Valentine's Day - A Parent's Perspective

Okay, so yesterday was Valentine's Day. It doesn't hold the same level of excitement as it once did but it is still a fun day. After cruising the blog world over the weekend, I noticed a lot of "Tell us your favorite Valentine's Day" stories. After much mind searching, I came to the realization that I never had a boyfriend on Valentine's Day when I was younger. Seriously, I'd have a boyfriend up until sometime in January, get dumped, and then not have another boyfriend again until April.

Weird.

Anyway, I can remember one particular Valentine's Day. I was a senior in high school and at the end of the day I walked out to my car that was in the student parking lot and there was a rose on my windshield. I immediately had my hopes up that it was someone in particular (I have no idea who, at this point in time) but later came to realize that my dad had put it there for me. That memory always makes me smile. My mom would always wake us up on Valentines' morning with little treats left on the foot of our beds - chocolates, stuffed animals, etc.

As the mother of two boys, I didn't get to do any of that stuff. I wanted to but Frank kind of made me feel silly about it. They were boys and apparently you don't DO lovey-dovey stuff like that with them. Who knew? I'm a girl, I have a sister, I know the things that were done for us on Valentine's Day. Sue me!

Frank is not an overly romantic person...well, he's not really romantic at all. It's just not who he is and I'm okay with that. I don't want a really sensitive man - like have you seen the newest coming attraction for tonight's "The Bachelor"? Do men really cry this much? That would make me CRAZY!! But I digress, Frank is not romantic. He has not shown a romantic side in front of our boys. And yet, here is Nick, sweet, teenager driving Nick all psyched up for Valentine's Day. He is a mystery to my husband. The boy bought his girlfriend a digital picture frame (because she always wanted one), he had a blanket made for her with her favorite Disney character on it (Winnie the Pooh), he played her a song on his guitar...I mean, the boy put a LOT of thought in to his Valentine's Day. Frank just stood and scratched his head as Nick left here yesterday, totally stumped as to WHY he was doing all of these things.

At that moment, I had to bite my tongue from saying "BECAUSE GIRLS LIKE IT! AND SO WOULD I!!" The bottom line is that it is sweet to be young and in love. To be at a point in your life where giving gifts to the one you love is exciting. As you get older, it's not so much about the gifts but about still being in love and wanting to be together. It is about the simple things like having a nice meal together and just being able to talk and laugh.

I'm glad my son is a romantic. I'm glad that he wants to shower his beautiful girlfriend with gifts that show how much he loves her. I think it is sweet and I hope that he never loses that.