Here comes Valentine's Day, and unlike my (perhaps suspect) memory of grade 2 Valentine's Day where my carefully-decorated paper bag "mailbag" was not as full as Ann L.'s was with construction-paper-and-paper-doily hearts, cinnamon hearts and Sweet Tarts, my boys will be participating in the carefully-orchestrated new, nicer tradition where teachers send home a list of the whole class and any and all handouts will go to all. Which is lovely. And my boys will love it. But...is it just me, or are the stakes on these things going up every year? At first it was everyone's name laboriously and under threat ("two more names and then we'll have dessert) printed onto pre-made Valentines. Then it was a card and a (nut-free, ethically sourced) chocolate. Soon after that little goody bags appeared, and last year my son carted home cars, stickers, plastic boxes with little notepads and pencils, erasers and even one of those little foil balloons on a stick. Don't get me wrong...there are amazing, sharable Valentine's Day gifts -- we even have some amazing choices for you right here on CL Moms. It's just...frankly...between birthday loot bags, stockings and my kids' belief that every rock, stick and undefined piece of plastic or metal on earth is an amazing treasure that must be brought home, our bin of "little things" is overflowing. Before I had kids I did not appreciate that the world has turned into a place where every event and, if you dine at particular restaurants, indeed, every meal must be accompanied by its own loot. Not only that, but I feel pressured to come up with something delightful that also won't stick around. (If you have Valentine's Day gift ideas, please share them!) I kind of miss the days when Valentine's Day represented a meal at a crowded restaurant with a limited menu.... (Photo: istockphoto.com)