Does Anyone Want to Bash Valentines Day with Me?

I just don't GET Valentine's Day.

In and of itself, Valentine's Day is not significant to me. I don't hate it nor do I love it. It's just a day, same/different as any other. Maybe I'm not that into it because I didn't grow up celebrating it, or because I do not have any positive/negative associations with it. It's not special or noteworthy for me. I love traditions and celebrations but this one just doesn't hold my attention...

My kid's have decided that today is Love's Birthday, and that's so darn gorgeous I'll rally behind it (Love is worth celebrating no matter the day). Maybe in a few years, after I have memories of the children's magic, I'll have a different experience of Valentines day.

I just fried eggs in heart shaped cookie cutters and cut heart shaped pieces of toast for my husband.

No bashing from me. Only this link... http://failblog.org/2012/02/08/dating-fails-dating-fails-... :o)

Well, hey. I filed for divorce last week!

:D :D :D

Does that count?

(For anyone upset at my timing... my husband decided to beat me up 2 weeks before christmas. Took that long for the bruise on my brain to heal enough for me to be able to do the numbers for the lawyers and get everything filed and put together. And today? Well I rented a car -my soon-to-be-ex-husband took off with ours 2 weeks before christmas- and I'm taking my son up to the mountains for the FIRST time this season to go play in the snow and I'm hoping we'll have cupcakes later).

Well, I'm just ignoring it this year. No particular reason, I just don't feel like it. I've always gotten little things for the kids (now 19, 17, and almost 15), just a card, some candy, a cute bear or a gift card or more recently cash. This year I did nothing. Sigh. Course, I DO have to go to the grocery store today anyway, so I probably WILL have something for them when they get home.

Last year I sent my oldest away at school a package. Didn't do it this year.

The guy and I are not especially romantic. Neither of us has any expectations. We talked about going out for dinner as a family tonight, but we do that fairly often anyway.

Frankly, I am just plain lame-o. And really Molly, your attitude is NOT helping ME much either.

BAHAWAHA!

Say it with me, ready...1...2...3...BA-HUMBUG!

;{

I woke up next to the nicest guy in the world this morning. I picked up sweet inexpensive cards at Dollar Tree for him, our kids, and grand daughter. I bought balloons for them also while there. Im looking forward to going to the preschool party this morning and helping with a cute craft that will make the kids smile, and only cost about $6 for the intire class. I will take pictures and enjoy them for a long time. I think I will cook a yummy dinner tonight at home, and sit at the table with my husband knowing he loves me. I dont care if Valentines day is made up or not. Every holiday is "made up" but means something special to someone. I love my family and tell them so everyday. Today is just a bit more special and fun. The smile on my husbands face when he saw the card I gave him was worth it. And that extra hug and kiss when he left for work was worth even more.
Sorry about your truck, but you cant blame Valentines Day on that. Have a great day! Somebody loves you. (o:

Sorry, I never regret or dread Valentines Day, because I Love my family and love an extra excuse to tell them.

I call friends, mail cards, ask about their families.

My husband and I were teens when we first met. He gave me a hearsy bar with almonds. I gave him chocolate kisses, we have never lost that first love feeling.

Our daughter and her friends in college, have a fun tradition. A huge group gets together on VD and they all go out for sushi and then ice cream! This is their senior year. I deposited Valentine money in her account so tha she can really splurge this year!

And so like anything else. If you like the day embrace it, if not, ignore it, but never deny others for wanting to recognize you on such a quiana tradition.it is something they want to do, not have to do.

if your daughter's upset, clearly VD is something she's used to celebrating in your house.
make her a dang cupcake! i mean, isn't it great to have an excuse to make cupcakes?
i usually make my husband a card, but this year i got lazy and bought him one. he gave me roses. i like roses. especially in february when it's kinda dreary.
but the TRUE MEANING OF VD is being lost on all of you! i mean, am i the only one making a spurting heart meatloaf? even my son who has moved out has requested a video of the great climatic moment of stabbity fun!
for years the men groaned and made retching noises when i stabbed the meatloaf and the rich tomato-y goo flowed. so one year i sadly let it go. and naturally they all were horrified and offended that i had broken *their* tradition.
i think it'll just be the ol' man and me tonight, but stab the meatloaf i shall. and make him video it so i can send it to whatever boys aren't here.
(the fact that it doesn't always work just heightens the tension. it's a delicate art, the stabbity meatloaf prep.)
and i'll take ANY excuse to make cupcakes.
:) khairete
S.

