Last week, while braving the man-eating craft closet for the annual Valentine making supplies, it occurred to me this will be my daughter’s last time to send out class valentines. Sure, I suppose there will be an odd Valentine exchanged here and there in middle school, but they’ll be nothing like the sweet, little cards she’s sent out and received during her elementary school years.

On the one hand,  I’m glad I won’t have to make any more 10 p.m. runs to the drug store for extra teensy-tinesy envelopes the night before the class party. I also won’t miss having to rely on my sleepy child to remember every kid in her class, and the name spellings of each kid because the Valentine list was left at school (“Wake up! Is it Cate with a ‘C’ or Kate with a ‘K?”). And lastly, there’s the glitter. Thank god there will be no more glitter. If we want to defeat ISIS all we need to do is carpet bomb them with glitter. A week of trying to get it out of their clothes, furniture, hair and teeth and they’ll be begging for mercy.

On the other hand, this Valentine’s Day is very bittersweet for me. I know this is probably the last time we’ll sit down together to make the little cards as we’ve done for the past 10 years. However small and seemingly insignificant this might be, it’s another piece of her childhood that will be gone forever after this week. And it makes me sad.

Hold on to your babies with one of these Valentine’s Day events.

She’s so ready to move on to store bought valentines. Photo: Therese Powell

It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of the Children’s Center at the downtown Dallas Public Library. Besides being a big beautiful space with miles of books and DVDs, it also features computers, IPads, a kid-sized theater, and lots of nooks and crannies to get comfortable with a good book. The dedicated staff there comes up with all sorts of creative events especially for kids, like A Very Valentine Celebration that happens this Saturday. It will be a fun afternoon of craft-making (which probably includes something valentine related) and other fun activities. There will even be an opportunity to use candy to conduct science experiments.

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day al fresco, head on over to Klyde Warren Park in Dallas this Saturday afternoon for Hearts in the Park. The 1920s costume-themed event will feature music, crafts, dancing, trivia and sweet treats. You can do everything from making your own flapper headband to learning the Charleston at this family-friendly extravaganza. Just a heads up–the event goes on into the evening but the activities for kids happen from 3 to 6 p.m.

Wild About Art combines the two things that kids love–art and animals! Photo: The Dallas Zoo

Animal and art lovers ages 5-8 won’t want to miss the Dallas Zoo’s latest offering, Wild About Art. In this wild and wooly workshop, pint-sized Picassos will create an animal-inspired project using a variety of materials and techniques. The class also includes a zoo tour and an up-close animal encounter with each session. The class meets once a month through May. You can sign up for one session or all four.

If you and the kids need to do la little Valentine shopping on Saturday be sure to stop by NorthPark Center for their Valentine’s Day Celebration. I know it sounds like a cliché, but there really will be something for the whole family. The kids will love the silly clowns of Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse as they present, ‘My Funny Valentine!’ at BookMarks. Mom and dad can take in a chamber concert of love songs from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and everyone will enjoy cookie decorating with Green House Market.

Catch a whopper this Saturday. Photo: Frisco Fun – Frisco Parks and Recreation

No this event isn’t even remotely valentine related,  but we just had to let the mini-anglers know about  Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish at Frisco Commons Park.  Kids 16 and younger will have first dibs on the 3,000 Rainbow Trout released into the Commons pond.  Bring your own fishing gear and bait. Also, there will be no concessions at the park, so bring your own drinks and snacks. Everyone is encouraged to keep what they catch since trout cannot survive when water temperatures rise in the spring. The early bird catches the worm, or fish, in this case because fishing starts at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Bonus for getting there early–the first twenty-five kids to catch a trout will receive a rod and reel combo set. Adult anglers can join in the fun at 11 a.m., but remember, those 17 and over are required to have a Texas fishing license.