It’s roughly two weeks until Valentine’s. This means if you haven’t put Valentine’s on your boy radar – you probably should. Trust me, you want to be the boy who sets the bar, or the boy who all your girlfriend’s girl friends measure their men by. I know, surely you can call some restaurant somewhere, sweet talk the waitress into giving you a reservation, and call it a day. Sorry dude, here’s a message from the girls – that doesn’t cut it. Think: 0 points.
Now before you go into your man cave and freak out at the idea of getting all Valentine-esh: “I don’t know what she likes”; “I show her appreciation through doing the dishes”; or “I always get it wrong”. Let me help you. Boys, it doesn’t have to be that hard. Here are some failproof Valentine’s tips for the boys out there:
It’s not always about money – it’s about the effort: A girl will be as impressed by you singing a song you wrote about her, as you buying an expensive necklace. I lie – no girl says no to diamonds; however, the point here is things may be tough financially, but that doesn’t give you a reason to opt out.
Get her girlfriends in on it: This is nothing short of a sure win. Girls have a secret code; an understanding of what each other likes or wants. Nobody knows your girlfriend better than her friends. Ask for advice on what to do. Ask for help – the girls can do your detective work for you.
A dinner in can be more romantic than a dinner out – a girl likes nothing more than being wined and dined: Even if it doesn’t taste great, the effort will win the day. Do 3 courses – if you burn the steak and drop the vegetables on the floor, who cares, you guys can eat ice cream and drink wine instead. Use candles, use music, and set the mood.
Dress up – there is nothing better than a man in a suit. Wait, a bathing costume is a pretty good option too but that may not be the most romantic choice. Don’t be afraid to wear something nice – get some shoes which aren’t flip flops and pop some gel in your hair. Embrace your inner fashionista and you will win Valentine’s points.
If you are going the restaurant route, book now! Don’t go to the same place, rather try something different. Speak to a few people; get some recommendations. Save up so that you can order what you want instead of trying to fill up on onion rings and bread.
Flowers, wine, or chocolate – your girl will be into one of the three. Find out her fav (chat to the girls) and no matter what you do, one of the above will always be appreciated. A gift of flowers, wine, or chocolate is a great way to start the evening and set the tone for all that romance.
If she says don’t worry about it – worry about it. Even though some of us females are less maintenance than others, all girls like being shown that they are special and cared for. You can’t go wrong by putting in time, thought and care into the day.
Ugh, I can hear you say, Valentine’s is commercial and overrated. True, but look at it like that or like this: as humans we often get caught up in everyday life and forget to tell the wonderful people God has blessed us with how appreciative we are of them. Valentine’s, like Mother’s day, is a yearly reminder to say to the cute other in your life: “I like you. A lot.”
All relationships are work and require commitment, time, and effort. Why be someone who gives your relationship priority below work, sport, or your car? Take this year and take this Valentine’s to make your relationship the best it can be. You won’t regret it. To all the girlfriends out there – you can thank me later, chica.