My mom is always my Valentine. When we were kids, every February my mom would buy my brother and me a Valentine gift. Something small. A box of chocolates in the shape of a heart. Candy sweet tart hearts. Sometimes something sweet, paired with something practical, like new socks. And there was always a Valentine card signed, “Love, Mom” attached to whatever she’d bought.

My mom never stopped being my Valentine, even after I moved out. My first year in the dorms in college my mom sent me flowers for Valentine’s Day. I was so embarrassed to be getting flowers. I called to say thank you and she asked how I liked them. I said they were alright and a couple of the older guys on the floor made fun of me, but it was ok. The next year, she sent me a Valentine’s Day cactus arrangement. Much better for a guy’s dorm room.

When we moved my mom and I was packing up things in the house, I found a box with Valentine cards my brother and I gave to her over the years. Valentines I’d forgotten about, but that my mom had kept in an important place.

I’ve had lots of special people in my life who’ve given me nice Valentine gifts or took me out for a nice dinner, but I think I’ll always remember my cactus as the best gift from the Valentine who loved me the most!

Here’s a pictures of this year’s Valentine gift I put together and mailed to my mom from me and Joey. Don’t tell her you know what she’s getting! 🙂