How to Find an Excuse to Have More Fun With Your Family

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that isn't really a holiday. No businesses or banks are closed to celebrate it. None of us get a 3-day weekend because of it. Despite the history behind it, plenty of us call it a greeting card holiday.

But like it or not, "love" is going to be in the air this weekend — newspapers, tv commercials, movie suggestions on Netflix — it's coming for us all.

Might I suggest we use it to create some family togetherness magic?

I got married on Valentine's Day.

Not near it. Not just a few days before or after. Smack dab on February 14th. (It was on a Saturday in 2004, and we went with it.)

So every year when our anniversary rolls around, there are loads of red hearts, romantic movies, and funny greeting cards all around celebrating love. (It’s actually pretty sweet in its own corny way.)

This year isn’t a “big” anniversary for us. It’s just #18. But when I started thinking about what I wanted to do to celebrate, an idea immediately came to mind — followed just as quickly by a question: Are you really gonna try to sneak in a romantic Valentine’s Day surprise on a school night?

Normally I wouldn’t.

Normally I would talk him into cooking a fancy dinner with me at home and snuggling in with a good movie. But last year we didn't even have the option of going out for anything special (thanks, COVID). Beyond that, I can't remember what we did.

This year, I want to remember it.

This year, we're doing something special — even if Valentine's Day is on a school night. Not because I’m trying to make up for anything (although maybe I should be). Not because I think it takes grand gestures to show the people we love how much we love them.

Just because when we’re old and gray and we’re looking back on our days together, I want us both to remember that time we . . . (well, I can't tell you that because he reads these blog posts and that would spoil the whole thing ).

Chances are though, Valentine's Day isn't your anniversary or any particularly special day for your family.

So why am I writing a togetherness tip about it?

My point is this — you can turn anything into an excuse to do something special with the ones you love.

Here's how ⤵

Today, this weekend, Monday, or on a random Thursday afternoon, let your family know you're going to celebrate the one-year anniversary of when you adopted your dog, the 3-month anniversary of giving up meat, national doughnut day, international kissing day — whatever.

Use any excuse.

Then,
➳ Take off work and school to roam around a big city and visit museums.
➳ Plan a big family hike or picnic (even if it's freezing where you are).
➳ Do something together you haven't done in ages.
➳ Declare a hygge night.
➳ Do something drastic to fight for the family togetherness you want (if you need to).
➳ Dig out some old family photos and eat popcorn while you go through them.

For instance, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, you can create an extravaganza of love like this:

➳ Cook heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast.
➳ Spread valentines and red candy all over the breakfast table as a decoration.
➳ Make roses out of strawberries. (I don't know how to do that, but maybe you do?)
➳ Write little love notes for each person by their plate.
➳ Send everyone on a scavenger hunt for a fancy chocolate treat.
➳ Have a dance party at lunch.
➳ Give the kids an extra 2 hours of video game time and lock yourself in your bedroom for a spontaneous date night.

And of course, don't forget — showing our people we love them doesn't need to be expensive or fancy.

(unless you want it to be)

Sometimes all it takes is scribbling something like this on a Post-It note or on the back of an old grocery store receipt ⤵

Here's your permission slip to let your creativity loose and make it special.

(and of course, let me know how it goes in the email group)