It’s that time of year. Jewelry commercials usurp our television time; florists slash prices on roses, and Victoria’s Secret catalogs come every other day in the mail. Yep, it’s Valentine’s Day—a time to rekindle romance and tell those around you that you love them. It’s also a time to help Hallmark and Kay Jewelers send their profits through the roof. I know I might sound cynical, but I have reason to be. My husband hates this holiday, so while other women are getting jewelry and roses, I get pizza take-out so I don’t have to cook that night. Hey, the thought is there.
Anyway, we were out to dinner with another couple last year, and I brought up my husband’s lack of romance about Valentine’s Day. At first, my friend’s husband toed the marital line and started to defend the holiday, but then a defiant look came over his face, and he looked at his wife and said,
“Okay, I hate this holiday too. It’s ridiculous.”
This man’s reaction got my journalist juices flowing, so I decided to conduct impromptu research about Valentine’s Day. What I found out is that it is not the holiday that turns men off, but the gift giving. From what I can ascertain, men fear what gift to get a woman because we apparently read so much into these gifts. The peril of gift giving on Valentine’s Day is felt by all men whether they be married or unmarried. So, to help men find that special gift, I did more research and interviewed five women who told me about the worst Valentine’s Day gifts they received. So, men, this is my Valentine’s gift to you. This tells you what NOT to get your beloved.
- Flannel nightgowns: Men think this is a cute gift which represents cuddling and warmth. According to the women I interviewed, this gift says, Please, cover up from head to toe and don’t let me see you! Also, women associate flannel nightgowns with K-Mart and Walmart, and while we like the less expensive retail outlets for everyday life, we don’t appreciate them for romantic gifts.
- Anything domestic or cleaning related: I objected to the dismissal of this gift category by the women in my unscientifically formed focus group. I have wanted a Shark Steam Vacuum for two years now, but my husband won’t get it because his friends have warned him of the potential abuse he will take and the lack of sex that will ensue from this purchase. So, we are at a stalemate here. My female friends say to receive a gift like this sets a bad precedent for women everywhere. Once one woman approves of a domestic gift, it opens the floodgates to all women receiving these practical items, and it will signal the end of romance as we know it in modern society. I am starting to go with the men and think women put too much thought into this holiday.
