Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and each and every shop is drowned in pink frilly hearts and red plastic roses. Everyone is starting to think about what they’re getting that special person- the youngsters with giddy butterflies in their tummies and married couples with a desperate ‘I can’t get the same thing as last year, so what now?!’ Okay, I’m joking. It’s not that bad (for me, anyway!)
So, how do you figure out what to get/make for your special person?
Firstly, figure out their love language!
Not sure where to even start?
Try this nifty quiz.
Some people like gifts. Physical things. Like teddy bears, flowers, a new gadget, chocolate, a hand-knitted sweater… They like something they can touch and hold and smell and cuddle with.
Some like it when you take them on adventures! You could take them ice skating, tenpin bowling, mini golf or even something crazy like a hot air balloon picnic… They treasure memories, and carry those with them for a lifetime. They remember life in snippets, pockets, of things they DID with people they love.
Others like it when you serve them, like re-doing the bedroom, washing dishes, changing the car’s oil! This seems like the most un-romantic thing for those that like gifts, for example. But for someone who appreciates gestures, this is seriously the most romantic thing you could do!
Some people even appreciate it most when you simply spend time with them. Switch off your phone, and watch a series marathon with them. Do a spa day. Take a walk together. Have a chat over coffee. Even relaxing on the couch with a bag of chips and good conversation would be more appreciated than 10 boxes of chocolates. In this technology-driven disconnected age, switching off the tech and really connecting with another human is a priceless gift…
Figure out what your person needs (even if it isn’t necessarily what you would choose), and roll with it!
With gifts, you could easily step into the big, fat, clichéd pothole of red, roses, hearts, generic cards and cheap chocolate…
Be original!
You still have some time. Put a bit of thought into it!
Do something unusual.
How about a cool video professing your undying love (the Viva Video App or Lumen8, an online program, are great ideas! Powtoon, another online resource, even enables you to make a cartoon video! )
How about an ebook or ecard? You could use Canva (app or online) or Cymera (app) to create some amazing, personalized graphics.
Maybe a homemade treat is more up their alley. Cookies, cakes, marshmallows or even homemade jams could also go down a treat. Even a shop bought chocolate, melted down and poured into a different mould gives it that bit of a personal touch.
You could even put on a production/play for the family a la Winnie the Pooh!
A passion-based gift is also a very good idea, especially for the kiddos. Minecraft coasters, anyone?
Secret Valentines is something I’m planning on doing this year. Almost like Secret Santa- everyone draws a name out of a hat, and then has to write a letter to the chosen person to tell them what they like about them, what nice characteristics they have, and how they have impacted our lives in a positive way. This is a non-romantic way for friends to show appreciation for each other, and it’s a pretty cool homeschool craft (and gets a bit of letter-writing practice in there without them noticing 😉 )
All in all, just like Christmas is a time of giving and good spirits, so Valentine’s Day is a time of love. Everyone (well, mostly everyone) is giddy and happy and in a romantic mood. It’s the perfect time to connect (or re-connect) with a crush (for the kiddos), your spouse (if you’re the parent) and family.
Valentine’s Day is, if nothing else, the perfect excuse to spread some love in this unhappy world!
Go visit that old age home. Bake cookies for your sour grandma. Encourage your daughter to tell that boy she likes him. Even help her write a poem! Go on, get crazy with it! Everyone else is!
As Jesus said, go and love the world ❤
How are you spreading some love this Valentine’s Day? Tell me allllll about it in the comments!
Maché Myburgh 