Sharing the Love - Valentine’s Special 2025

**Transcript Auto-Generated**

00:00:00:12 - 00:00:29:07
Matthew Krekeler
Hey, guys. Welcome to Girl Dad Nation. I am doing a special Valentine's episode, as promised. So you may have seen, things on social media. I posted on social media just a couple days ago that I be doing a special Valentine's Day episode. So thanks for tuning in. Now, I didn't open call for Audio Valentines. So I was hoping people would, record their Valentines at Girl Dad Nation, dawg.

00:00:29:09 - 00:00:51:18
Matthew Krekeler
You can leave a voicemail on the website, and I was hoping to get a whole bunch of Valentines from people, but unfortunately, didn't get any. So I'm still going to go along with this Valentine's episode, but, I'm going to just share some thoughts, some cool updates, and hopefully just share the love. So hope you're having a great day and let's get to it.


00:01:04:17 - 00:01:36:15
Matthew Krekeler
Alright. So this Valentine's Day super excited to be with you guys. And thank you for tuning in. And I've been super busy over the past few months because we just welcomed our fourth daughter and, trying to balance work and life and all of the things going on. Now as a family of six. But, yeah, our daughters just celebrated their Valentine's parties at school, which is super great to be able to celebrate with them.

00:01:36:15 - 00:02:01:01
Matthew Krekeler
And I know they're so excited. They love getting Valentines from their friends, even the simple notes. It just means the world to them. So it just goes to show that even a little bit of effort like means all the difference. So I did want to comment on that because I'm curious. All the parents listening out there, do you do school valentines and if so, what do you do?

00:02:01:05 - 00:02:27:13
Matthew Krekeler
Do you go out of your way, to hand make little things? Do you, have any particular is on, like, candy and toys and trinkets? Yeah. I was super amazed by the diversity of little goodies that my daughters brought home. And, I just wanted to add a couple of my own thoughts and what I call dad hacks.

00:02:27:15 - 00:03:00:02
Matthew Krekeler
When you're thinking about, getting valentines for your kids next year. So if you are listening to this, Valentine's is probably just happened. But here's some takeaways that I found. One being my second daughter, Nora is allergic to dairy, which means any milk protein. So unfortunately, most chocolates are made with some kind of milk. Especially milk chocolate, but even dark chocolate, they all contain some kind of milk.

00:03:00:02 - 00:03:26:17
Matthew Krekeler
Unless they specifically state otherwise, then they could be at risk of a dairy allergy. So that's something. Unfortunately, a lot of the chocolates my daughter can't participate in. She does super well. I'm so proud of her. She's always just the most humble, most kind and gracious. When she receives something. And her sisters really do a good job at asking, trying to be, very understanding of her.

00:03:26:19 - 00:03:53:07
Matthew Krekeler
But one thing to consider is there's kids out there with nut allergies, dairy allergies, all sorts of different allergies to foods. So when you get Valentines, consider doing something that is not food based. So when we got Valentines this year, we got these Bluey. My kids absolutely loved the show Bluey I do too. I gotta admit, I'm a big blue fan sometimes.

00:03:53:09 - 00:04:24:01
Matthew Krekeler
Now even more so than them. But I got these Bluey stickers to put in the Valentine's gifts and the kids love stickers. You can never really go wrong with stickers unless they're like the glitter kind or the super sticky kind that just like, don't get out of anything. But, stickers are a great way to go. Another thing that I just don't understand is, and this is probably the hallmark industry of it all, but they typically come in packs of 24.

00:04:24:01 - 00:04:51:20
Matthew Krekeler
And oftentimes I notice like the classroom list is like 26 kids or something. And I'm like, what? Why do they not add up? You're kind of forced to overbuy, to make sure that each kid has a has a gift. So that's kind of frustrating. But, I'm sure there's a reason for it. Luckily, because we have kids in two different classes, I just like we had two classes.

00:04:51:20 - 00:05:17:21
Matthew Krekeler
I just bought like three sets of Valentines and just figured the math would work out on that. Luckily we had enough. We even had a couple extra, which is also a great tip that it's a really sweet way to to have kids be intentional about giving a gift to their teachers. Even if it's a simple sticker or, giving gifts on Valentine's Day to their siblings.

00:05:17:23 - 00:05:24:14
Matthew Krekeler
It's a great way to model that behavior of being generous and kind and share that love.

00:05:24:14 - 00:05:47:21
Matthew Krekeler
And then my other tip related to Valentine's Day, at school is a lot of people take the time and individually we address each of the little notes. Good on you. That's great. That's great. If you have that class list and you do that, that's a lot of work, to be honest.

00:05:48:02 - 00:06:15:08
Matthew Krekeler
And that's something that this year what we did was only put our child's name on it, and it was just very easy to write Kaylee or Nora, like 26 times and call it good because, especially at this age, my daughter's in kindergarten and preschool, so they have a hard time reading names. And and when they're passing them out, it's very easy to just every kid gets one.