To me Valentine's day is another excuse to be nice to my wife and for her to be nice to me. I don't need an excuse and neither does she, but some people do.

I taught a Marriage and Family class. I was amazed at the number of husbands and wives that acted like they needed a reason to be nice to their spouses. So, for people like that I'm glad there is a Valentine's Day.

As far as dressing up like a school girl for your husband . . . if you did that or something similar for your husband on a regular basis, you wouldn't be concerned about doing that for Valentine's Day. And if your husband is like me, he probably sees you in his minds eye as the beautiful girl he married. AND 10 or 20 or 30 years from now he will still see you in his mind's eye as the beautiful girl he married.

If you want to learn more about how he thinks and feels about you, read the book, "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands." To quote a very wise man, "If you look for the good or bad in your fellow man, you will surely find it." And a very wise woman said, "Good men are hard to find, but not hard to keep."

If you want to get by on the cheap, go to the store that sells cards, look for a poem or saying on a card, write it down and take it home and produce your own card. OR, better yet, think up your own poem and make your own origional card.

Good luck to you and yours.

Bash the Day of Love and Disappointment? Me? Never! (Bahaha!)

I love Valentines day. I don't need gifts, but yea I like the extra specialness of the day. Sure I dress up in outfits on occassion for my bf, I J. look at it as another reason to do something nice. I'm excited to give him a card and candy and dress up! it's a reason to let my daughter buy lunch and be excited about the day in K and getting cards. I can't wait to give her a little present. She's 5 and loves flowers and desperately wants a single red rose and has been hoping to get one for vday...I can't wait to give her one. I'm not going to spend tons but 10 bucks on a tiny bear and flower and balloon ssure=)
Also lets be honest..some guys need the special day to buy flowers or chocolates for the girl. My boyfriend is awesome in a zillion ways, but lacks on the traditional romance side...sure I see him playing with my daughter or if he warms up my car and it's way more special than J. flowers but its nice on this day to get the traditional romance.
IDK I love v-day! Every holiday is over commericialized, but lets be honest today would J. be Tuesday if it wasnt vday, and it gives you something special to day on a weekday=) I don't believe in having to go all out or HAVING to do something, but its nice to have the reason to make sure you do something today!

My 2nd daughter was born twelve years ago today. Since that beautiful day, we celebrate her birthday and Valentine's Day gets put on the backburner. We still buy little things for our other children but, not each other. We have gone to a local pizza place with my parent's and my sister's family since our daughter was five that makes heart shaped Pizza on Valentine's day to celebrate her birthday. I LOVE Valentine's Day....I get to celebrate the birth of my beautiful daughter! HAVE A BLESSED DAY EVERYONE!!!!

I would be upset too if I were your daughter. My mom always kept it simple and made each kid a giant rice crispy treat heart with "I love you -----" on it. It was the best present every year and yummy too!

Sorry to hear about your mailbox and truck.

