Chances are your preparations for Valentine's Day have mostly revolved around your child. I'm happy to be over the days when Valentine's Day meant getting my son to put some sort of signature on a bunch of tiny cards for his classmates -- though now, I'm worried about him successfully buying a flower at the high-school auditorium for the girl who might pound him if he doesn't. Always some potential for disaster on this day of hearts and candy. But for the moment, enjoy some Valentine fun for parents of kids with special needs, on pages here and on other special-needs parenting blogs (which, if you like them, you might nominate for a Readers' Choice Award. Hint, hint.)
- If you're feeling in need of inspiration, go directly to the Love Notes for Special Parents gallery. (Note that these are also available in last-minute-printable cards for sharing with the special parents in your life).
- Need a laugh more? The Special-Needs Parent's Wish List works just as well for Valentine's Day as other times of year.
- I've updated my list of Books With Heart to include books I've reviewed with the word "love" or "heart" in the title. A trip to the bookstore is a nice gift to yourself. Especially if they also sell coffee and chocolate.
- Have you seen the way Sunday Stilwell adapted the Ryan Gosling meme for special needs on her blog Adventures in Extreme Parenthood? Perfect mix of humor and beefcake for Valentine's Day time-killing. Enjoy parts I and II on Sunday's blog, and parts III and IV on Rhiannon Fieri's blog Unhandicapping the Disabled Life.
- Ellen Seidman has some tart Conversation Hearts for Special Parents as her Valentine's gift to us on Love That Max (also in video form). For something a little sweeter, check out the greeting from therapy dog Jack on Judy Winter's blog Winter Ramblings.
- On her blog Kidneys and Eyes, Julia Roberts offers an Ode to You on Valentine's Day that spotlights what's awesome about parents of kids with special needs. I second that.
What good special-needs Valentine stuff are you reading and smiling over today? Share it in the comments so we can all enjoy. And don't forget, a great way to show your love to the bloggers and authors and app-makers and community members who keep you going all through the year is to nominate them for Readers' Choice Awards. (Sorry, the nagging about nominations ends tomorrow. And then you get a whole week off before I start nagging you to vote on the finalists.)