Sunday, February 5, 2012
Face it people, Valentine's Day is a deal breaker for many relationships. Say you have been dating a few months and you forget the big V, or you give your honey a cheap card you picked up at the grocery store. And then you wonder what went wrong when you are unceremoniously dumped the next day.
Here's what you should and should not do to keep peace in the relationship and maybe, just maybe, turn it into a life-long partnership:
1.Do get your sweetheart a gift on Feb. 14th. I know that would seem obvious. But for many, life gets in the way. DON'T LET IT! Think about it: This is the only holiday of the entire year devoted to couples. So, I don't care if you are completely broke. At least buy a card...not one you grabbed in five minutes from the grocery store. Spend some time, and look through them. Find a card that sums up your feelings in three lines. You can do it. And if you have the money, at least buy one of those small boxes of candy from a high-end chocolate store. I'm not talking Russel Stover (although they create a fine piece of chocolate.) No, this is the time to buy one of those tiny little gold boxes of two scrumptious Godiva treats, or at least some candy that you find at the mall, not the grocery store.
2.Don't count on your sweetie to make plans. You beat him/her to the punch. Make this a memorable day. Again, you don't have to spend a lot of money. Just pick up a ready-made dinner from the deli department of the supermarket, light some candles, and you have yourself a romantic dinner!
3.Don't make reservations at the restaurant you took your last girlfriend/boyfriend. Believe me, it will come back to haunt you. Either you mentioned this place one too many times, or your sweetheart will pick up on the vibe that exes tend to leave behind. Trust me, don't do it.
4.Don't wait until the last minute to pick up a gift. Remember, this holiday is all about planning. I know what you're thinking. Flowers have to be fresh! Forget about flowers. They are for amateurs. Roses cost a fortune and they die. That's not what you want to happen to your relationship. Instead, if your sweetie has a green thumb, buy a plant that the two of you can look at year after year, which reminds you of your special day. Or even a piece of jewelery. You can buy a really nice necklace or pair of earrings for less than a dozen red roses. Anyway, start shopping a week before, and let the gift receipt reflect that! Anything you can do to show your honey that a lot of thought went in to this, all the better.
5.Devote the entire day to your significant other. Don't stop with candy and cards. Call and send heart felt emails or texts all day long. And if you really have the bucks, have a basket sent to your sweetie at work. Women, especially, love that. Then, all day long, they get jealous looks from co-workers. You will be the envy of the entire office!
Now, if you follow these five tips, and your relationship doesn't last past Valentine's Day, it has problems that are completely unfix-able anyway. In that case, you're better off single.
Etiquette expert and life coach, Marie Dubuque is the author of six books including "First Date Etiquette" and "Witty Comebacks for Idiotic Insults." And she is the host of a popular YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/mannersbymarie