When Your Child Doesn't Receive Valentines

It's so tough to watch our children feel hurt or disappointment. However, don't be too quick to contact other parents; this can seriously backfire on your son. I suggest you ask your child how he felt and why he thinks he didn't get a valentine from that child. Talk about what valentines mean and explore whether he had the kind of special relationship with that child to really warrant a valentine. Recognize his feelings and understand that you don't have to make them go away or fix the problem. Help him find his own solution. He may want to let it go, or actually talk to the other child about it.

If this was a child he thought was a friend, talk to him about how to pick friends and figure out whether they really are true pals. Help him identify some kids/people with whom he has special relationships that would merit a valentine. The truth of the matter is, not everyone is going to like your child, and vice versa. Teaching him how to deal with disappointment is much more important than trying to eliminate it from his daily life.