Herald Journal,
Feb. 9, 2004
What is love? Area first graders have the answers
By Lynda Jensen
If love is the question, then local first grade students have all the answers.
The Herald Journal recently polled the youngsters to ask them their thoughts about Valentine's Day.
In fact, moms and dads can look forward to Valentine's Day, since more than 85 percent of the youngsters listed their parents as their favorite valentines.
"You know you're in love when someone smiles at you," commented Collin Benson of Howard Lake Elementary.
"You know you're in love when you daydream," wrote Amber Cafferty of Howard Lake Elementary.
"Love is being a friend," wrote Becca Welman of Howard Lake Elementary.
First graders are also wise about what love isn't.
"Love is not being mean," observed Chase Fretheim of Howard Lake Elementary.
"Love is not rude," wrote Brooklyn Bagnasser of Howard Lake Elementary.
How do you know?
The first graders also gave their thoughts about how people know they're in love.
"I think love is when you really, really like someone," wrote Jack Jagodzinski of Winsted Elementary.
"Love is very nice!!" wrote Natalie Synstelien of Winsted Elementary.
The youngsters also suspect that love has a great deal to do with marriage.
"Love is about caring. You're in love if you get married," wrote Alex Kittock of Howard Lake Elementary.
"Love is getting married and going on a date. You know you're in love when you're together a lot," wrote Kiah Smith of Howard Lake Elementary.
Kyler Mogensen of Howard Lake Elementary looked at it from a realistic viewpoint. "Sometimes people in love fight," he wrote.
The following are answers from all the first graders in the HLWW school district.
Holy Trinity of Winsted
Liam Fury
Love is when someone loves you because they like you because you are their child. When you're in love someone loves you and you love them and you get married. My favorite valentine is my little baby sister, Emma.
Josh Volness
You love people when you help people out. You're in love when you marry people. My favorite valentine is mom and dad and grandpa and grandma.
Katie Goebel
Love is happiness. You fall in love when you are happy. My favorite valentine is mom and dad.
Nathan Anderson
Love is good because you can celebrate Thanksgiving. My dad was in love when he wanted to marry my mom. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Russell Bayerl
Love is when my mom and dad make me feel safe. You're in love when you help each other out and do things for each other. My favorite valentine is mom and dad.
Jaime Johnson
Love is helping and caring and playing and sharing. If you're in love you love someone very much and it's like getting married. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Grant Bachman
Love is caring for other people and giving people gifts. You're in love when you feel happy. My favorite valentine is my dad and my mom and me.
Adam Stifter
Love is some feeling you get when you love someone and feel happiness. If you're in love with someone you will get a feeling that feels like a weird feeling. My favorite valentine is mom.
Polly Christensen
Love is something that feels good. That is what love is. You can feel it in your heart. And you hang out with boys. My favorite valentine is my teacher.
Megan Remer
Love is when you feel good and when you want them to be safe. When you want to be with them and you want to marry him. My favorite valentine is mom and dad.
Kassandra Scherping
Love is a good feeling. You're in love when you know that you want to be with them. My favorite valentine is Darci and Taylor Scherping and Mrs. E.
Michael Harder
Love is giving because I felt I was in love with Lisa and Andre. They give me anything I need. Because I felt I am in love. My favorite valentine is Allison and Nathan and my family.
Allison Condon
Love is when you love your mom and when you're happy. When you're in love it is hard to stop looking at him. My favorite valentine is my family.
Wyatt Entinger
Love is helping one another. You're in love when you care more than anyone else. My favorite valentine is Marquel.
Max Millerbernd
Love is wanting to be with someone a lot. My mom and dad are in love because they hug each other. My favorite valentine is Russell.
Lauren Kahle
Love is when you care for other people and you teach other people about Jesus. You're in love when you feel it inside you. My favorite valentine is the whole entire world.
Katie Albers
Love is happiness when you are happy. And when you are happy you love everyone. If you know that you're in love with a man you want to marry him. My favorite valentine is mom and dad and Becca.
Caitlin Duske
Loving and caring for your family is love. You're in love when he likes her and she likes him. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Jonathon Carnicam
Love is how you feel when you like to be with somebody. If I was in love I would feel happy. My favorite valentine is my brother.
Zach Diers
Love is a good feeling that God gave to us. You're in love when you feel happy to be with somebody. My favorite valentine is grandma.
Marquel Fleischacker
Love is when you care about someone. You will know because you will have a funny feeling in your stomach. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Lester Prairie Schools
Edison Yellick
Love is great. Because friends will sit by you. My favorite valentine is my friend.
Jordan Radtke
I think love is something that you just love others. People would marry each other if they are in love. My favorite valentine is my grandma.
Yenner Rosas
Love is when you like something. You're in love when you like someone, like my mom and dad. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Gracie Nelson
Love is like when families get together. You're in love when they say 'I love you.' My favorite valentine is my baby brother.
Wyatt Simrell
Marriage is love. You're in love when you hug and kiss. My dog Candy is my favorite valentine.
Rachel Stender
Love is when two people get together. You're in love when you get hugs and kisses. My favorite valentine is my grandparents.
