H.O. asks from Cedar Park, TX on February 15, 2009
What Does It Mean/ What Do You Think When Your Husband Does Nothing for Valentin
My husband knew that it was Valentine's Day and did nothing...this happens year after year. Last year, I bought him a free massage coupon and he did not acknowledge the day. Same thing this year...nothing...I would have been happy with a candy bar. But, I always try to teach my children about giving and making the other person feel special. I wish he would have said to my children.."let's think of Mom and make her a card." I would love to hear about other peoples' experiences and Valentine's Day.
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L.P. answers from Sherman on February 16, 2009
Valentines Day should be about being with the ones you love the most. I was with my husband all day and that was great enough.
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K.R. answers from San Antonio on February 16, 2009
Dear H O,
Communicate - and be clear in what you say. Generally men do Not pick up on hints or innuendo. He may not understand the implications of passing on this holiday. I agree Valentine, like so many holidays, has been made into a "commercial money day", but let him know personal efforts - a note, A flower, affectionate something, mean as much or more than $50 worth of roses. Tell him and then reinforce / respond in a big way to whatever he does - ta da, a new tradition. Communicate, it's amazing how wrong we can be when we assume or guess what someone is thinking or why they do something. Good luck.
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L.B. answers from Corpus Christi on February 16, 2009
I laugh at this because I have been married now for 34 years. My husband did sometimes get me cards but for the last 3-4 years not anything. His health has not been good. This last November no gift for my birthday either not even a card. Oh well I went out and bought that ring that I liked for all the holidays of the years missed and gave it to myself. When I had it on I showed it to him and thanked him for the wonderful ring. He laughed about it.
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H.W. answers from Houston on February 16, 2009
Men are so much different than women, my friend. I've only been married 3 years, but it has been enough to discover that once your hubby's comfortable around you, he will do things the way he's comfortable doing them...unless you let him know that is would mean something to you to receive a small gift from him. Perhaps giving is your love language! Maybe it's a great way for you to express your care for him. I think that if you told your husband that it would mean something to you to receive a gift (just as he probably enjoys receiving your gifts), that he would begin giving more gifts on V Day to show you his affection. My husband and I make a handmade card (creative and thoughtful ones) and give each other chocolates each year. Gift giving doesn't have to be elaborate...you can tell him that. Don't be afraid to express your feelings, friend. If he loves you, he'll want to be flexible for you. I hope you've gotten some helpful advice. God bless!
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A.K. answers from Houston on February 16, 2009
I have had the same problem. Don't let it upset you. Men just have a different way of thinking. My husband and I have been together for 10 yrs. I received a gift our very first Valentine's and then nothing. I cried year after year when he didn't acknowledge the holiday at all and every year I talked to him about it. After a while I just stopped expecting something and just got over it. He did feel bad but said everything is way overpriced and if he wanted to buy me something special he would do it on any day and not a day that he was obligated by society to buy me something. We now have agreed to buy each other a special card and that is expected no matter what and if one of us decides to buy a gift that year then it is a special suprise. He is thoughtful on Mother's day and my birthday so I just started letting Valentine's day go. Just keep talking to him. Remind the kids to remind Daddy.
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L.A. answers from Austin on February 15, 2009
For those of you that "Valentines is not big deal", cannot take away from what H O is saying.. It does matter to her. Please understand that this is a day most of us observe. We know our spouses love us and show it everyday, but to those of us that like to celebrate on that day, you will never convince us to change our minds about it. I grew up seeing how "extra" romantic the day seemed to remind all of us that love is the most important thing we have with our spouses and loved ones. Just like Christmas can be turned into a selfish holiday, to most of us we know it has a true meaning.
It means he does not realize how important Valentines Day is to you. Some families just never celebrate Valentines Day.
You do know Valentines Day is mostly an American Celebration?
At some point you will need to tell him how important the day is to you. Explain some examples of what you would like.. Did you purchase Valentines for the children? Did you have him sign the cards?
My father lavished us with candy, cards, and flowers. We loved it and made such a big deal about it, I think it encouraged him to do it every year. When I was a little girl my best friends family never did any of that. They were very conservative and the parents did not show very much open affection. I remember when my friend was 12 she encouraged her father to "buy mom something that shows her you love her". He told her, "I show her that every day." My friend said "well there is nothing wrong with showing all of US too!" What she meant was that the children had not SEEN this love. They felt it, but it was not demonstrated.
