Parenting

To Our Daughters’ Future Suitors: No Flowers Please

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On Valentine’s Day, it has been customary for young boys and men to offer flowers to their beloved. It is also a chance for suitors to present their intentions and it’s usually with flowers. But in my daughters’ case: No Flowers Please.

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~ A bouquet of fresh and plastic flowers that I made for Shawna’s recital. ~

I am a mom of two beautiful and smart girls, so I don’t think it’s reasonable for us to “jail” them from suitors in the future. However, I do have one message right now – please refrain from gifting them with flowers.

A Message to Future Suitors: No Flowers

Our girls are like many females who swoon over flowers. Shawna expects a bouquet after every ballet recital. We have also proven that Shane loves them ever since she was a toddler. She is happy when surrounded with flowers.

Valentine's Day - flowers - bouquet of flowers - daughters - girls - no flowers - allergic rhinitis - pollen - expensive flowers -flower gifts - future suitors -Bacolod mommy blogger ballet recital - stroller
~ Shawna loves receiving a bouquet of flowers after every ballet recital. ~

Flowers of all sorts elate them. The girls appreciate blooms on plants but they don’t pick them. However, flowers in arrangements like during weddings are a different story. After the party, they would surely bring home some and put them in a vase in our room.

After last summer's recital, Dindin Lo asked, "Where's my flowers?" That was our first time and we didn't have a bouquet…

Posted by Sigrid Says on Saturday, March 1, 2014

While riding the car, meanwhile, they would hold the stems and gingerly make sure that the delicate flowers reach our home safely.

Gifting Flowers on Valentine’s Day

Every Valentine’s Day, our ballet Dad would give gifts to his daughters.

Read about this family practice here: Giving Flowers to Our Daughters on Valentines Day. It has been a yearly tradition in our little family and the girls are always excited for this.

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~ For allergy sufferers, sniffing flowers is a big no. ~

You may also want to read this: Valentine’s Gifts for Our Girls 2018

We think that they should already experience that kind of kilig from home so that they wouldn’t fall for just any man out of kilig.

Eventually though, we shifted to gifts that they can keep. There was a year that we made heart cookies and last year, Daddy gave us chocolate bouquets. These gifts don’t have to be expensive. They can be experiences, too. But we don’t want to be killjoy parents either, so we join in the Valentine’s Day trend.

Valentine's Day - flowers - bouquet of flowers - daughters - girls - no flowers - allergic rhinitis - pollen - expensive flowers -flower gifts - future suitors -Bacolod mommy blogger ballet recital - stroller - toddler - sniffing flowers
~ If they can lie down on a bed of petals, they would. ~

This year, it’s going to be exchanging of love notes. It was Shane’s idea and we randomly picked out names as to who we will write our love note to.

Why It’s Not Practical to Give Them Flowers

Now, you may ask, if our girls absolutely adore flowers, then why am I discouraging future suitors from gifting them with bouquets. And this is applicable whether it’s Valentine’s Day or not.

That is because, WE ARE ALL SUFFERING FROM ALLERGIC RHINITIS. We have already proven this so many times.

Valentine's Day - flowers - bouquet of flowers - daughters - girls - no flowers - allergic rhinitis - pollen - expensive flowers -flower gifts - future suitors -Bacolod mommy blogger ballet recital - stroller - toddler - infinity dress
~ The girls love playing with flowers! Here Shawna enjoys playing throwing flower petals in the air with her cousin Mei. ~

Since the girls are still young, we allow them to play with flowers like during weddings. But when they start sneezing, we have to give them a dose of antihistamine so that the sneeze won’t worsen to an allergic cough. Yes, a simple sneeze can lead to an allergic cough.

That is why I do so many things and give them supplements to boost their immunity in order to lessen these nasty allergy attacks.

Here are some of the things we do or use at home:

What is Allergic Rhinitis

So, what is allergic rhinitis? This condition is caused by an allergic reaction to an allergen because of a person’s oversensitive immune system.

Valentine's Day - flowers - bouquet of flowers - daughters - girls - no flowers - allergic rhinitis - pollen - expensive flowers -flower gifts - future suitors -Bacolod mommy blogger ballet recital - stroller - toddler
~ Ever since she was a toddler, Shane loved flowers. I could never forget this time. There were so many flower and she was so happy to carry them around. Even before we got home, she was already sneezing and had a runny nose. ~

For allergic rhinitis sufferers, the natural defense against infection and illness would be for the immune system to react to an allergen as if it were harmful. The body will then produce antibodies to fight off the alleged infection.

Source: NHS.uk

Allergens Around Us

These are some of the most common allergens around us that trigger allergic rhinitis. And these are also the reason why we usually wear face masks when going out, whether there is Covid-19 or not.

  • House dust mites
  • Pollens and spores
  • Animals (that’s why we don’t have pets)
  • Dust (from wood, dirt, cement, etc.)
  • Strong perfume
  • Aerosol sprays (like disinfectant, insecticides, etc.)

Some allergies are developed due to over exposure while others, like in our case, are genetic. I have so many allergies that getting admitted in the hospital means I have to run down the things I am allergic to–from food, to medicines, and environmental triggers.

Minimal Interaction with Flowers

Actually, flower arrangements during weddings do not really affect us that much, as long as we don’t get too near a bunch. And surely, we should not “smell the flowers”. That is a big no-no for allergy sufferers.

Valentine's Day - flowers - bouquet of flowers - daughters - girls - no flowers - allergic rhinitis - pollen - expensive flowers -flower gifts - future suitors -Bacolod mommy blogger ballet recital - stroller - toddler - infinity dress
~ Achi Shawna when she was younger and without eyeglasses. ~

So when they carry a bouquet and bring them inside our bedroom, that’s where the problem starts.

And if they are given flower bouquets, don’t you think they would want it in their room?

Papa’s Side

Now, Papa is asking me about writing this. He asked, “Could we really stop them from appreciating flowers from suitors? Especially that they really love flowers?”

Honestly, we could not, right? Unless we actually officially declare it. But then again, I don’t want to be a killjoy mom. I am just saying that if we can avoid flowers, then that would be good for all of us, right? Haha

Valentine's Day - flowers - bouquet of flowers - daughters - girls - no flowers - allergic rhinitis - pollen - expensive flowers -flower gifts - future suitors -Bacolod mommy blogger ballet recital - stroller - toddler - infinity dress
~ Playing with cousins. This was taken when Shane was a flower girl for an aunt’s wedding in Cebu. ~

And I also say, they can be creative, too, right? I will just update you if I have found a way for them to overcome their allergic rhinitis, okay? hahaha

Personally, I would rather have practical gifts. Hubby bought me a bouquet of roses only once during our first Valentine’s when we were dating. When I learned how much it costs, I told him never to get me flowers anymore. While I was also kilig, I felt it was not practical. My pragmatic bone won over the kilig. I would rather we eat out and both of us would enjoy the meal.

And so, it had been a flowerless Valentine’s for us. But we are still very happy.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

May bata galagaw aga pa ngita Valentino. Daw #CampSawi lang.

Posted by Sigrid Says on Monday, February 13, 2017
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1 thought on “To Our Daughters’ Future Suitors: No Flowers Please

  1. Very well said momsh.. After ilang days, malalata din naman ang flowers so tapon na agad.. Hihi why not make a DIY gifts.. Mas ma-a appreciate pa iyon.. With a lot effort.. Mas nakakakilig po yun. ❤️
    Happy Hearts Day mommy..

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