Jacob Roth
Love is when people like you a lot. How do you know you're in love? You love he or she. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Sadie Paumen
Love is someone you like. You know you're in love when you're liking them. My favorite valentines are my grandmas.
Deborah Johnson
Love is caring about people. You know you're in love if you say 'I love you.' My favorite valentine is Cal, my little cousin.
Mya Christian
Love is when you like a person. You know you're in love if they sit by you. My favorite valentine is my sister, Alaina.
Nicole Trettin
Love is when you like someone. How do you know you're in love? I have no idea. My favorite valentine is my dad.
Nate Tesch
I love my mom and dad. I love my brother and sister. My favorite valentine is my family.
Rebecca Czech
Love is something when you're in love, because you see someone and you think you will get in love. My favorite valentines are my mom and dad.
Brittney Duffy
Love is when you like each other. You know someone is in love when they hug each other. My favorite valentine is my brother, Brandon.
Abby Gund
Love is in your heart. You know you're in love when someone kisses you. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Jordan Bergemann
Love is when you love a baby brother. You might love somebody in your family. My favorite valentine is my baby brother.
Connor Thiry
Love is when you like to play. You know you're in love when you like to do stuff together. My favorite valentines are my mom and dad.
Jared Stibal
I think love is when people think you are cool. How do you know when you're in love? They tell you. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Mitchell Roth
Love is when you like somebody very much. How do you know when you're in love? When a girl looks at you. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Sam Thorson
Love is when you like someone. You know you're in love when you think someone is nice. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Sabina Wallace
Love is who you care about. You're in love if you are asked out to prom. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Caleb Sebora
Love is when people like other people. How do you know? Because people know other people. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Tori Freeman
Love is like you love your mom and dad. You know you're in love when they're in your heart. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Michael Ahlbrecht
Love is in your heart. How do you know you're in love? By your heart. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Angelica Montano
Love is when you like someone. How do you know? By the feeling of love in your heart. My favorite valentine is my grandma.
Howard Lake Elementary
CJ Lange
Love is hugging. You know you're in love when they smile. My favorite valentine is Mom and Dad and Chase.
Kali Skiles
Love is helping someone. Love is when people smile. My favorite valentine is mom and dad.
Justin Sawatzke
Love is helping someone. You know you're in love when you daydream. My favorite valentine is mom and dad.
Collin Benson
Love is caring for someone. You know you're in love when someone smiles at you. My favorite valentine is my dad.
Lee Haralson
Love is hugging someone. You know you're in love when you kiss them. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Amber Cafferty
Love is when you help someone. You know you're in love when you daydream. My favorite valentine is my family.
Casey Marketon
Love? I think it is caring. You know you're in love if someone is smiling a lot. My favorite valentine is mom and dad.
Mackenzie Stokes
Love is to help my mom with Jace. You know you're in love when you daydream. My favorite valentines are Jace and Kelly.
Kerstin Karels
Love is kissing and hugging. You're in love if someone gives you a kiss. My favorite valentine is Alley.
Jordan Hourson
Love is hugging someone. You know you're in love when you kiss. My favorite valentine is my dad.
Jacob Kieser
Love is hugging someone. You're in love when you daydream. My favorite valentine is mom and Andrew.
Aman Jayager
Love is helping someone. You know you're in love when someone smiles. My favorite valentine is Mrs. Untiedt.
Samantha Holte
Love is hugging. Love is in your dreams. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad and sister.
Sergei Edwards
Love is gifts. You know you're in love with kisses. My favorite valentine is my dad.
Hannah Maas
Love is hugs. My favorite valentine is Mrs. Untiedt.
Brady Jenkins
Love is helping someone. You know you're in love when she kisses you. My favorite valentine is God, dad, mom and sister.
Shane Sterner
Love is helping someone. You know you're in love if she kisses you. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Carl Sones
Love is loving someone. You know you're in love by giving flowers. My favorite valentines are my mom and dad.
Nash Jacobsen
Love is hugging my mom. You know you're in love when she smiles at you. My favorite valentines are my mom and dad.
Aranne Dooley
Love is caring for someone. Love is dreamy. My favorite valentine is Sadie.
Kyler Mogensen
Love is going on a date. Sometimes people in love fight. My favorite valentine is Shelby.
Alex Kittock
Love is about caring. You're in love if you get married. My favorite valentine is Luke.
Luke Theisen
Love is hugging people. You know you're in love when you get married to each other. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Kiah Smith
Love is getting married and going on a date. You know you're in love when you're together a lot. My favorite valentines are mom, dad and Landon.
Benton Millen
Love is caring. You know you're in love when you send a card. My favorite valentines are mom and dad.
Brooklyn Bagnasser
Love is not rude. You're in love if you kiss. My favorite valentine is grandma.
Devin Smith
Love is TLC. People in love are not rude. My favorite valentine is Shai.
Shai Nolan
Love is being tender and caring. You're in love if you care for people. My favorite valentine is Devin.
Garrett Schanus
Love is caring. You're in love with hugs and kisses. My favorite valentine is Shelby.
