To think Valentines Day is about romantic love?

[KimberleyClark]

And giving cards to family members is just weird?

Thank god my mum didn’t feel like you do, OP. Schools used to sell roses and little token gifts to send to the person you liked and me and one other girl were always the only ones to receive nothing. It was always an awful day for me until my mum stepped in with her beautiful gestures that I will treasure forever. Having lost her many years ago, I still smile every Valentine’s Day and remember this.
I now do something for both my children with a message that all kinds of love is beautiful and I hope they will remember it one day when my time is up and perhaps repeat it for their children.

It isn’t a hill for you to die on - just don’t do it.

Perhaps we can all celebrate Valentine's Day (or not celebrate it) in the manner we choose and not worry about what other people do?

And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how shit starts.
The OP said nothing about restricting expression, ffs. You are shit-stirring. You know fine well, she expressed a perfectly valid opinion - that St Valentines day is for exchanging cards with someone you love romantically, not to give other family members (stupid, heart spattered waste of money) cards that generally express couples-type sentiments.

Giving your child a valentines experience demonstrate to boys how to behave and girls what to expect on said valentines day is just hilariulous and such a waste of time. Like that's going to work! Why not teach them that expressing love for your partner isn't about 1 day, it's an everyday thing. And the number of cards/flowers/chocolates does not define how much someone loves you, despite what SM tells you. And that it is a waste of money.

Not as clever as you think.
Tired and cliched response

i doubt my dc would appreciate a valentine gift from me

For crying out loud, that's just so ridiculously stupid and rather perverse - expressing friendship on a day specifically set aside for adult expressions of desire...

it is just Hallmark
i avoid going out for a meal on valentine's day.
it is ruined by the whole expectation

Correct! 👏🏻

Why not teach them that expressing love for your partner isn't about 1 day, it's an everyday thing.

Who says that doesn't also happen? Honestly you're getting very het up about something that has no impact on you, maybe you need to reflect on that?

Giving St. Valentine cards/presents to family is bordering on the perverse

Sure, giving my kids a chocolate heart on Valentine's Day is 'perverse'.

Do people ever listen to themselves on here? 🫠

This thread has made me laugh out loud on this grey morning….
😂😂😂😂
so many things I want to comment on but don’t have time right but needed to get this one off my chest: I have never ever seen ‘galentines’ before. I thought it was a typo but then someone else used it 🤢🤢🤢🤢it’s just awful, please for the love of St Valentine, please stop. 😂

I think Valentines day can fun for young people, sending a mystery card to the person you fancy but I struggle to understand why adults in relationships need a special day to celebrate romantic love. Isn't that what anniversaries are for? I'm not married but my partner and I celebrate the anniversary of our first date.

I am really surprised by the amount of people saying they give their kids something. It feels very American to me and I had no idea that had spread to the UK so much. Personally, I’m with the OP.

No, no, we must be purist about these things! I expect OP will be first to martyr herself, it would be deeply disappointing and hypocritical, otherwise.

Very obviously my issue but the thought of a parent giving a valentine card to a child doesn’t sit well. So yes op I always worked on the premise it was for someone you loved or someone you fancied. Now full disclosure my parents hated each other and didn’t get each other a card let alone me! I was also very enmeshed and parentified so I’d have been physically revolted.

DD and I have prepared a little basket of goodies to give each other on Friday - nothing major, just chocolates, face masks etc. Her secondary school are running a fundraiser where you pay a quid to send another student a bag of sweets, which she has done for her best friend. I think it's great to expand it beyond romantic love. The more joy the better, I reckon.

There is no bad love? Are you really really sure about that? That’s not a phrase I would want to teach my kids tbh 🤨

(disclaimer I’m not saying people who get their kids hearts etc are pervs before anyone comes for me).

I wondered how long it would be...

I'm talking about actual love, not coercive love, manipulative love, imaginery love, love used as an expression of control, illegal love. These are not love. They are where someone uses the word 'love' to convince themselves they are in the right.

Haha, I'm pleased I wasn't the only one thinking that, I think it is worse than "babymoon!" 😂

What is “galentines”? Not seen it before.

I just googled, it’s like Valentines but for the ‘gals’ 😳😆

edited to add ie Girl’s friendship

Why does it need a name?! Why does everything need a coined name!! 😂

I'm 44 and my mum has always given me and my sister a card. We write each other funny verses. In fact, myself and my DH don't bother and my mum and sisters still do.

I disagree. To me, it’s about love, any love. I always get my DD a card & write funny poems in it & a little heart shaped treat! We make home made heart shaped pizzas for each other too.

i also might make my dog some heart shaped peanut butter cookie🤣

Goodness some of these comments (and threads in general). It's genuinely like no one has the ability to accept that people sometimes do things differently to others and sit clutching their pearls at the very thought!

My mum has always given myself and my sisters a card. She writes a silly poem and we all laugh and move on. It's not that deep.

I have just purchased my 2yo nephew some heartbreaker PJs because they're cute and I'm a sucker.

My DP and I don't really do anything. We have a lovely relationship, lots of little gifts and tokens all year round. We go out together most weekends!

HOWEVER l have zero judgement against parents who don't give cards, people who think it's all tosh, couples who go all out because I don't actually care and I knowledge it's not 'my way or the highway'!!!!!