I am not a lover of Valentines Day. I think it goes back to high School when all my friends boyfriends made them feel special…giving them boxes of chocolate, cards, perfume, and flowers.Every year they were shower with love and attention from their boyfriends while I could only wish it was me. I never knew what it felt like to have that special someone want to do something for me on Valentines Day so I dreaded it every. single. year.
In college, I was so hung up on one guy, I turned down Valentine’s dates twice because I hoped he would ask me out. Once I started to date my now husband, I was already so put off by Valentine’s Day, I made it clear to him, we don’t celebrate it. Once we were married and had kids, I decided it would be fun on Valentines Day if the boys; Mike and my son Ethan did something for us girls; my daughter Jordan and myself. Jordan and I in return would do something special for them. We celebrated Valentines Day as guys/girls until I developed a brain disease a few years back. During the rough years fighting the disease, we just got the kids a little something small to open on Valentines Day. One of the years I was really sick, some friends came over and made Mike and I an amazing Valentines Day dinner with candles and everything romantic!
Now, Valentine’s Day is something we celebrate as a family. We had fun little surprise for the kids today and we are making a nice dinner tonight to have at home.
Recently, I have thought maybe we should celebrate Valentines Day the typical way where I expect to be “wooed” with flowers and candy and maybe a fancy dinner, but what I realized was my husband makes me feel special all year long. I don’t need a special holiday to be reminded he loves me. Besides, I like it better when he just surprises me every so often and it is not an expected thing with some kind of expectation he has to live up to.
This is just me. But what are your Valentines Day plans? Are they the same every year?
I woke up yesterday and forgot it was Valentine’s Day–so that tells you what I think about it! We ended up having a great day. My husband and I cooked dinner together (always fun!) and I bought a special cake for the whole family. We rented a movie. It was simple. I am also more impressed when my husband surprises me on a non-holiday than when he does something for me because he’s “supposed” to. Honestly, when he brings me food and takes care of the kids needs while I’m writing my books–I get all weak in the knees!
Jennifer
great stuff you should write more often