Happy Valentine’s Day. Today is the day that all parents bring their children, pink-and-red-colored boxes in hand to school for the annual Valentine’s exchange. This day, at least in my home, starts on Dec. 30. The reason is because this is the day that all of the little boxes of Valentine cards hit the shelves at all of the stores.

Now the choices in these little Valentines have grown to be enormous. There is the Blues Clues ones, Shrek, Mickey Mouse, every Disney character possible, Barbie, Shark Tales, Incredibles, Spiderman, and the list goes on and on. My daughter always has to get them as early as possible.

My daughter, Tayler, is convinced that if you do not have them made out by Jan. 1, the school will not accept them. Next comes the decision of which Valentines to buy &045; no easy task.

Tayler looks over each box and rationalizes the reasons for her decision based on what is cool divided by what she gave last year minus what other kids will do and makes her decision.

More genuine thought goes into this choice than I when I bought my first house. OK. Choosing of the Valentine has been made and we take the next step, making them out and remembering all the children’s names from class. Tayler is a whiz at this and she quickly runs off Ashley B., Dana F., Justin T., Patrick A. and so on.

I think as adults we should go by the same name recognition as children do. I would love to be at an important meeting and be introduced as Scott S. Can you imagine if all world leaders did this? George B., please meet Colin P., and we will then meet with Bill C. and Charles D. Talk about an icebreaker.

&uot;Oh no,&uot; Tayler yells, a crisis building. &uot;You forgot to pick up the heart-shaped suckers to tape to the valentines.&uot;

&uot;That’s OK,&uot; I tell my daughter, attempting to restore order. &uot;We have two months to get them.&uot;

&uot;NO,&uot; she shouts, &uot; I have to do this now or I will forget.&uot;

Being both a good father as well as the peacemaker, I go to the store and get the suckers.

This year was a close call, but

all of the Valentines were filled out and suckers were taped to them in place by 8 p.m. on New Years Eve. I did not think we would make it with only a month and a half to spare.

The next project creating a Valentine box. This starts at the beginning of February, with&uot;Dad, do you have a shoe box that I can have?&uot;

Luckily I do and the fun starts.

&uot;Do we have glue, scissors, red construction paper, pink construction paper, or red bows,&uot; asks Tayler.

&uot;Go ask Mom,&uot; I say.

&uot;She said to ask you.&uot;

Wife, one; dad, zero.

&uot;I do not think we do,&uot; I say. &uot;Maybe Mom will take you to the store to get some of these items.&uot;

&uot;She said that when you run to work, I can go with you and we could pick them up then.&uot;

Wife, one; dad, zero. I’m just not scoring any points with my anxious daughter.

We arrive at the store and buy everything one needs to build a state-of-the-art Valentine’s box.

Back at home, Tayler says to me, &uot;Dad, I can do this myself, but if you want to help you can.&uot;

I say I will just watch and see how it turns out.

Tayler does a great job and the pink-and-red box is ready for Valentine’s.

The big day arrives and Tayler is all excited. The bag of Valentines are ready, the box looks cool, the Valentine party at school will be fun.

My daughter is in seventh heaven. Before we leave the house, we do the checklist to make sure she doesn’t forget anything &045; bookbag &045;check; jacket &045; check; mittens &045; check; boots &045; check.

And just before we leave the house Tayler stops me and says &uot;Dad, thanks, I love you.&uot;

And let me tell you, this is what Valentine’s Day is all about. So to Bonnie, my beautiful wife, and to Tayler &045; Happy Valentine’s Day and I love you.