TELL BEDTIME LOVE STORIES

Tonight is the ideal time to tell the story of how you (or some other couple, like Grandma and Grandpa) met and fell in love. The wedding album would prompt questions that might help you tell the story. If you'd prefer to tell another love story--or a story of love and friendship--try any of the charming children's books of Charlotte Zolotow or the funny, silly GEORGE AND MARTHAbooks by James Marshall. My favorite love story about a family for older kids is Patricia MacLachlan's SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL, which is also a good movie. If you are really in the mood to be creative, you could get your kids involved in the story by letting them play matchmaker to, say, a dog and cat. What are their names? Where did they meet? Do they marry?

RENT A ROMANCE

Eight o'clock and the kids are asleep? C'est impossible. Now, run out and rent a great Valentine's Day video for you and your sweetheart. Unless you've had too much coffee, you won't have time for DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, but there's DESK SET, MY FAIR LADY and CASABLANCA if you want a classic. And don't forget about the fabulous romances in STRICTLY BALLROOM, BIG and HANNAH AND HER SISTERS. Just please, if you go to my video store, leave CAREFREE for me.