Things I don't understand - Valentiner's Day

[ghoti_mhic_uait]

Someone on a food community I read posted a link to these anatomical heart cupcakes asking whether we thought they'd be suitable for her four year old son to take to school for Valentine's day.

Now, they are utterly awesome, and a quick glance at the ingredients reveals no nuts or peanuts, so I'd think they'd be OK for school, which is how I answered, but...

why would a four year old be taking cakes to school *for Valentine's day*? Why would anyone? We used to (at secondary school) have a board for posting anonymous comments. Apparently I even got one, one year, but I didn'#t have time to go and look until they were all taken down. That is, you post a comment for *one* person, or a small number of people you're interested in romantically or sexually.

The whole class? That would be weird. Four year olds? Also kind of icky.

Any explanations, gratefully received.

Comments

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

No, they aren't suitable for a four year old to take into school for Valentine's day.
1) Most schools, or LEAs, probably have a policy about 'no sweets'. The icing is likely to have lots of ENumbers, and the parents should be going along with the 'no sweets or excess sugar' rule.
2) Valentines day, as you point out, is aimed at people old enough to be thinking about dating, and about single people. It's not what people insist on making it, for everybody. I have had lots of 'valentine's' artwork, and I have some up on the wall that Hannah did at playschool and in the library, but I don't hold with it myself, I just admire the art work.
3) Most 4 year olds probably haven't encountered an anatomically correct heart picture, and these cakes might confuse them.
4) It's just too icky.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Do you not have cakes on birthdays? We do, if they want to bring them in, and so long as there's no nuts or peanuts.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

No: I respected the 'no sweets' rule and very carefully provided fruit, cut up, and party bags. The other mums ignore the ' no sweets' rule and provide sweets or chocolate. They have had cakes at playschool.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I was being surprised at the 'no sweets' rule rather than your personal adherence to it. Although when I was at school, noone ever took in birthday cake/sweets.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

But if you look at the way things are going, and the 'healthy eating' rules schools are now being asked to go by, I would have thought 'no sweets' was becoming the norm. Although, since the other parents ignore it, perhaps not.

The other reasons not to bring in cakes are: allergies and diets. Some people are allergic to milk, eggs, and butter. Some margerines are not vegetarian. Food colourings have been linked to hyperactivity.