Listen up fellas! This one is for you. With Valentines Day just around the corner, it’s time to put on your thinking caps on, get in touch with your feminine side and decide what your special lady is wishing for this year. And whether you’re married, in a steady relationship or just another fish in the dating pool, it’s an opportunity to score major brownie points on the day devoted to love.
But before you run out and come home with that distinctive teal-colored Tiffany box or order that $100 bouquet of roses, take a minute and think about what she really wants this year. Impossible you say? Perhaps, but we hit the streets of Doylestown to help you discover how you can come off looking more like Cupid than a Catalogue Charlie.
Keep it Close to Home
Sometimes, the perfect gift is as close as the next room, especially for a young mother balancing work and a baby. “I was just thinking the other day how the best thing I could get for Valentine’s Day would be my car detailed from top to bottom,” says Lisa Welsh, on how the little things mean the most. “Since I’ve been back to work, I almost never have a chance to keep up on things like keeping the car neat.”
And while your significant other’s car might not need the same help, pitching in with the chores and cleaning around the house – especially if you don’t already make it a habit – will make for a welcome surprise. “I would love to have a week, even a day, where I didn’t have to worry about managing things at home,” Welsh continues. “I really hope my husband sees this.”
Keep Your Head in the Game
Your work is important to you. So is your nest mission in Modern Warfare 2. I get it. But at the risk of wallowing in self-absorption, your significant other has a life, too. Taking an authentic interest, beyond simply a question or two, will benefit both you and your relationship. “My boyfriend and I talk, but sometimes I wonder how much he’s really listening,” says Laura Martin. “I couldn’t ask for anything more on Valentine’s Day than his undivided attention.”
And while a day might seem an easy enough test to pass, the key is turning it from an act into a lifestyle. “I know my boyfriend has a lot going on, and I’d never begrudge him any of it,” Martin adds, “but at the same time, a little bit more interest in me would be lovely. I’d love to come home from work and have him put the computer down and turn the TV off so we could spend time together.”
Keepin’ it Real
Honesty is the best policy. And when it comes to dating and relationships, nothing could be closer to the truth. If it’s tough for you to verbalize your feelings, perhaps writing them down can get you closer to finally revealing them. “My ideal Valentine’s date would be at home with some takeout and a movie,” says Carli Cataldo. “If you’re just starting to date, a note can be the perfect opportunity to be upfront about how you feel.”
And while tact can be important, the truth shall set you free. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve been dating a week, a month or 10 years,” Cataldo continues. “An honest, heartfelt letter is really the perfect gift.”
And on a final note, while women might want the simple things after all, don’t forget that flowers and something sparkly go a long way, too.