Is it really time for Valentine’s Day again? Time is moving that’s for sure. Before we know it summer will be here and we will be getting ready for another fall season.
Valentine’s Day is always an interesting holiday. The day is all about love, spending time together, and remembering why you love one another.
For military spouses, this might be a little bit more complicated. Your service member might be deployed or otherwise not living in your home at the moment. You might want to skip the day altogether but your kids wouldn’t be too happy about that. You may be left asking yourself if you should even celebrate and if you should, what can you do?
Here are 12 things to do this Valentine’s Day if your service member is far away:
1) Buy yourself some chocolate
Go, do it. Buy yourself some chocolate. You can pick out your favorite kind. And no, you don’t have to share it with anyone.
2) Celebrate with friends
Plan something fun with your friends. Have dinner, go see a movie, or even set up a fun Zoom party. Celebrate the love that comes with friendships.
3) Buy yourself flowers
Buy a new plant. Buy your own flowers. Buy something special that brings you joy.
4) Order a yummy meal
Put the kids to bed early. Order something yummy for yourself, put on your favorite movie, and enjoy the night for what it is. A night to treat yourself.
5) Make a playlist for your spouse just for the holiday
Think back to when couples would make themselves mixed tapes. It’s just the modern version. Put your favorites or songs that remind you of your relationship. It can be a trip down memory lane.
6) Have a video chat Valentine’s Day date
If you can make this work, plan a video date with your sweetheart. You might not be in the same room but that way you can spend Valentine’s Day together.
7) Give your kids Valentine’s Day
If your spouse can’t be around, focus on giving Valentine’s to your kids. They will love them and you can have a fun time celebrating Valentine’s Day with them.
8) Have a Valentine’s Day baking day
Plan a Valentine’s Day baking day. You can do this solo, with your kids, or with friends. Make heart-shaped cookies, bake a pink and white cake, or create a new Valentine’s Day treat.
9) Nothing
This is also an option. Don’t do anything. You don’t have to. And if that is what is more comfortable for you, why not? You don’t have to celebrate any holiday you really don’t want to celebrate.
10) Phone a friend or family member
Why not take the day to catch up with someone you haven’t talked to for a while. I am talking about the good old-fashioned phone call. This can be a good friend, your mom, your grandma, or anyone else you feel like calling.
11) Read a good romance
Curl up with some hot chocolate and dive into a romance novel. Escape into another world. And if romance is not your thing, how about a fantasy? Or any other type of book you can get lost in.
12) Watch a good rom-com
Find a fun rom-com to get lost in. It can be something from the 90s that you love or something new that just came out on Netflix. There are so many options. Don’t forget the popcorn!
How will you spend this Valentine’s Day???
Victoria Terrinoni
Hey Julie. You always have good suggestions. My husband and I have been married for almost 40 years. We probably won’t do much for Valentine’s Day. I know I have a doctor’s appointment that day, so that will be different. I like your idea of baking something though, so maybe that will happen.