Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year, and not just because of the chocolates. It’s the perfect excuse to show my wife just how much we appreciate her. This year, I decided to get the kids involved in a special morning surprise for Mom—a homemade Valentine’s Day breakfast. Sure, it might get a little messy (okay, a lot messy), but the memories we make are more than worth it.
The idea hit me a few days before Valentine's Day while I was scrolling through breakfast recipes. I wanted something simple enough for the kids to help with but still special enough to make my wife feel loved. After a bit of brainstorming, we settled on heart-shaped pancakes, fresh fruit, and, of course, her favorite coffee. It wasn’t going to rival a five-star restaurant, but we were going for heartfelt, not Michelin-starred.
The night before, I prepped as much as I could. I didn’t want to wake up and realize we were out of syrup or that the pancake mix had expired. I laid out all the ingredients: flour, eggs, milk, and a special heart-shaped mold I picked up online for the pancakes. I also made sure the kids’ aprons were clean and ready because I knew things were about to get messy.
When Valentine’s morning arrived, I woke up early and quietly wrangled the kids out of bed. They were groggy at first, but the promise of sneaking whipped cream into their mouths perked them up in no time. We tiptoed downstairs, trying not to wake Mom, and got started.
The first hurdle? Cracking eggs. My daughter, who’s six, volunteered to do it. Let’s just say it didn’t go perfectly. We ended up fishing out several bits of shell from the batter, but hey, it’s all part of the experience, right? My nine-year-old son took charge of stirring, which immediately turned into a flour explosion. Within minutes, the kitchen looked like a snowstorm had hit, but the kids were laughing so hard I couldn’t even be mad.
Once the batter was ready, the real fun began. We poured it into the heart-shaped mold on the griddle, and I have to admit, the first couple of tries came out looking more like blobs than hearts. But after a few practice runs, we figured out the trick: pour slowly and don’t overfill. When we finally got a perfect heart-shaped pancake, the kids cheered like we’d just won the Super Bowl.
While the pancakes cooked, my daughter arranged a plate of fresh fruit. She carefully laid out strawberries, blueberries, and bananas in the shape of a heart. My son, meanwhile, was in charge of the coffee. He knows how much his mom loves her morning latte, so with a little supervision, he managed to brew a cup and top it with a swirl of foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Finally, the moment arrived. We carried our masterpiece upstairs on a tray, complete with a card the kids had made the night before. When my wife opened her eyes and saw us standing there, her face lit up. She laughed at the slightly lopsided pancakes and the mountain of whipped cream on top but couldn’t stop smiling.
That morning wasn’t about perfection—it was about love. Sure, the kitchen was a disaster, and the pancakes weren’t all Instagram-worthy, but none of that mattered. What did matter was the joy on my wife’s face and the pride the kids felt in creating something special for her.
So, if you’re thinking of doing something similar, I say go for it. Let the kids take the lead, embrace the mess, and focus on the fun. After all, Valentine’s Day is about celebrating the people you love, and there’s no better way to do that than with a little creativity and a lot of heart.
