Showing Birth Parents Love on Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is here, and love is in the air. This is the day to tell everyone how much they mean to you! Now, admittedly, you should tell everyone how much they mean to you every day. But, Valentine’s Day at least helps us remember to take some time to share our love with others.
Love can be shown many ways. While you are searching for the perfect card for your spouse, partner, parents, grandparents, children, and other loved ones, don’t forget about other people for whom a specific card may not exist. If you are part of an adoptive family, be sure to include birth families this Valentine season. Here are some ways to show them how much they are loved:

Handprint Crafts

Make this a tradition, because everyone will love seeing their child’s handprints grow and change from year to year. This can be as simple as white paint on a red construction paper heart, or a clay handprint made at a local pottery store. It will be treasured.

Framed Photo

If you have a photo of your child and their birth family, find a special frame for it. Better yet, buy a second frame for your child to keep in their room, with the same photo. This will help your child appreciate the bond you share with their birth parents. You could also send a framed school photo to the birth parents, with a promise to send a new photo each year.

Handmade Frame

Can’t find a frame you like? Buy a plain frame and have your child decorate it. Include a photo, and again, make a point of updating it every year.

Flowers in a Decorated Vase

Flowers are a go-to gift on Valentine’s Day. Make it personal by delivering them in a vase decorated by you and your child. Again, a local pottery studio is a great place to make a personal, hand-painted treasure. You could also decoupage photos of your child on a vase. One more idea — have your child decorate a white ceramic vase with Sharpie markers. Put the vase in a cold oven, heat it to 350 and cook for 30 minutes. This will keep the permanent markers, well, permanent.

Take the Kids Shopping

It is absolutely precious to hear kids’ reasons for purchasing what they do for you. Ask them what they would like to buy for their birth parents. This doesn’t have to be extravagant. Give them a few dollars and see what they decide. Odds are, they will have heartfelt reasons for choosing what they do.

Storybook

Ask your child to pick their favorite story, and buy a copy for their birth parents. Have your child draw a picture or write a note to them inside the cover. Next time you talk to their birth parents on the phone, maybe they can read it to your child.
No matter what you do, take the time to acknowledge your birth parents’ ultimate gift of love for you — your child.