Because Everyday is Valentine's Day
I was 23 years old but felt more like a lovestruck tween as I spent the day in a hazy of pink and red hearts floating around my head like some weird Care-Bear-induced acid trip. I swear you could almost see Cupid's Arrow sticking out of my butt cheek.
You see, I was absolutely convinced that I was in for a night of a dozen roses, the richest dark chocolate, and a fancy-schmancy dinner with the most romantic boyfriend I'd had. Ever.
Well, that bubble o' love was quickly burst later that evening, when my ever-so-dreamy boyfriend uttered the words that almost made it our very LAST Valentine's together..."Oh, I don't celebrate Valentine's Day."
I was crushed. My shocked brain barely registered his words as he went on to say that he didn't want the flower and card companies to dictate when he could show his girlfriend how much he loved her, that he tried to make me feel special everyday, that he didn't want to contribute to the continued commercialization of Valentine's Day...
I'm sure he said more, but visions of creative ways to torture him danced through my brain interfering with any other -- less crazy -- thought processes.
You see, I grew up in a home where Valentine's Day was always celebrated with grand gestures. My parents, sister and I exchanged expensive cards and elaborate sentiments every single year. It was always stressful and almost manic, but it was our way of showing our love to each other.
If my boyfriend wouldn't even give me a card on Valentine's Day, how could he honestly say he loved me? Wasn't I worth it to him?
I got the answer exactly one week later. My darling boyfriend whisked me off, not for a starchy formal dinner, but for a much more meaningful casual dinner at our favourite perogy restaurant where we'd had our 2nd date months before. Instead of a dozen roses that would eventually wilt and die in less than a week, he gave me a pretty potted plant that brightened my apartment for much longer.
I realized that he had always showed his love his own way by giving me what he knew I'd really enjoy, something unique to me, every day we'd been together, and not some cookie-cutter, over-the-top gesture on one specific day. I knew then that he really did love me.
These days we spend February 14 as we do every other night, cuddling each other and our kids on the couch, watching tv, and maybe enjoying a delicious box of chocolates we all love that only comes out during Valentine's. It's simple yet meaningful, and hopefully, it also teaches my kids that love isn't about how much money you spend on someone or how elaborate your expression is. And that you aren't limited to one calendar day.
Because, when you truly love someone, every single day really is Valentine's Day.
:: This is an original Canada Moms Blog post by NenetteAM who also
writes about her favourite people, places, and things at Life Candy, tweets at @NenetteAM,
and has grand plans to get herself a HUGE bag of her latest addiction, the new creamier Hershey's Kisses. She will share them with her family. Maybe.
