Valentine's Day - Take It or Leave It

I'm the first to admit that I don't care much for Valentine's Day. It is true that I love the colorful, lacy, old-fashioned Valentine's Day cards and such. I, like many women, love the colors red, pink, and purple, but that's where it ends.

Valentine's Day has always been over-commercialized, but it seems to get worse every year (I would not be sorry if the Vermont Teddy Bears went away). Since when do you need a specified day of the year to show your family, friends, and of course, your significant other, just how much you love and appreciate them? I don't.

In fact, as a woman, I find some aspects of Valentine's Day downright degrading. Let me start with perhaps the biggest offender of all - the Vermont Teddy Bear commercials. Since when is it a great idea to portray women as children? All of the commercials I've seen for this company play upon the absolute worst stereotypes of women. They are all over-dramatizing getting a Teddy Bear. Some of the commercials emphasize that you can get "personalized" bears that come in nurses uniforms and such. Personally, it is kind of offensive that they only mention "traditional" jobs held by women (i.e. nurse and teacher). Not to knock nurses and teachers (they are some of the most important people in our society and I have several public school teachers in my family), but come on. How many people really want lots of things associated with their profession? Personally, I don't.

Another thing is lingerie. Nothing wrong with it as a present if you know the woman in your life would like it. Heck, it might even be a good idea due to the fact that it could be a present for you both. It is just annoying how it is expected. To some people, it sends the message that you better keep yourself up, or I'm leaving. Just think about it for a minute. Is there much lingerie out there that comes in a size larger than 14? Where's the pressure on the men?

OK. So there's my little rant on Valentine's Day. Brian (my boyfriend) and I probably won't do much to celebrate it, but that's OK. We tell each other we love each other all of the time. We don't need a special day to do so. Good luck to all of the card stores, lingerie boutiques, and flower shops out there. I know it's rough, and understand why it is promoted the way it is. Just don't expect me or my boyfriend to fall for it.

Lindsey