Valentine’s Day – Love is….
[social_warfare]Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. The day where we remember Saint Valentine, the patron saint of hearts, chocolates, roses and cards…Oh, wait…
Now don’t get me wrong I’m not some kind of grinch,
OK, maybe a little.
I like the idea of celebrating love – I LOVE it but, as with every lovely idea, commercialism has come along and just ruined it for everyone.
The run up to Valentine’s day is an abundance of adverts for meals for two, pretty outfits to impress the love of your life, jewellery, pink wine (because pink is LOVE obviously), chocolates and tacky cards.
Couples are made to feel they have to do something ‘fantastic’ on a bleak day in February to SHOW their love.
Just being there for one another is no longer enough, it needs proving.
Single folk are made to feel inferior for being so terrible a person that no one loves them.
They are ‘cheered’ with a patronising
“Well you OWN it, you don’t NEED someone else to be happy right?”
Neither of these are very loving attitudes to have really.
As a couple, and more specifically as parents, we don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day.
We don’t go out for a meal as we’re Yorkshire folk and we’re not paying the over inflated prices when we can eat at that very same place for less a different day thankyouverymuch!
A cinema date is pointless, sitting in silence is not really a show of love, enduring some God awful ‘romantic’ film just makes me want to sick in my mouth a little, though Rory might enjoy the peace and quiet for a couple of hours.
We cook ourselves nice meals together regularly so that’s not really a ‘special’ thing to do, although the Two Dine for £20 looks might fine. Besides, Rory will be out playing football so it’s quick and simple for dinner. I have since discovered this to be untrue as Rory has rescheduled football.
ROMANCE IS ALIVE – HALLELUJAH!
As parents, there’s not a lot else we can do on a Tuesday evening and to be honest, if we do do something ‘nice’ we tend to feel bad that we’re not including the children. I know, losers right!
Last week Aoife’s school had a staff and parent party. It was a fabulous night with quizzes, raffles and Mr & Mrs.
We won Family Fortunes, Huzzah, our teams combined knowledge of box sets and dead people did us proud.
We lost Mr & Mrs…..GUTTED.
Rory thought his favourite ice cream was mint choc chip when it’s CLEARLY strawberry, even Aoife knew that. THEN he thought his procrastination was worse than leaving cupboard doors open.
As if!
Yes, it’s pretty bloody annoying but not as painful as a jab from a door corner!
After discussing the other couple’s questions we realised we don’t have ‘a song’,
we don’t recall the first film we saw together and I didn’t know it took him five attempts to pass his driving test.
He’s a perfectionist and good at everything so I figured he passed before he even took his test!
We only got 2 questions wrong in total but the other couple got a clean sweep and won flights. They seem like lovely people and I truly hope the lucky blighters enjoy their flights…
For a short while after the game our result was playing on my mind.
After nine years do we know nothing about each other?
Are we not compatible?
Aren’t we, dun dun durrrr…
In Love??
Then I really thought about it.
We started a family.
We still live together.
We laugh together lots.
We always have something to talk about.
Rory plays football a lot less than he did before we met (this is a big deal).
He buys me wine (another big deal).
He works hard to provide a roof over our head so that I can look after our children.
He’s always home for bedtime (the children’s) even if he has loads on at work.
He supports me in everything I do and he never says or does anything he knows will upset me, even if it maybe needs saying.
He’s always putting me, us, first.
In the very same way every choice I make and everything I do is done with him, and the children first and foremost in mind.
What would he like?
What would make them happy?
We stopped thinking of ourselves and started thinking of each other, not because we HAD to, because we wanted to.
We stand united, our little family is the most important thing to both of us.
We both put ourselves second, the happiness of the other and our family is most important to us.
That is so much more important than songs, films and extravagant gifts. (Although….)
That’s how I know we’re in love.
Ultimately love isn’t about romance, love isn’t about showing someone you care once a year, love isn’t something just for couples.
It’s for everyone, everywhere at all times.
Our capacity to love isn’t limited to just one person and we’re all more than capable of putting ourselves second every now and then.
We love our families, our friends, our communities, people who share things in common with us.
The love varies but it’s all love and we should be appreciating and embracing these loves every day.
Sunday saw the beginning of Random Acts of Kindness week, a time to think about our actions and the kind things we can do for other with no personal gain for ourselves. THAT’S the kind of love that should be being promoted shared, embraced and advertised. The love that is for all, the love that leaves no-one out, the love that benefits others and doesn’t just make card and chocolate manufacturers richer.
