So despite having a partner on Valentine’s Day, I still can’t say its a day that I especially look forward to. For a start I always considered it to be an overly commercialised holiday anyway, and secondly it seems like a day geared for disappointment. How much do you spend on each other, what do you get, how much trouble do you go to in order to make the day special etc. etc.? This last point is highlighted for me this year in that despite not caring for the day, I’m upset my partner has to work 8am to 10pm, thus not giving us any time together! Irony much?
Anyway I’m definitely used to spending this day by myself, having been single for the last 2 of them and even before then having a husband who always had to work it (hospitality and catering is a bugger for that). Also I suppose on top of all that, doesn’t help that it is also my wedding anniversary today (with my ex of course) so its not exactly a day for celebrations and proclamations of love. You might catch yourself going “awww” at the fact my wedding day was Valentine’s Day originally, but honestly it wasn’t really that romantic. My husband (my ex) and I were just opening up a brand new restaurant, in a small town, and Feb 14th was available at the registry office. It was suggested that we could combine getting married and promoting our wedding – having the radio and newspaper there to document it. Doesn’t sound like much of a story I know, but for a little town they seemed to find it sweet that a couple opening a new restaurant were getting married in the morning and then serving 100 customers a Valentine’s meal in the evening. Anyway on a plus side I do have newspaper clippings and a radio recording of our wedding, though now we’re separated I suppose that means less.
Hmmm anyway, enough with the musings, there was a point to my post today. Oh yes! Valentine’s Day lol. Though I do think its overhyped and I do have issues with the day itself, I also think it IS a good day for telling the people around you that they’re important to you – the ones you love. For the last two years (and even before that really), the only people I’ve had around to love have been my children. They love Valentine’s Day. I think some of that is because I’ve always bought them a small gift on the day, usually some tacky cuddly toy that says “I love you” in some form or another, but also because at nursery and at school, they always seem to get them to make cards for mummy and/or daddy. I’ve always considered this to be sweet as like I said before, I consider it a day to share love with everyone, not just a partner.
Yesterday the kids had a lovely sweet idea for Valentine’s Day, for my partner. As I said, he’s working 8am till 10pm today and the kids think that’s sad for him. Having already asked the girls to be my Valentine’s dates today (we’re making heart shaped pizzas for dinner and eating by candlelight apparently) they’ve decided they want to try and make it special for my partner too. My youngest daughter Lily, decided that she is going to make him a card when she gets home from school today and my eldest daughter Megan, decided we should make him a heart shaped pizza for when he gets home tonight. It has also since been decided that we’re making him cakes and cookies – and last minute as I was driving the kids to school this morning, apparently we’re now also making decorations.
Anyway the long and short of this post is that despite the day being something it shouldn’t be – so far as bought cards, bunches of expensive roses, huge boxes of chocolates and so forth – the day does at least inspire love from all places. The fact that the day makes people WANT to do something special, is the part I agree with. Not the fact that we feel obligated to.
