A Little Love for Valentine’s Day

Yes, more than likely, Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday with a completely commercial purpose. But this day always holds a special place in my heart. It’s not the romance part (in fact, my husband rarely celebrates), it’s the memories associated with this day that are special and will stay with me always.

Motherly Love

For some reason, my mom always treated this day as special. Even though it’s only a couple weeks after my birthday, my mom always had a nice surprise for me. Whether it was jewelry or a new outfit, it was more than just candy or a card. To this day, she still gives me a Valentine’s Day gift. While I will always appreciate the gift, even more so, I appreciate this special tradition between the two of us.

A Valentine’s Anniversary

My grandparents anniversary was Valentine’s Day. In fact, just weeks before my grandmother passed, they celebrated 70 years of marriage on Valentine’s day. Now that they are both gone, this day will always remind me of them. It also serves as an example of the strength of love and commitment.

Making Love a Habit

For me, Valentine’s Day isn’t about the holiday, it’s a reminder to show those we care about just how much we love them. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying we need a reason to express our love to those most important to us. But, let’s be honest, sometimes a little reminder can’t hurt. One way to build a habit is to schedule it. So if I want to be intentional about strengthening relationships and a date on the calendar can provide that nudge, why not use it? 

Authentic Expressions of Love

And, while I use this holiday as my own personal reminder to show love, I try best to make it an authentic expression of my feelings, not the commercialized version. Here are some ways I’ve found to show my love on Valentine’s Day, without getting caught up in the commercialization of the holiday.

  1. Enthusiasm. If my daughter wants to make homemade Valentine’s for her class or handwrite notes on each one, I go with it and fully support her. I am not talking about Pinterest inspired creations, rather, encouraging her creativity and personality to come out.
  2. Being intentional with gifts. Yes, I give gifts on Valentine’s day, because I want to do special things and because I enjoy giving gifts. But I also don’t get wrapped up in candy and cheap fanfare. Rather, I use it as a time to give something needed or long anticipated.
  3. Quality Time. Sometimes the best gift is time spent together. It may be a planned outing, but more often it’s saying yes when my daughter asks to go to the park or make cookies together, or even just color or play a game. I know what she really wants from me is my attention. And that’s something that has no price tag.

And P.S. I am going to be more intentional about using this strategy with my husband this year too.

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jamihouston
Jami is an administrator in Higher Education and loves working with college students. She is married to husband Derek, a professor of education and is a mom to Ava (4). Jami and her family moved to Oklahoma from their life-long home of Illinois 2 years ago. She is trying to balance motherhood with hers and her husband's careers as well as adjusting to their new life in Oklahoma. Jami enjoys travelling, reading self-help books, trying new restaurants, cupcakes, and spending time with her family.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Yes!! My Mother loves Valentine’s Day, she has always gotten us something special on this day! It’s been a favorite holiday of mine.

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