The Valentine's Day Lesson I Taught My Husband

Valentine's Day comes with a few expectations for most people... at least those who have not decided to ignore the day completely. For those who have their expectations met, there are flowers, candy, jewelry or a romantic dinner for two. For those who do not have their expectations met, things can sometimes get a bit ugly.

I remember well one Valentine's Day that my husband is not likely to ever forget. Although he has never been the most romantic guy on the block, he has surprised me a few times. Rarely has he ever totally forgotten to give me something on Valentine's Day, even if it is just a Snickers candy bar stuffed into the envelope with my Valentine card. Sometimes he will take me out to dinner. I have resigned myself to the fact that I probably am never going to get a box of candy in a heart-shaped box or a dozen red roses, and it's okay with me.

However, one particular Valentine's Day several years ago, he forgot to get me anything. To make matters even worse, my mother was visiting us that week, so I had to hear her talk about how thoughtless he was in forgetting Valentine's Day. She never said a word to him and neither did I. When I gave him his card and I received nothing, I pretended like it was no big deal.

I was, however, very upset. I had my friends calling me telling me about the flowers or candy they received from their husbands. I never told them the truth. I made up something that he had given to me so as not to feel totally humiliated.

The day after Valentine's Day I was out shopping and saw where the bouquets of a dozen roses were on sale for half price. In a moment of weakness, I hatched a plan just to make my dear husband think. I bought the roses, along with a small card. On it, I typed "Sorry these are a day late. Happy Valentine's Day. I love you." I placed them in a beautiful vase I had bought and placed them on the dining room table.

When my husband came home from work, I greeted him with a big kiss and a hug. "Oh Honey, thank you so much for the flowers. They're beautiful!"

He just looked at me with a blank stare, and said, "Huh?"

He followed me into the kitchen. "See how pretty they are," I said.

"Uh... I didn't get you any flowers," he said with a very puzzled expression on his face.

I just looked at him with an almost guilty look on my face and said, "You didn't? Hmm." With that I smiled and wandered into another room, appearing lost in thought.

I let him ponder the flower thing for a long time. I also let him see how much I appreciated "someone" sending me flowers.

After that, he became much more thoughtful in regard to Valentine's Day, and I now always get something. He even got me a ring in a heart shaped box as a 4th of July present a couple of years ago with a card in which he had written, "You are my hot little firecracker."

A couple of years ago, I confessed where the flowers really came from that day. He laughed and told me I taught him a good lesson. He said he thought I had a secret admirer and that it really made him think about how he needed to appreciate me more.

I told him the reason I did it, and he completely understood. It is now a story that we laugh about all the time and share with our children.