Valentine’s Day for Tired Moms

Hi Mamas - 

🎶 What is love? Baby don’t hurt me… don’t hurt me… no more. 🎶

Honestly, that pretty much sums up Valentine’s Day.

Between classroom parties, the pressure to make it “special,” and the sudden realization that February 14th is… this week, Valentine’s Day has a way of sneaking up on us while we’re still recovering from the end-of-year, back-to-back holidays. While we LOVE love, we’re also very into realistic expectations, minimal prep, and things everyone actually enjoys.

So instead of doing the most, we’re focusing on simple ways to celebrate the people we love most. Our kids, our friends, and our significant other. Enough effort to show you showed up, without overcomplicating our already over-full plates.

Enjoy!
-The Carry™ Team

 This week in The CARRY™ ALL, we’re talking about:

• ❤️ Easy Valentine’s Celebrations with Kids

• 💌 Appreciating Your Village

• 💞 Valentine’s with Your Significant Other

THE BIG 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

1️⃣ ❤️ Easy Valentine’s Celebrations with Kids

Valentine’s with kids doesn’t have to mean whipping up an elaborate Pinterest-level craft or meal. It can be as simple as a new Valentine’s book to read together at bedtime, conversation cards that spark sweet (and funny) chats, a heart-shaped pizza night, or a quick note tucked into their lunchbox. Add a family movie night with a snack-cuterie board, and you’ve got an easy win. We’ve linked some of our favorite ideas, including quick and simple décor, to make it all feel special without overcomplicating things.

We thought this was interesting too if you’re looking for a new family tradition:

2️⃣   💌 Appreciating Your Galentines

Most of the time, the villages that make working and motherhood possible are bigger than a spouse or family member. They’re the friends who show up, fill in the gaps, and make life feel lighter. Galentine’s is a great excuse to remind them how much they matter. You can go all out with a girls’ night like a bring-your-own-board get-together or a favorite-things party, or keep it simple with a quick “you’re my girl” moment. A coffee on you, a small goodie, or thoughtful snail mail goes a long way. We’ve linked a few easy, feel-good ideas here to help you show the love without overthinking it.

3️⃣  💞 Valentine’s with Your Significant Other

Valentine’s with your person doesn’t have to be complicated. Dress up and go out, or keep it cozy with a quiet night in. I mean….a chocolate fondue and steaks at home? Pair it with intentional conversation and that’s our kind of date night!

Paula also has a month-long podcast series this February on relationships featuring Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages. His newest book, The Love Language That Matters Most: How to Personalize Love So They Really Feel It, is a true masterclass on understanding how we give and receive love. Discovering your love language is one thing, but this long-awaited follow-up takes it a step further.

🎧 Listen each week here!

You know your person and you know yourself. A little intention can make even a quiet night after bedtime feel special.

📰 IN THE NEWS

🍼 App Supports Postpartum Moms

A new app called Beacon: Postpartum Support is gaining attention for its simple yet powerful idea — reminding new moms that they’re not alone during those long, exhausting nights with a baby.

Moms can “light their beacon” to see other moms across the country who are awake at the same time, offering a sense of connection during those isolated hours. The app also includes a community forum and helpful parenting resources, and it has already sparked emotional reactions from users who say it would have made a big difference in their own postpartum journeys.

📰 Check out the full article here.

Last week’s poll results: We asked for an honest 2026 check-in…

A majority of you said January felt like 72 days long — and honestly, we felt that. 😅

Some of you are still hanging on, braving the last bits of winter, while plenty of others are already dreaming of a new month and the promise of spring. 🌱

Here are a few things you had to say:

➡️ “My kids have been home sick or with snow days for 8 days in 2026. My house is a wreck. My work is so far behind. Kids have had too much screen time.”

➡️ “Working mom here impacted by snow days, remote learning, Covid, rescheduling important work appointments on top of medical appointments. Hanging on by a thread.”

➡️ “Always love January for "getting back to normal" and there aren't usually as many things on the calendar. But wow, with these freezing temps and snow in the Midwest, there was a LOT of hunkering down inside. Nice at times, but time to get motivated!”

➡️ “January felt like 72 days. Feb. 1 is the real new year's day! We survived Jan!”

➡️ “Would love some more snow!”

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