If it makes you uptight then don't participate, no need to slam. I don't understand all the Valentine's hate from people who are in love and have families. I think it's fun.
My 9 year old and I made Valentines for her class last night took about and hour and maybe $20, she loved creating them and I tied a little pencil on each one for her. The fun was in making them together and doing something artsy, she LOVED it..
My oldest made red velvet cupcakes for her friends and I made a minicake with the leftover batter for dessert tonight. I'll make steak for hubby and salmon for the girls and I with simple sides. Cocktail or wine for the grownups, dress up the table a little with candles, maybe some flowers, music. I wrote a poems for my husband and each girl last year, maybe a little note or handmade card this year if I have time.
I guess it just seems like people complain about the commercielism, having to buy expensive cards and useless gifts and I just wonder why they do it.
There are lots of ways to show love and affection. In the time it takes to go to the store and spend too much on a sappy card you can do alot. Cook a nice meal, bake a cake, make a card, write something sweet. It's the simple things that make people feel loved and appreciated, it shouldn't be a burden and it shouldn't be a source of stress. Sorry I can't slam what I think is a sweet day to show people how much you love them. It's not about the fact that you should tell people you love them all year long, of course that's true. I think it's about celebrating your love for those close to you in simple, sweet ways, what's wrong with that?

My mom never did anything for Valentine's Day except help us make our V-Day box for school and make sure we filled out the cards so each kids in our class got one. And honestly, my hubby and I don't do anything for it either. He did scrape my car windows for me this morning before he left for work, so I'm considering that my present from him! I don't necessarily need to bash Valentine's Day, but it is definately a commercial holiday that I don't buy into.

My husband and I have been happily married for 27 years. We both are of the opinion that the idea behind Valentine's Day should be practiced all year long; loving notes, SURPRISES, romance, candy, etc. There are so many people who are disappointed in the lack of response or even the response of their partners on one day a year. Just read a few of the posts from today to affirm that last statement. IMO the VD hype seems to lead more often to relationship problems than romance.

My god I love my family!! They accept they are loved regardless of tokens.

Granted I was out with ya in the snow because we had to get the stupid cards for my youngest to hand out today. Last year for that!!!!!

My kids have always known I won't celebrate holidays like this. Included is mothers/fathers day. I expect to be loved and treated with respect every day of the year not just a couple. :) My husband came around pretty quick since he doesn't see the point of spending five dollars on a card anymore than I do. :)

Oh and bless his heart, he doesn't notice when my legs are hairy. :p

We really don't celebrate it. My hubby will send flowers to his daughters and I, but that’s it. My daughter was excited about giving her home made valentines to her classmates and having a little party at school. She did not mention having anything special here at home.

Sorry about your truck and mailbox, that stinks.

Valentines often can feel like a forced holiday for me, too. I do agree that it is a made up holiday and very over-commercialized. The kids get waaaay too much candy, the husbands get guilted into "surprising" wifey/girlfriend with flowers, chocolates, poems, etc. and personally, I kind of hate feeling like "Well, I had better put-out, it is Valentines Day!"

That being said, this year is going a bit better than most. Hubby and I have not had a date in probably over a year. Things have been kindof crappy, to be honest...a date has not even sounded fun. I think that it is good that we are being forced, in a way, to go on a date. My SIL volunteered to watch the kids because she had a big breakup last year and does not want to spend the night by herself. We are going to go watch that new Liam Neeson movie (no romantic movies for us! Blech! The good news is that this movie will probably not be that crowded!). Hubby and I do not share food tastes, so the whole eating out thing has been a big dilemma and I was a little sad that we could not agree on something fun and delicious. Problem solved- SIL and I are going out for a sushi lunch and Hubby and I will get something he likes for dinner. So the only problem now is I will be over-eating all day, LOL!
I hope your day gets better. Do something nice for yourself. You don't need to jump through hoops. Order a pizza and ask them to put the pepperoni in the shape of a heart, have a family movie night, get some nookie after the kids go to bed, and call it good!

We celebrate St. Valentine because he was a Catholic priest who defied the Roman Emperor and married Roman soldiers to their sweethearts. The emperor had decreed that his soldiers could not marry because he didn't want them to want to live or have anyone to live for. if they had a family they would have something to live for and not be as good or fearless in battle. St Valentine could see that they should be able to marry and have families so he would marry them in secret. St Valentine was captured and killed because he stood up against the Emperor.
We celebrate him as a person who defied the Emperor and believed in romantic love and marriage.

