When Did Valentine’s Day Become a Family Holiday?

According to a survey by TOTSY.com, Valentine’s Day is being shared with kids all over the country. How … sweet?

-April Daniels Hussar

Last Valentine’s Day, my husband disappeared on a mysterious errand and returned with a bouquet of gorgeous roses and a box of gourmet chocolate for me. So lovely! And then – guess what he gave our 6-year-old daughter?

A bouquet of gorgeous roses and a box of gourmet chocolate!

Hey!

I know – I really can’t complain. Raised by my single mom, I consider myself nonetheless pretty close to my dad, but I never received a Valentine from him in my life. I sure would have loved one. Still would. (Hi Dad!)

I love that Isabella has a great relationship with her father – I feel like she is learning all the right lessons from someone who is truly a world-class male role model

But … does she really need to get the same Valentine present as me?

Read Gwyneth Paltrow Let Her Daughter Play Hooky to Go To The Salon? I Can Relate!

My poor husband. It’s not his fault – these days Valentine’s Day is definitely a family occasion. According to a survey by TOTSY, a private sale site along the lines of Gilt but specifically for moms and young kids, 40 percent of the 7,500 moms they surveyed said they plan to celebrate this holiday at home, while only 23 percent said they plan to go out on the town with their loved one. And a whopping 38 percent of view Valentine’s Day as a “family holiday.”

Hmmm.

I get that it’s hard when you have kids to get out (in fact, this Valentine’s day, which falls, delightfully, on a Monday, I’ll be cooking dinner as usual). And I like the idea of a day that’s about all kinds of love – in fact I love it so much I wrote an article last week about presents to buy yourself. (Yeah that’s right! Yourself!) I usually send my best girlfriends Valentine greetings, and I’m all for giving our children tokens of our affection.

But, guys, please. It’s lovely to include the kids in this day of love. But your wife, who loves you despite her intimate knowledge of your dirty socks, is your real Valentine. And don’t you forget it.

Tell us: What do you think? Is Valentine’s Day too much of a family occasion these days? Or is it nicer that way?

April Daniels Hussar is BettyConfidential’s Executive Editor.