwritten compliments.  We love your sunny smile!  We love how you raise money to help people in need of housing!  We love how you give hugs to people who are sad!

It occurred to us as our child advanced into the teen years a.k.a. the life-is-so-unfair-to-me and showering-is-so-stupid-just-like-you years, we should perhaps reconsider our Valentine’s Day focus from our love for him to our family’s love for all.

We say and write the following phrase so often, it has become our family’s motto.  Human rights for all humans, no exceptions, no excuses.

Now, we celebrate Valentine’s Day with our teen by doing loving acts for other humans, acts in line with our family’s motto.

Brainstorming ideas for these Valentine’s Day acts have led to some of the most beautiful and joy filled times we have spent with our teen.  To hear him decide he will donate his birthday money (through us) to the candidate who is supporting another state’s anti gay conversion therapy law makes me well up with pride, rainbow pun intended.  At his prompting, we discussed the potential, positive, impact he could make by wearing his “This Is What A Feminist Looks Like” t-shirt to school on Valentine’s Day.  All the feels.  ALL. OF. THEM.

Of course, we still tell our teen how much we love him on Valentine’s Day and the other 364 days of the year.  He reciprocates.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all who celebrate!  Sending love to all!

P.S. I wrote an earlier post on celebrating romantic love with my husband on Valentine’s Day.