Sorry...no V-day bashing here!
We're don't do a big celebration, but we do something.
We sent my SD $20 and a card that both boys drew all over :)
My 7 y/o got a new DS game and a small box of chocolates.
My 3 y/o got a new Joker toy to go with his batcave and a small box of chocolates.
We made cards for my husband and got him his favorite Ferrero Rocher (SP???) chocolates and they gave me a huge box of chocolates and a dozen pink roses :):):)
We also had a sitter Friday night and we went out with friends and got a hotel room and partied like rock stars until 4 am ~ we're old, so we are still trying to recoop from that!
It's been a very nice V-day! Tonight I am making the boys pink heart pancakes for dinner and my husband will be at work.

I left little gifts on my girls' pillows and they absolutely loved it. I like Valentine's Day but I don't go out of my way to do anything extravagant. Little gifts for my girls, and my husband and I aren't buying each other anything because there's no need to, we show each other we love each other every day of the year. But, I do like an excuse to show extra love to my family. My Dad left valentines for me and his granddaughters in our mailbox this morning, and that made my day. :)

I have learned, not to expect anything, from my Husband for Valentines.
I usually am the one that does it all.
Not this year.
Nor do I have money to get him anything nor for my kids.

I have learned, not to expect anything from him, then I am not let down.

So this year, no... I am not doing anything for Valentines nor hopping through hoops for it/him.
Especially since last night my Hubby was in a total bitchy mood.... at me.
Whoa is he.

For my kids, I will scrape up something.

My husband says he "hit the jackpot" when he found me. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries (and mom and dad's day, mostly cause the kids like to give us things). Other holidays we don't spend money on each other. We do enough of that without a commercialized holiday.

I don't like Valentines Days! (I had a different post response but deleted cause it was just too negative). I don't wear jewelry, I don't see the purpose of flowers.

Jackpot! He has though on occasion surprised me and on a different days said "today is your valentines day"...that is truly the best...

I always get my daughters a nice piece of jewelry for Valentine's Day that they'll like and wear. And that's where it ends.

I find the whole day to be made-up, pointless and a good way to make single people feel bad. My significant other and I don't wait for a stupid made-up "holiday" to show we love each other. Everything today is overpriced, resaurants are crowded, cards are fake and corny, and candy in heart-shaped boxes is mostly gross -- I'd rather just have a Milky Way! I'm with you sister!

Sorry about your truck, the deductible...yikes. As for jumping through hoops...why is it for kids anyway? I don't get it. Seems like it's just another excuse to spend lots of money on toys and chocolate. One of my moms is picking her kids up early to take them to the dentist today. Somehow that seems strangely fitting.

ME, ME, ME.... My wonderful husband never liked sex much in any of his relationships before me or with me. He used to put me through all kinds of hoops just to finally decide it was just not important to him. BUT, he LOVES Valentines Day. Why do I want roses and chocolate and other gifts from a man that doesn't touch me for years on end?!

I got stood up by the girls, we were supposed to go to a V-day "Soiree". Oh well, at least I have the $1 store goody bags I made for the kids. Sorry about the blizzard, but THINK OF IT THIS WAY.... at least you have someone to stay warm with! :) I got a divorce for Christmas, and my hubby had left the Christmas before that (after he put up a real tree , he was working the V-day before that. But enjoying the single life (mostly) and maybe in a year or two I can only hope to have a 'cuddle buddy'. :D God Bless :D

One of the things that bothers me about Valentine's Day is how shallow and stupid women are portrayed on TV shows. They imply we say we "don't want anything" and then we get all upset if the guy doesn't get us anything. No - that's not the case. I REALLY DON'T WANT ANYTHING because I think it's a stupid holiday. My husband and I celebrate our love all the time sometimes with small gestures and sometimes with grand gestures. True love doesn't need a single day in a year to be celebrated.

PS: We've been married for almost 19 years.