Becca Welman
Love is being a friend. You know if you're in love when they give you a gift. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Darya Karas
Love is tender loving care. You know you're in love when someone hugs you. My favorite valentine is my dad.
Abby Remer
Love is TLC. Mom and dad love each other. Mom gives dad a kiss. My favorite valentine is my grandma.
Andrew Kieser
Love is not being rude, and hugging. How do you know if you're in love? I do not know. Hugging each other. My favorite valentine is Garrett.
Shelby Ogle
Love is hugs and kisses. You know you're in love (when you have) lots of friendship. My favorite valentine is Garrett.
Katie Rolfzen
Love is not rude. You're in love when you get hugs. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Trevor Sherwin
Love is giving gifts. You're in love by hugs. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Blake Bundrock
Love is a gift. You know you're in love when you are hugged by people. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Janell Voves
Love is tender loving care. You're in love if you hug a lot. My favorite valentine is Shai.
Mikayla Kittock
Love is hugging people. You're in love if people hug you a lot. My favorite valentine is my cat.
Chase Fretheim
Love is not being mean. You know you're in love if someone likes you a lot. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Lindsay Marketon
Love is giving hugs. You know you're in love if someone kisses you. My favorite valentine is my cat Rascal.
Winsted Elementary
Natalie Synstelien
Love is very nice!! My favorite valentine is Jack!!
Mikayla Karels
I think love is when you care about someone. My favorite valentines are my parents.
Cory Otto
Love is when you care. My favorite valentine is Dylan.
Austin Solberg
Love is when somebody is nice to you. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Sabrina Sale
Love is when you like somebody a lot. My favorite valentines are the kids in my class.
Noah Otterness
Love is caring for someone. Love is being happy. My favorite valentines are my classmates.
Erica Wessling
Love is sharing and caring for someone. My favorite valentine is my teacher.
Ethan Pepper
I think love is when someone cares about you. My favorite valentine is my sister.
Ashley Simonson
Love is showing you care about someone. My favorite valentine is my teacher.
Dylan Kosek
Love to me is caring for someone else. My favorite valentine is Eric.
Jack Jagodzinski
I think love is when you really, really like someone. My favorite valentine is my mom.
Eric Monson
Love is showing somebody that you care about them. My favorite valentine is God.
Logan Kritzeck
Love is someone you love. My favorite valentines are my mom and dad.
Abby Roufs
I think love is when you show someone you care. My favorite valentines are my mom and dad.
Brady Schesso
Love is when you like someone. My favorite valentine is Blake.
Shiann Stewart
I think love is when everybody is happy. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Blake Karels
Love is when you have feelings for someone that you like. My mom and dad are my favorite valentines.
Reid Baumann-Fern
Love makes me feel good because it is good. My favorite valentine is Sabrina because she says nice things.
Haven Torgerson
I think love is showing you care about someone. My favorite valentine is God.
St. James Lutheran
Amber Zander
Love is about valentine's day. My mom and dad love me so much. My favorite valentine is Jamie.
Emily Lindner
Love is compassionate. How do you know you're in love? You get a funny feeling inside. My favorite valentine is Jesus and Tasia.
Gabe Whitcomb
Love is being kind. My favorite valentine is mom and dad.
Jake Gruenhagen
Love is compassion. My favorite valentine is Jesus.
Wyatt Stueven
Love is being filled with compassion. You know you're in love when you feel special. My favorite valentine is Jesus.
Jamie Hofer
Love is compassionate. I love my family. My favorite valentine is Tasia and Emily.
Nicholas Borg
Love is compassionate. You're in love if you're happy all the time. My favorite valentine is my mommy and daddy.
Marissa Woolhouse
Love is compassionate. How do you know? You're happy all the time. My favorite valentine is my dad, mom and Jesus.
Tasia Virnala
Love is being compassionate. You know this by being happy all the time. My favorite valentine is my Godmother.
James Baird
Love is when somebody likes you a lot. You know you're in love when someone gives you a present. My favorite valentine is Jesus.
Ben Koosman
Love is something that you feel really good about. You know you're in love when you feel really good. My favorite valentine is Jesus.
Mitchell Schroeder
I love my family. I know I'm loved because my parents love me so much. My favorite valentine is Jesus.
Zachary Menden
Love is when you like somebody. Cuz I'm shy when I'm in love. My favorite valentine is Roes Menden.
Mason Bobrowske
I love my mom. My favorite valentine is Jesus.
Paul Bjork
Love is happiness. I'm happy when my mom and dad give me a hug. My favorite valentine is Jesus and God.
Katie Utne
Love is when you love someone. Cuz your family loves you. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Rachal Cafferty
Love is about valentine's day. Because I love them and they love me. My favorite valentine is grandma.
Thomas Eckstein
Love is being happy. My favorite valentine is Jesus and God.
Graham Dalheimer
Love is being kind and compassionate. How do you know if you're in love? By getting lots of valentines. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Marin Luchsinger
Love is being happy. I'm kind and compassionate. My favorite valentine is my mom and dad.
Rebekah Schoenfeld
Love is being kind. My favorite valentine is Jesus and marissa.
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