All of us who are moms and have children know that the day we first heard those precious cries our entire worlds changed. Where Valentine’s Day used to be a day I looked forward to get prettied up and taken out to a fancy restaurant, since my daughter came to us it’s all about her.

When she was just a toddler , I loved the enthusiasm she would have for trying to get ‘something’ for her daddy and me to show us how much she loved us…usually some type of art design she would hand make. she would wake up at the crack of dawn to jump on our bed to please hurry up and get up so we could open our presents! (sort of like Christmas in reverse!) the joy in her eyes was all I needed. This was love personified. I have always been thankful to God for this lovely angel He put in my arms!

Over the years, it has evolved from giving us her sweet cards that said ” I love you mommy! with letters missing or upside down to me finding ways to make her happy and show her how much she is adored. We would make heart shaped candy necklaces and bracelets and get Barbie dolls wearing valentines colors or get matching teddy bears that would say ‘mommy and me’ and even matching necklaces with same inscription.

It’s no secret that I love fine chocolates – so of course I look forward with anticipation to this day to previewing all the wide selection of deliciously scrumptious chocolates available. I am a particular fan of salted dark caramel chocolates, but the thing I look forward to mostly is getting some delicious chocolate covered strawberries. It seems that as my lovely daughter has grown into a beautiful teenager, she too has developed her mom’s palate for fine chocolate. So where once, I could sit down and enjoy such treats paired with a sparkling champagne its more difficult to partake of such indulgent behavior  since I became a mom of a teenager. I scout out the Internet and stores for deals of the best fine chocolates and make sure that I get everyone a box yet upon arrival they all quickly disappear and I am left with wrapping paper and the scent of chocolates in the air.

Chocolate covered strawberries disappear even faster than the chocolate without a lingering scent left behind, followed by “I thought they were mine!” Me being not so much of a kitchen goddess no matter how many times I read the instructions to melt the chocolate for the strawberries at home, I always end up burning it- so I have to wait till someone that can actually FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS WELL do them for me like my mother, or brother or wait till a special occasion and they are sold at the store.

But, invariably the bond between mother and child is strong because in the end, she will come to lay down next to me in bed and say like before when she was a child: ” I love you Mommy! you are the still the best mom in the world, even if I don’t say it much! Sorry, I ate your chocolates but I got the ones you love right here!” followed by a big hug (which I am thankful for since does not happen much nowadays since she is a teenager).

But, Valentine’s would not be complete without the awesome, always, clever gift from my daughter….my very own diva  lipstick by none other than Louboutin – in red of course! Now, I a truly feel like a Parkinsonsdiva!

Sure I have a fancy (RED) lipstick but above all I have the love of the one that matters most to me in the world- my daughter!

Happy Valentines Day to Everyone! 

Wishing you much love today and always!!! Enjoy something sweet to boost that dopamine-& hug your loved ones today- hugging is the best way to release happy chemicals in your brain & Don’t Forget something RED in honor of Women’s brain health!

xoxo- Parkinsonsdiva