Haha I agree! Its the dumbest holiday around. What is the point of it? I went to buy candy for his classmates, not cause I wanted to but because I didn't him to be the odd man out, the bag cost 6 bucks, I don't get any of it and he is only friends with really 5 of his classmates! The school decides to have a bake sale also so I had to give him money for that, again so he won't be the only one without! I don't Love these kids and neither does he! I don't do anything at home, never have and never will, so luckily I don't any complaints at home and my legs can stay hairy lol It's cold out and like you I want the added warmth :)

I could bash this day all day, but I will not get on my "Why are we being told to show our love to our significant other on ONE day. It should be done every day. The candy, flowers and resturants make a killing on this day because you have to put monetary value into the ones you love" soap box! Oops, there I go. heehee So, today is another day that I will show my sweetie love just as I try to do everyday without all the expections.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, ladies and gents!

I kinda forgot it was Valentine's Day this morning. Ugh...

This week is torture for me. My IL's who usually watch my children 3 days a week left for a vacation last weekend for two weeks. My kids go to two different schools so arranging after school care for them has been quite the puzzle. Then on top of that my husbands work decided he needs to work 12-14 hour days this week...so he is not able to help with anything. I am so in need of groceries but just can't seem to fit the time in my schedule during the week. My cat just ran out of cat food last night....so I guess I'll be forced to pick her up food at least.

Valentine's day is FAR from my mind. (I'm sure after the long days it will be far from my husbands too) My kids are happy enough to do their thing at school....so guess I'm lucky for that.

ooh Molly!!

I'm soo sorry about your truck and mail box!!

I SOOOO get you!!! My boys think we NNNNNEEEEEEDDDDD to do something "special" - so I told them - what they could do for me? Is make their beds today!! And guess what? THEY DID!! YAHOO!!!

I'm tired of the commercialization of Valentine's Day. I can't see spending $5 on a card either. I made my husband one. I bought my boys Butterfingers - their favorite.

Will we do a "special" dinner? Not special or different than usual. I have shrimp to use so I will take one of the wonderful recipes that was shared with me yesterday and make one of those! I might even put out the "fine china"...but over all? Nope. I don't want my husband to send me flowers. I don't want chocolates...I don't want a $5 card either!!!

Not me! I like Vday. Although I try to forget that it would have been my 14th anniversary with my ex...LOL! Although we don't go all crazy on Vday, we do get choc for each other and some things for the kids. I'm making meatloaf for the fist time tonight for dinner and making it heart shaped, with mashed potatoes and gravy and steamed carrots. I got a fondue pot and will have choc and yummy things to dip as a surprise for the kids. Hoping it will be our new vday family tradition. =)

I don't really feel the need to bash it, but I don't celebrate it either. I don't mind others celebrating it, but I never have.

This morning we all woke up and had breakfast together, sharing stories, and proclaimed Happy Tuesday to each other! None of us want to celebrate Valentine's Day, but I did cave to the pressure of society, and I bought my kids each a Reese's Candy Bar. That's it, though, and it doesn't look Valentinish. :)

I get ya! :) Last night my daughter says "I can't wait to see what I get for Valentine's day in the morning!" I'm like, its not Christmas honey. I did get her a little something but I'm waiting until later when her dad gets home to give it to her.

I think it sounds like you did great! Way more than I did...have fun.

We don't ever really do much for Valentines Day. We give each other cards and the kids a little candy or book as well. Besides that we just say we love each other. One year I made a heart shaped cake to eat after dinner. It's sweet to celebrate love...but it's really not a big deal to me. My husband and I both don't ever really celebrate it much. Some years we give each other small gifts and some years we do not. Boring, huh?! :) We both feel like we show each other our love daily all year round. I like your love letters idea for your family. I might have to do that - very sweet. :) Sorry to hear about your truck.

Nothing like messing up your car to make any day crappy. Think simple and silly. I never buy cards - always mean to make them but hardly ever happens. Some years I manage to run through Target and buy everyone some new fun PJs - but don't think that will happen this year. V-day is the anniversary of my husband and my first date - 30 years today.

