What Women Really Want for Valentine’s Day
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It’s true what they say. The majority of women do not prefer the typical Valentine’s Day presents. You know the ones: a dozen roses, a heart shaped box of assorted chocolates, and a teeny tiny piece of lingerie. They don’t really take any thought because they aren’t personal and unique to your woman.
No, we’re not going to be upset if we get those things. We do enjoy them. Flowers are pretty. Chocolate is yummy. And our man will obviously enjoy seeing us in the lingerie they pick out for us (even if its only for a split second). However, there are some gifts that could make an even bigger splash with your woman than these typical gifts.
I think the big thing to remember is that even when it comes to Valentines Day, communication is key. Men aren’t mind readers. They just want to get through the day without disappointing. And if we as women expect them to do that by just “figuring it out without us having to tell them” well then that might prove to be problematic. If there is something we would really like then we need to express that. So, for all the men of the women who have trouble “spelling it out” for their husbands/boyfriends here are a few ideas:
Jewelry: I love jewelry but I have to admit, I’m on the fence about this one. First of all, its hard to shop for jewelry for your spouse/girlfriend unless you are fully aware of their tastes. So it pays to pay attention to what they wear and what they look at when you’re out shopping so that you have an idea. Secondly, because its such a “typical” present to get. That being said, it is on the list because there are ways to put thought into this type of gift. Personalize it with something from Pandora or OrigamiOwl. Get them something you know they’ve had their eye on and have expressed an interest in. That shows that you were really listening to them, which when you think about it, is the real gift anyway. Don’t we always say, “Oh, you remembered!”?
The other thing that I do like about jewelry, if you do it right, is that it is something that can be treasured for years to come. Chocolate is just going to end up on our hips in 24 hours and make us feel bad about our lack of self-control. The flowers are going to be dead in a week. That beautiful jewelry that represents your relationship, your love, your children, or whatever you decide is something that will remind your wife/girlfriend of your thoughtfulness every time she puts it on. I have a Open Heart necklace that makes me say “love will always find its way home” every time I put it on because that’s really what it represents to me and reminds me of Clint and his love for me. And, bonus, it was a necklace that I had asked for. And what did I say when I opened the box? You guessed it. “Oh, you remembered!”
Your Creativity: I don’t remember where I saw this but I found an idea awhile back that I thought was so precious. As a teacher, I’ve always tried to use special occasions to create little plays on words, like giving kids an assortment of Starbursts at the beginning of the year with a note on cardstock that says “I’m “bursting” with excitement that you’re in my class!” Last Father’s Day my kids and I created a board with a variety of candy bars that told him how much we loved him.
What I saw on the internet was a single rose with a cute little notecard attached that said, “To my one and only.” So whether it’s a “one and only” flower or your spouses favorite candy bar with a cute little note attached its cute and creative and shows you took time to come up with something a little extra. You can also show your creativity and love by writing a love note/poem instead of just buying a card or creating a coupon book for kisses, naps and help with chores. Just remember to make good on those!
Dinner (at home): Maybe Clint and I are just old fogies but every time we go out on a date, not just for Valentines, we always try and leave by 4:30 because we know that on a Friday or Saturday night by 6 p.m. we are going to be in for quite a wait at any decent restaurant. So, while dinner out is nice (its nice to get away for the night and not have to do any of the clean up) you could also skip the drive and the wait and the…BILL…and set up your table at home with a couple candles and cook up a meal for your sweetie. Don’t feel like you have the talent in the kitchen to pull it off? There are ways around it. Order a little take out. Get some help from a friend. Or rather than making an entire meal, have something sweet prepared that you know she’ll like such as chocolate covered strawberries for after you get home from dinner.
Pampering: Most girls just want to know that they are cared for. And they want to feel special and be given a time to just relax. This could come in the form of serving breakfast in bed (try serving her favorite thing/s), giving her a gift certificate to a salon for a massage, maybe even taking in a couples massage together (because honestly we love spending time with you), or taking on all the kids so that she can relax with a good book and her favorite music while soaking in a bubble bath.
Time: Something that all of these gifts have in common is what anchors the entire holiday. It is crucial for men to get this one right. Whatever you get, put the effort into it to show her that she’s worth the effort. Most of these gift ideas involve time. Creating a coupon book. Figuring out what jewelry she really wants and having it on hand when you go out. Giving her some pampering for the day. Time. A beautiful $100 bouquet of flowers will mean nothing if your spouse knows you just quick stopped at the nearest store to pick them up on the 14th on your way home from work. How about having them delivered to her at her work instead? How about getting them the night before and surprising her with them the morning of Valentines?
The good news is, you still have time. I’m writing this on the 1st. You’ve got almost two weeks. You can do this. And next time we will be posting some thoughts on what the guys really want for Valentines.
Ladies, what are some other gift ideas that you would recommend? Men, what do you think of this list of ideas? Anything stand out?
