Valentine’s Day...Why is it so Complicated to Give or Get the Perfect Gift?

If you’re a woman, I know what you’ve been thinking...why is it so difficult for him to be romantic?

Why can’t guys get it right? In fact, when he hands you your gift with a proud, expectant look on his face, you are probably thrilled, right? He’s spent a lot of time trying to find a gift that is perfect for you.

Until you open the gift up and find an electric wok.

You start shrieking and tears gather in your eyes. His enthusiasm immediately takes a dive and he has no clue what he did that you find so offensive. You think he’s a total jerk because an electric wok just doesn’t say 'I love you.'

He’s thinking you’re totally selfish and ungrateful. After all, you LOVE Chinese food. In his opinion a wok is the perfect gift.

He would be over the moon if you bought him something to help make his life easier, like a new power tool. His drill bits are getting dull and he’d happily accept a new set for Valentine’s Day. Instead he gets a box of chocolates and a card that’s too over-the-top sticky-sweet for his tastes. He thinks your gift is a waste and you think his gift is a slap in the face.

Here’s why...women are romantic by nature, and men are practical. Sure, there are exceptions, but for the most part this statement holds true.

If you’re a man, you’ll want to pay attention to this...

For women, Valentine’s Day is about romance and 'mushy stuff' – she’ll want to discuss (for probably the 5th Valentine’s Day in a row!) when you first realized you loved her, what attracted you to her in the first place and how you knew she was 'the one.'

She already knows the answers to those questions because you’ve discussed them before; it’s not that she forgot.

Don’t whine and say you’ve discussed this a dozen times before. Also, you don’t want to answer with 'I don’t remember' or tell her a different version than she already knows.

What she wants from you is help in reliving the romance and recapturing that great feeling she got from the first blush of new love and knowing you love and adore her.

Men generally tend to think that Valentine’s Day is just a gimmick for the greeting card companies and florists to make an extra buck. And to a certain extent that is true.

But remember, she has to return to work or school and answer that age old question 'So, what did he get you?' If it’s something stupid (unromantic), her co-workers will take great pleasure in besmirching your name and will have added fuel to take jabs at you and possibly throw it up in her face in the future (women can be so mean to each other in a work environment.)

So what to do? The best solution I’ve found is to give each other a gift you would not particularly enjoy...

He gives her romance and she gives him practical. Then, you’ll both have a better chance at being happy with what you give and what you get.