Ukraine Adoption

Balentimes

Tara was so excited about Valentines Day that she was already up and tugging on her pink-heart tights when I opened her door to wake her up this morning. We have lots of snow and schools are closed, but that would not stop a four-year-old from distributing her Valentines cards to her friends at pre-school---which is always open!

She had her red velvet heart dress and pink sweater on in no time at all. And she clutched her leopard-print purse filled with cards that have chocolate kisses taped to them, each signed days ago by her little hand.

"Balentimes Day is today!" she said.
OK, Tara, try that one again. VVVValen TINESS day, I said. Say Vika, Very, Victor, Valentines.
"Vika, Very Victor Balentimes," she said.
I try again. Same thing. "Balentimes."

I tell her a Valentine is someone she loves and I ask her who is her Valentine. She says her friend "Talia." Who else? "My whole family and all my friends," she says. "I have a lot of Balentimes!" Indeed.