What women don't want for Valentine's Day
Some people roll their eyes at the idea of Valentine’s Day. They argue that it’s a “Hallmark Holiday,” and that love should really be celebrated every day of the year. If your wife or girlfriend falls into this category, consider yourself lucky to be off the hook on February 14th. But if your sweetheart looks forward to Valentine’s Day, you may want to start planning.
No two women are exactly alike, so it’s nearly impossible to compile a list of things that every woman in the world would snicker at. But most women will agree that the following gifts are mood killers, at best.
Un-redeemable "Love Coupons"
Love coupons are small booklets of pretend tickets for things like a back massage from your spouse or a night on the town. In reality, when women try to redeem these coupons, the man in their life is magically nowhere to be found. These coupons tend to expire the moment they are purchased. It's a safe bet that men do not give love coupon books with the pure intent of following through on every single promised goody in the book. Women have caught on to this, and those cute little books have lost their charm.
And if women didn’t already seem complex to you, there’s an amendment to this rule. If a man goes out of his way to actually make the dreaded coupon book, it may actually score points with a woman who could appreciate such creativity and effort.
Confused? You should be.
Cleaning products
“My mom got a broom from my dad one year. My dad's defense was that it was Valentine's Day red.” -Jessica Leanord, wife and mother of two
Does this really need any explanation? There are men out there who will make the tragic mistake of getting their honey a new vacuum on one of the most romantic days of the year. Women don’t want reminders of their chores on a day set aside for acknowledging the one you love. We want reminders of how much we mean to you. You may think, “But she said she wanted that Swiffer Wet Jet!” Yes, she may have. But she didn’t want it on Valentine’s Day.
If your sweetheart is a busy woman, and it’s within your means, a gift card for getting the house cleaned by someone else would be a nice gift. Or better yet, surprise her by cleaning the house yourself. There are few things sexier than a man doing the dishes.
Stuffed animals
Unless your Valentine is under the age of 5, stuffed animals just don’t make the grade. Sure, it’s sweet, but that stuffed bear holding a heart-shaped pillow will most likely end up being an item at your next garage sale.
A loving woman won’t be outright rude about this kind of gift. This just adds to the problem, because men start to think, “Well, she loved that stuffed puppy last year, so I’ll get her another one this year.” And so begins a collection of toys that most grown women don’t really want and don’t have any use for. Stuffed animals begin to pile up on the bed after years of this silly gift exchange, and your bedroom begins to look like a toddler’s.
Dinner at a crowded restaurant
"I don't want chocolate, especially when you see me at the gym. I also don't want $150 worth of flowers. Save the money and send them to me three times a year just because you love me on the most random day. I also don't want to be asked what I want to do. Surprise me with something." - Denise Slensker, elementary school teacher and wife
A romantic dinner is a simple way to celebrate this holiday, and it doesn’t need to be a lavish one. In fact, most women don’t want to spend the evening in a crowded restaurant. A private dinner at home isn’t only less expensive, but far more romantic than having to wait at a restaurant on one of the busiest dining days of the year. Cooking something special together and setting the mood with music and flowers can be just as good or better than dealing with busy waiters and expensive bills.
Even if you have small children and you can’t find a sitter, you can still make a special Valentine’s Day dinner. It may be devoid of any romance, but it’s better than nothing and you can celebrate the love you share as a family.
E-love
A text message is no substitute for a greeting card or hand-written note. It might be nice to send a loving email, but an abbreviated, “BTW, I luv u. C U ltr,” from your cell phone to hers, just doesn’t cut it if you’re trying to do right by your lady. An abbreviated love message via text is fine any other day of the year, but Valentine’s Day is a day to show a little extra effort. So put down your cell phone and drag yourself to the greeting card aisle at the grocery store. Jotting down a few loving thoughts on a piece of paper, old-school style, is also just as nice.
We know that women as a whole tend to place more importance on these types of things than men do, but will it kill you to humor us on this one particular day of the year? No, it’s not “Spoil Your Wife Day,” and we get that. We understand that it’s about celebrating love as a couple, and most women will fully reciprocate the love you show them.
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