Your husband may need to be reminded that parents need to show their love, so that their children can hear the love that the parents are sharing, this will help them have healthy relationships when they grow up.
Now my husband is ADHD and cannot make a final decision to save his life. I just have to purchase all of the Valentine goodies for both of our families, myself. I have him sit down and sign all of the cards a week before, so he will remember that the day is coming up. I show him all of the boxes of candy we are sending out, or the cookies my daughter and I baked. Then I will email him and remind him to get something for our daughter. This way he has to go and purchase something for her in a timely manner so I figure he will get me something too.
This year I told him I would make the dinner, he said "well I want to take you to a nice breakfast". It was really nice and cozy.
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K.N. answers from Austin on February 16, 2009
Sorry... This post is going out to everyone who says Valentine's Day is a made up "hallmark" holiday...
Valentine's Day is rooted in a Catholic observance, the Feast for Saint Valentine, although you can also argue that the day is the continuation of a Roman holiday to honor Juno, the Goddess who oversaw women & marriage. (The names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars on the eve of February 15th. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.)
As for St. Valentine: Emperor Claudius II was having difficulty getting soldiers to join this military leagues and believed the reason was because roman men did not want to leave their lovers or families. So he outlawed all marriages and engagements in Rome. Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome in the days of Claudius II and he provided aid to the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples. Saint Valentine was apprehended for his secret marriages and was condemned to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, around year 270 AD.
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N.T. answers from San Antonio on February 16, 2009
The writer below me may be correct in her explanation of Valentine's Day and how it started but you will also note that they did not run out and buy flowers or candy. I am sorry but I truly believe we have over commercialized Valentine's Day as well as other "holidays". Sure all woman want to be swept off their feet and told how much they are loved, but men can do it in so many other ways than bringing you a card, candy or flowers. I know when my husband and I were younger he would take me out to dinner and was always so sweet about that day, but as we have gotten older and it is almost impossible to get a reservation for a reasonably priced dinner, we have made the day a focus for our grandchildren only. They are young and they make such a deal of it at school as well so we just figure it is their day. I know how you feel though and I will say that the least your husband could have done, as mine does, is say Happy Valentine's Day dear and give you a kiss. If it means that much to you then you need to tell him how he hurt your feelings and what you expect and stop doing something for him on that day as well until he gets it which he may never, but at least you told him and you aren't going out of your way as well. Good luck to you and if it is flowers, candy, a card etc. that you want, I hope you get it next year.
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S.O. answers from San Antonio on February 16, 2009
I did nothing for mine and rarely do on that day. I'd rather give and receive something on an unexpected day. I can't stand making someone feel obligated to get me something or just knowing that they feel obligated to do so. So, maybe look at it from that perspective and hopefully that will ease any future disappointment? I know it's so important to most women and you need to make that known to him. Maybe he feels too pressured and doesn't know what to get you. Maybe he has no idea that a candy bar would suffice. Or, maybe he just doesn't realize how important it really is to you. He might resent the fact he's expected to do something. I don't know. He probably just doesn't realize it is that important. You need to sit down and discuss this later on and find out what's going on in his mind to help ease yours. It's tough living with someone else and their ideas, isn't it? No matter what happens - don't let this affect your relationship. We can't let our own expectations ruin something good even if it isn't exactly what we were expecting.
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K.B. answers from Houston on February 15, 2009
I think if your husband has never done anything for you on Valentine's Day it doesn't mean anything except that he prefers not to support "Hallmark" holidays. If he used to buy you gifts and has stopped I would probably read more into that, but when it's never been something he has celebrated I don't think it's a big deal. If it really means a lot to you then just tell him that it hurts your feelings when he does nothing to acknowledge you on Valentine's Day.
My husband sends me roses every Valentine's Day and makes sure I don't have to cook. That means we either go out to dinner or he makes dinner or orders in. My birthday is a week after Valentine's Day and our anniversary is a month later so to give gifts for Valentine's Day too would just be too much.
Good Luck,
K.
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B.C. answers from San Antonio on February 16, 2009
Morning H.O.
I apologize for your "Stupid" husband!!
I think that there has to be a reason for his lack of actions and you need to sit him down and ask why?
It could be that in the home (house) where he was raised they had something against Valentine's Day.
Also it could be just pure stupidity due to a lack of understanding how little things mean a lot to women!
Have the talk, there has to be a reason!
Good Luck,
B. C.
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