00:06:15:13 - 00:06:38:10
Matthew Krekeler
It doesn't matter which one they get. And it's a great time. The other kids are going to be excited to receive a gift, even if it doesn't necessarily have their name on it. That's just my take. Feel free to leave a comment if you think otherwise, but, it saves a lot of hassle. The other thing is, oftentimes there's like variety packs.

00:06:38:10 - 00:07:06:03
Matthew Krekeler
So, when you're getting little cards, they have like a variety of different phrases. It made it super simple this year that all of the Bluey stickers that we got came in the same box with the same artwork, so we didn't have to kind of decide which kids should get which sticker based on whatever random, random rules that we decided on which kids should get what?

00:07:06:05 - 00:07:28:21
Matthew Krekeler
It just made it very simple. Every kid knew that they were getting the same thing. It's great. Also, take the opportunity to write your kids valentines. It can be super simple. You don't even have to go out and get it a card. But find some paper. Write simple valentines to your kids. They will love it. They will cherish it.

00:07:28:21 - 00:07:58:18
Matthew Krekeler
It will mean so much. And then for those listening with spouses, also take a great opportunity today to get flowers. Get a card. Make it really special. It's a day that goes and comes like super quickly, and just taking that extra effort could mean a lot. And a guy who is just amazing at Valentine's, he's known as the King of Valentines is Loni Anderson.

00:07:58:22 - 00:08:21:05
Matthew Krekeler
He is my first guest that I've had on the Girl That Nation podcast. So if you haven't listened to that, it's in two parts. Loni Anderson, he is amazing. He always goes out of his way. I think he's been doing it for 27 years now. Every single year he comes up with the creative fun. Just a elaborate and amazing Valentine's for his wife.

00:08:21:05 - 00:08:36:04
Matthew Krekeler
And and this year, I hope I'm not spoiling anything because by the time this comes out, this might be in the press already. But this year he designed this beautiful giant key. And the mayor,

00:08:36:04 - 00:08:45:10
Matthew Krekeler
in loving New Mexico, is going to present his wife or has presented his wife at this point, the key to the city of loving.

00:08:45:12 - 00:09:14:13
Matthew Krekeler
And it's an amazing, beautiful gesture. And they are also renaming a street that is titled I love an in reference to one of his past Valentines, where he got people all around the world to write the phrase I love and and just. He presented all of these pictures from all these people, different beliefs, different regions all around the world, but all came together to help.

00:09:14:13 - 00:09:40:13
Matthew Krekeler
Wishes wife a Happy Valentine's Day. So, be inspired by these stories. Think of little ways in your own life to just share that love to friends, to your kids, to your spouse and I because I didn't get, audio Valentines. This year I want to encourage you, for,

00:09:40:13 - 00:09:47:04
Matthew Krekeler
yeah. As long as, this is this is going, feel free to still drop notes.

00:09:47:04 - 00:10:01:08
Matthew Krekeler
It doesn't have to be Valentine's related, but go to Girl Dad nation.org. And then in the bottom right corner there's a little microphone icon. Feel free to leave a audio note. And I encourage you to if you're listening to this,

00:10:01:08 - 00:10:10:11
Matthew Krekeler
take the leap, leave an audio note and it could be a win a dad win. It could be a love note to your kids,

00:10:10:11 - 00:10:12:01
Matthew Krekeler
something awesome you want to share.

00:10:12:01 - 00:10:38:08
Matthew Krekeler
I like to say like, proud dad moments. So leave something cool. It could be a birthday wish. Whatever you want, but I'm leaving it open, and I will, collect them as long as I receive them. And maybe I'll drop it in some future episodes. So wanted to give that opportunity. And before I sign off on this episode, this is my opportunity as a dad and a husband.

00:10:38:08 - 00:11:06:08
Matthew Krekeler
And I am so blessed by my family. And I want to give a shout out to my kids because I've been blessed with four amazing daughters. Kaylee, Nora, Maggie, and our newest daughter Gemma and this all wouldn't be possible without my amazing wife, Becca. She deserves so much. She is my forever Valentine and especially this year, it's been super difficult.

00:11:06:08 - 00:11:20:21
Matthew Krekeler
I know, she's battled, a lot through pregnancy, through postpartum. But she keeps showing up every day for me and for our kids, and it just means the world to us.

00:11:20:21 - 00:11:32:01
Matthew Krekeler
She shows up. She's so valuable and I just appreciate her so much. So, Becca, if you listen to this. Thank you. We love you.

00:11:32:01 - 00:11:55:09
Matthew Krekeler
And we are just so appreciative that you are in our life. And we want to make this day, this Valentine's Day and every day so special to you. We want to show you that we care for you. We love you and we appreciate you. And, for all of my kids, you are doing amazing things. We're so proud of you.

00:11:55:09 - 00:12:12:15
Matthew Krekeler
It's such an amazing honor to watch you grow up. And on this Valentine's Day. Know that you are loved now and always. Thank you guys for being with us. Thanks for listening to this. Have an amazing Valentine's Day.