What do you get a man for Valentine’s Day? There aren’t too many men I know of that like stuffed animals, bouquets of flowers or fancy jewelry. Quite honestly, Valentine’s Day seems more for the ladies. I pity the man who has a birthday on Valentine’s Day. Actually, I have an uncle whose birthday is on Valentine’s Day–poor soul.
I thought I’d brainstorm some ideas for a man based off the of The 5 Love Languages.ย If you haven’t read the book The 5 Love Languages, I highly recommend it. It really helps you understand your spouse and how best to show him or her love in a way that speaks to them.
The five love languages are:ย Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch.ย Most people like to have love shown to them in one of these ways; some people have two. ย The important thing is to find what speaks to your spouse and try to do things in that area for them. So, if you have a general idea of what speaks love to your husband, here are some ideas for him for Valentine’s Day.
Words of Affirmation:
If your hubby likes to be complimented or hear words of praise, he is a words of affirmation guy. A fun idea for him would be to handwrite 25 reasons you love him. I did this for my husband when he was deployed. ย It doesn’t have to be an exhaustive list, but just enough to show him many of the reasons why you love him.
Acts of Service:
If your hubby feels loved when you actively do something for him, he is an acts of service guy. For Valentine’s Day, you could clean and detail his car for him, plus leave a love note. You could also make his favorite meal, topped off with his favorite dessert. It needs to be something where you go a little above and beyond. Most women already do the laundry and take out the trash from time-to-time. Go the extra mile for him.
Gifts:
On Valentine’s Day, my husband and I have a journal where we write down our favorite memory of the past year, a memory that wasn’t so great, and how we think the other has grown. We each write in a different colored pen. You could get a journal and start off by writing down five of your favorite memories of your life together. Then each year, start writing in it together and it will be a like a snapshot of that year for you. ย We love looking back on what was going on for us in a particular year that we had forgotten about. Grab a bottle of wine and once the kids are asleep, give him the book and let him read what you wrote. Then make it an annual Valentine’s Day tradition where you write together. Sometimes, we get so bogged down with the mundane things of life that we forget to reminisce about all those special times as a couple.
Quality Time:
Pick to do something out of the ordinary, like indoor rock climbing, go to an arcade, go-carts, or go play pool together. Men like to be active, so doing something fun with you will definitely make them smile. Valentine’s Day doesn’t always have to be about getting dressed up for a fancy dinner. Another idea, if you can, is to take a day hike and bring a picnic. He will appreciate that you picked out something that is up his alley.
If you have small kids and can’t go out, make dinner at home and once the kids are asleep play a board game. Put the phone away, turn off the TV and focus on each other.
Physical Touch:
I know what your thinking: That this love language is all about sex, but it isn’t. My husband is a physical touch guy, which means he loves hugs, kisses, holding hands, and having his head rubbed. It doesn’t always mean intimate time in the bedroom. For Valentine’s Day, you could give him a full body massage, complete with candles and music. To make it extra special, buy some chocolate covered strawberries.
Men aren’t too complicated and you don’t have to spend a ton of money on them. No matter what you do, they will appreciate the effort and thought that you put in. Sometimes it’s good to focus on them a little and let them know that they are loved and appreciated.
Have a love filled Valentine’s Day!