If I feel ambitious I sometimes buy me some new lingerie as a gift for him, that way we both win. But again, may be more than I can manage today - never anything as drastic as shaving my legs! lol

Will probably run thru Safeway, pick up some dark chocolate Doves, hit the frozen food aisle and get stuff for the family fav - appetizer dinner and ice cream!! Valentine's Day done in 10 min. MMMM mini crab cakes, spanikopita and egg roles, and my best guys Ben and Jerry mmmmm.

I think you should start with some dark chocolate right now....

Hope the day gets better!

.

I hate it too. I used to love romance and wanted it all! Then, I guess, I grew up, and realized life is not like the movies. :( I told my husband over dinner Sunday night that I wanted to change the rules. I want romance and all that, but I know I wont get it...
I hate these holidays, the fun part is, doing things for my girls. I put a heart shaped doily in her lunch box that read "Happy Valentine's Day ! I love you!". I made heart shaped desserts for dinner tonight and we will spend it as a family.

You made me smile! It sounds like a sitcom! ;) I agree...it's a silly holiday that some people have way too high of expectations for and then are let down. As I said before, if I get a card or flowers, yay, and if not, o well...my boys have practice 6-8 tonight and I work til 6...and have to run to the store to get my son something for his play. I have nothing against those that do like it and celebrate...it's sweet...and I did put some candy in my kids lunches today...not something I normally do...and even though I made a nice V-Day dinner last night and then husband and I got into an argument and went to bed not talking, I still text him today to tell him I love him...cause I'm a grown up and that's what we do! :)

I like your personal ideas of just doing things that will make your family happy...I was thinking the same thing...writing a nice note to each of my kids (I can already envision my sons reaction...he's almost 12 and at "that age." LOL!

Have a good day, whether you celebrate or not, Molly! :)

I remember a time when I felt awkward because others had these outward signs of "love" from others with the flowers, etc.

I now have a husband who adores holidays and is very sentimental. I woke up (earlier than everyone else as I leave for work before he and DD wake for the day) to balloons and roses and candy and cards. I added my contribution to the day's festivities, and it was fun.

I don't need a special day to show my love, but I love the fun of it. And my K daughter was super-geeked. She made 27 cards to give to others, and she was looking forward to sharing them with her classmates.

Many of my students say their parents do special things with them on Valentine's Day. I think it is wonderful. My parents did special things for my bro and I as kids, but somehow it didn't feel special, because somehow I didn't feel the love behind it. I enjoy the chance to show my love to my family--it's like renewing our vows. We show everyone we love each other and show everyone we are madly in love with our child.

I remember the Christmas Eve our back end of the car was damaged while parked in the church parking lot during services. My normally jovial hubby was cranky for a few days. Gotta shake it. Life's too short.

Valentine's is ok - only because we don't make it into an unrealistic extravaganza.
I managed to find a nice card for my husband.
It wasn't easy.
I don't know what is going on with the card companies but for his birthday, Fathers Day or any other card I try to find for my husband there seems to be tons of cards that are down right insulting.
Seriously - cards that say he farts a lot, or spends most of his time on the toilet - cards that say he's stupid/clumsy/dirty/drunk or only good for asking for money - cards that say he's obsessed with cars/sports/work/fishing/tools.
We're all watching our weight - we don't need any candy.
He sends me flowers anytime for no reason just to cheer me up.
We're fine and very happy 365 days of the year and Valentine's is no big deal.

We just had a low key day and made cards for each other, (showing in our own way our love), made favorite dinner (nothing real fussy just special), did the school parties (our kids are only young once!) and had cupcakes for dessert. Valentines Day actually has a very long history not sure on the date but want to say back to Roman times, something about marriages were outlawed and a guy named Valentine went on his own and illegally married couples...just a bit of romantic history. My kids couldn't wait to call their daddy at work and wish him Happy Valentines day and it isn't the big things you do it is the little things.