When my children reached school age, Valentine’s Day became more about them and less about my husband and me. Suddenly, I was baking cute cupcakes, helping make homemade cards, and shopping for gifts for my kids. It was nice and all, but after several years, now I find myself thinking; Valentine’s is for lovers, right? And even though I love my kids to death, this day is definitely NOT just about them, almost all other holidays are! So I say, let’s get back to Valentine’s Day! Parents need all the excuses they can have to spend quality time together.
Enough of the offspring – how can we make Valentine’s Day more focused on mom and dad? Start by taking a moment to reflect on the last time you had an intimate date with your partner. Maybe it was a candlelight dinner? Bubble bath for two? A walk in the woods holding hands under a starry sky? Come on, think better, it can’t be that long ago! Well, in fact, it’s probably been years, and if you’re like most parents, you’ve long needed some romance in your life. How do you make it happen?
You don’t need to get sucked into the commercialism of the day (I know this is a common complaint for many), but use it as an excuse to spend time with each other. Get a babysitter and go out, or just put the kids to bed on time and do something special at home.
Here are some suggestions to get started:
- Catch a romantic comedy movie at the theater with shared popcorn and goodies, and then have a drink at a local saloon.
- Enjoy a cheese fondue at home in front of the fire and follow it up with chocolate and fruit fondue, and whatever else you’d like to dip into it (wink, wink).
- Go snowshoeing, night skiing, snowmobiling or skating together at night and then warm up over coffee with coffee and dessert.
- Give each other serious massages. Forget the usual rubs on the neck or shoulders on the couch; I’m talking about relaxing full-body massages in bed with scented oils and candles. You’ll be nice and relaxed for bed … or whatever else you want to do later.
Remember, Valentine’s Day is about you as a couple. It is a day to remember why you are together and what you love about each other. It doesn’t have to be expensive, dramatic, or elaborate; you just need to show your affection for each other.