I have to make a public apology for suggesting that my 18 year old son would panic and buy something inappropriate for his girlfriend from the garage at the last minute of Valentine’s day. Not because he, or anyone he knows will have read my post yesterday, but just because I was wrong. For a child who generally means well but tends not to make much effort, he totally surpassed himself.
I don’t think I’d be making a sexist statement by saying that (IMHO) girls are generally better at organising presents in advance and his girlfriend had set the benchmark very high by leaving a present on the doorstep yesterday for him that contained a packet of PERSONALISED M & M’s. How cool is that? I’ve never seen them before.
Yesterday, he spent virtually all day planning his gifts of love. He chose photos from Facebook (very cleverly, if you type in the names of two people, all the pictures of them come up – I didn’t know you could do that) which he then went off to get printed. He bought a frame and put various pictures of the two of them in it, wrapped it up and then found little gold stars and stuck them on the front in the shape of a heart. He bought a massive helium balloon with a message on it AND a red rose. Poured over various recipe books for hours looking for a suitable meal for young lovers, went off to the supermarket. Phoned me three times with questions. “What do they mean PEEL the mushrooms?” and “what is curly parsley?” Brought it all home, cut and chopped with an enthusiasm I didn’t know existed and (with the help of his 10 y/o chef of a brother who assisted with comments like “what ARE you doing? You don’t have to take the skin off that garlic clove before you use a garlic press” and “don’t chop the mushrooms like that you idiot”), produced a delicious meal.
We then had to vacate the building so that he could feed her. I was still sounding marginally indignant about it all as he was lighting candles and nudging me out of the door…..
Top marks for effort and I’m very pleased about that. I suspect that if his father and I were still together he would have learnt how to rant about what a load of old bollocks Valentine’s Day is as a commercial and insidious institution. I am truly delighted to see that he is capable of making all that effort for another person when he wants to. It just goes to show how true the saying is that when he’s “Just Not That Into You”, it shows.
I want to be 18 again, with a boyfriend who loves me. My boyfriend was supremely rubbish yesterday, I didn’t get a card or ANYTHING. He did cook me a meal though, so perhaps I’m being unfair. I don’t really want the cards, chocolates or roses until they don’t materialise and then I sulk.
Thank goodness for my youngest child. He saved the day. For me.
How did your Valentine’s Day go??
Dumdad
February 15, 2011There was a Valentines card in our postbox addressed to me and inside it was signed “from a mystery admirer.” It was from my wife. At least, I think it was from my wife; the 80-year-old neighbour with the wall eye has been giving me strange looks lately. I sent my wife a Valentines e-card; my daughter astutely asked me whether I sent that before or after I’d received the card from my wife. Banged to rights by a 13-year-old!
PS You have my old blog address in your blogroll. It’s now:
http://theothersideofparis.wordpress.com/
Not that you ever visit me. Sniff, sniff.
Family Affairs
February 15, 2011AAH v sweet too – SORRY will change and please don’t take my crappy visiting personally – I’m not visiting anybody at the moment Lx NO TIME x
Eclipse
February 15, 2011A rose and chocolates and taken out to the local indian. V-day used to be a bigger thing for me, but now I don’t really care. I’m just happy I have someone who still after 7 years smiles when he sees me when he wakes first thing in the morning and does sweet things when he’s not reminded by clinton or hallmark.
Family Affairs
February 15, 2011AAAH. That’s lovely. Lucky you xx
Bored now
February 15, 2011Oh I had a lovely day….I left thoughtfully chosen card with tender message and box of gorgeous chocolates out for husband. Later I found a card on the table for me, unfortunately it wasn’t quite so thoughtfully chosen – when I opened it I realised it was one I had bought several years earlier and left in the bureau as it wasn’t that nice. So must be the first time I have ever received a card that I actually bought myself. Dinner last night wasn’t much better we rowed the whole time and I ended up in tears.
Who said romance is dead?! xx
Family Affairs
February 16, 2011At least it was 10 times better than your Valentine’s night of about 5 years ago (or was it longer?) Lx
saz
February 15, 2011dont ask…one year since we split to the day….but a milestone past
so feel good today
saz x
valentines always sucks
Family Affairs
February 16, 2011You’re doing so well though – I can’t believe it’s been a year!! Lx
Anna
February 16, 2011Got chocolates and roses and my mother-in-law invited us to a beef bourguignon dinner. So a very lovely family-oriented Valentine’s with one big hiccup, however: first thing in the morning well-meaning parents at my son’s school delivered a ton of chocolate and other sugary things and my son stuffed himself, then he got more from his dad, and later still more from his grandmother – he was off the wall, literally!
Family Affairs
February 16, 2011How lovely – bet he was happy x
di foden
February 16, 2011We’re skint so he made a pie (first time he’d ever tried pastry) with a heart on top. Unfortunately he left it in the oven for a bit too long and the heart was blackened. But top marks for effort.
I won us dinner in a posh restaurant for my little love story (on English Radio Mallorca) which was a surprise as I managed to mention both baldness and a sore bum! x
Family Affairs
February 16, 2011Ha ha. Thats brilliant – are you going to print it? Must pop over, sorry been very remiss. Lx
English Mum
February 16, 2011I got f*ck all. I gently enquired if my oldest had anyone in mind for a valentine’s card only to be told NO I”M DOING MY MOCKS!
Okaaaaay…
Family Affairs
February 16, 2011Oh yes….I so know that stressy period xx