And so, dear friend, I wish you a Happy Valentine’s day and send you lots of love x
31 Comments
Em Linthorpe
Hi! Lovely words, and I totally understand where you’re coming from with this post. I like to think I show love and affection every day. It may not be chocolate boxes and roses (to quote Jarvis Cocker ?) but it’s much more complex than that.
Happy Valentine’s to you too! #PostsFromTheHeart
itsmeanniebee
My nagging my family is evidence of my unending love daily ? thanks for reading
RaisieBay
Aww, love is more than a box of chocolates or roses. Although, it’s our first Valentines day as a married couple this year so I’m hoping for a bunch of daffs at least…ok, ok, I admit it, I’ve already bought MYSELF some roses just in case….I might even let HIM share the chocolates I’ve bought myself. See, I know how to do Valentines day 😉
itsmeanniebee
Happy first married Valentine’s ☺
Em Linthorpe
My partner has just gone to the shop to buy some onions and stuff…perhaps an engagement ring will fall in the trolley too? ?? Happy first married Valentine’s!
Jenni
We don’t do anything for valentines day, I would rather my son learn to be kind, thoughful and generous if life rather than just one day a year x #ablogginggoodtime
The UnNatural Mother
We do celebrate Valentines, but then we celebrate the other 364 days too.Love should be celebrating every minute of every day . Thanks for linking up to #postsfromtheheart
Lucy At Home
Aaah this is just the most wonderful, down-to-earth Valentines post I have read (and I wouldn’t expect anything less from a fellow yorkshire-lass!). I think if we all put ourselves second, the world is a much better place. I think you’ve nailed this love thing! And I hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day #blogcrush
itsmeanniebee
Ah thank you for a lovely comment, us Yorkshire folk are good at nice 🙂
Mummy in a TuTu (@mummyinatutu)
Aww happy valentines xx
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
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Heather Keet
Such a great post. And you’re right, love isn’t one day. #BlogCrush
itsmeanniebee
Aren’t we a bunch of romantics 🙂 Thanks for reading
beautybabyandme
This is just a GORGEOUS post and one that will resonate with so many. I hope you had a lovely valentines xx #blogcrush
itsmeanniebee
Thank you so much 🙂 I had a lovely Valentine’s. I hope you did too x Thanks for reading
Autumn's Mummy
I completely agree, love is about the every day things. I don’t think we need a particular day of the year to dictate when we should show love and be romantic! #BlogCrush
itsmeanniebee
An unexpected act is always better in my opinion. Why spend a whole day waiting for something and then being disappointed if it doesn’t happen? Just don’t expect and if it DOES happen it’ll be fab (guess who didn’t get proposed to! HAHA) Thanks for reading 🙂
Autumn's Mummy
Absolutely! 🙂 hehe
pamsbakeandbabyblog
I love Valentines day purely because it gives us a kick up the bum to put ourselves first for a change! #blogcrush
itsmeanniebee
See, it’s lovely you make an effort. Maybe that’s why I’m so grinchy, because we don’t. I hope you had a super Valentine’s Day. Thanks for reading.
PassTheProseccoPlease
Love this my lovely, any man that buys you wine is a keeper I say… chin chin! xx #blogcrush
itsmeanniebee
It IS a lot of wine! Thanks so much for reading my sweet x
Rhyming with Wine
So true! I think a small act of kindness for the people we love (all of them – not just our other halves) is worth so much more than a dozen red roses because the calendar says so. Hope that you had a lovely day. #BlogCrush x
itsmeanniebee
That’s it, it’s appreciating EVERYONE we love and making them all feel special that’s the best. In my opinion. Thanks so much for reading 🙂
Sarah
Very true, I totally agree love is more than just one day. I hate the pressure that’s put on Valentine’s Day personally (but obviously really enjoyed my flowers ?)
itsmeanniebee
Don’t get me wrong, I like the card but we shouldn’t limit ourselves to one day! Thanks for reading ☺
Sarah
Ops #blogcrush
Lisa Pomerantz
I find your post to be spot-on brilliant! Thank you! #BlogCrush <3
itsmeanniebee
Thanks for reading 🙂
Wendy
Aww I love this. My husband and I do celebrate valentine’s day but it is not the only day of the year we show we love each other. Now we are parents we just stay in though. I love your idea that valentine’s should be for everyone and not just couples…hope you had a lovely one xx #BlogCrush
itsmeanniebee
We didn’t make a deal so it was just another day 🙂 I’ll be honest, I think I’d like to make the day a bit special but OH isn’t bothered. I’m just jealous of Valentine’s celebrators! x