I'll blame a little bit of my bitterness on my cheap, high school boyfriend who didn't buy or do anything special for me on our first Valentine's Day. Absolutely nothing. Not even a 99 Cent Store card. Years later, it was the boyfriend who had supposedly forgotten that it was Valentine's Day. I found that hard to believe because he was working in a corporate office... which I'm sure many of his colleagues were getting roses delivered to their desks by their significant others. Come on now! Needless to say, I found the sharpest object near me and popped the cute heart balloon that I had hiding in our closet for him, out of anger! I may have torn up the Valentine's card I bought him too. Yes, I have a slight temper.
Oh, there was also a time in high school when my best friend and I were sitting in her room, depressed as hell because we had just broken up with our boyfriends the day before. I think we even cried a little bit, haha. Everywhere we went that morning was just a reminder of how single and lonely we were. All the grocery stores and pharmacies had turned into chocolatiers for the day. Flowers and teddy bears were being sold on every major street we would drive down. We were being pathetic and felt sorry for ourselves. Talk about high school Valentine's Day angst!
After all that, I have come to realize that I don't need one day out of the year for my partner to prove his love to me or show me how special I am. If you love someone, you already show it. So no, I don't expect my husband to go all out, and vice-versa. However, it is nice to have a little romance in your life sometimes, which means that we do mark the day if we are able to. Nothing too crazy though. I'd rather skip all the crowded, over-priced restaurants and just have a special little dinner at home. I don't care for flowers and teddy bears, and would rather get a simple heart-felt card. However, I won't complain about the heart ballon that my son bought me last night, the Valentine's card I found under my pillow this morning, or the little surprise vintage present that is coming in the mail from Ebay for me, hehe. My husband has work until tomorrow morning, so it's just the kids and I, and some good old freezer pasta for dinner.
Although I think of today as a Hallmark Holiday, I can't help but be appreciative to the man I married. He really is a sweet-heart and will go out of his way to make sure that I know he loves me and thinks of me as something special to him... today, and any other day. For that, I am very grateful. What are your thoughts on Valentine's Day?
4 comments:
ugh! High school Valentines day was the -worst-!! My boyfriends never did anything special for me either. Now, my husband and I often spend V-Day at home with each other instead of having to wait 45 minutes in the cold for a table at a restaurant. Many of our local grocery stores have fancy, yummy meals that you can order and bring home to heat up in the oven, which is what we've done for the past few years and it has been great! We often get each other a small something just to say I love you and that's about it. This year, we bought our daughter a tiny box of chocolate and I think we'll be cooking at home, watching something on netflix. I feel bad for guys on v-day with all of the sold-out roses and on sale diamonds. I prefer my "just because I love you" roses from the gas station that I get every once in a while instead of a big, over-priced bundle of flowers on v-day. It's much more fun to celebrate your love in small ways every day than to splurge one day of the year. Happy V-day to you, sweetie!
I couldn't agree with you more Britanny! I'm going to have to check out my local grocery store about those meals you're talking about. I like the idea of having a delicious meal at home, without having to cook it! It sounds like you and I had the same high school boyfriends, lol! My husband and I got each other small gifts too, nothing that will break the bank. I do wish I did some V-Day crafts with the kids. Ah well, next year. Happy Valentine's Day to you too mama!
Crafty Doll,
This is is a GREAT post! I feel the same was as you and Brittany! The man and I are going out to dinner but that is it. No cards, no gifts, no stuffed animals, and no candy. I buy candy for myself any time I want, I am almost 36 years old so no stuffed toys please, and I do not need cards or gifts. I am happy just being in love with my man of almost 15 years! My husband and I have been together since 1994 and married since '96. In the beginning, when I was 20 and a college sophomore, I really cared about gifts and cards. It was Februray 1995 and my then-fiance (now husband) forgot Valentine's and I got mad and stormed out of his parents' house. Even after he apologized and offered to take me out, I refused and acted like a brat. Cringe! Now, I just want to enjoy the day and have a cocktail after work. I was in the grocery store the other day and saw a huge display of candy and stuffed toys and I wanted gag. I mean, aren't plush foxes (yes, they were pink foxes with huge fluffy tails) for little girls? I do not like cut flowers because the flowers die. I prefer plants I can grow and care for. I think Valentine's day is a good day for retailers but it just seems silly. Next week is my man's 40th so I am going to save the fanfare for his big day!
Thanks, Tara! Your story about V-day in 1995 cracked me up because that is exactly the way I acted back then! I'm sure a lot of us gals can relate. Couldn't agree more about stuffed animals and most of all the flowers. It really bothers me that they're so damned over-priced, and then the poor things die after a day or two. It's a total waste of life for all those beautiful flowers. Enjoy your V-Day dinner!
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