How you celebrate Valentine’s Day may have a lot to do with how long you and your spouse have been together. For many couples the progression of Valentine’ Day goes something like this:

Dating – Dinner at a nice restaurant, roses, candy, a gift (usually jewelry) and the evening ends with a passionate kiss

Engaged -Dinner at a nice restaurant, roses, candy, skip the gift so you can afford the wedding and the evening ends with a passionate kiss

Newlywed – Dinner at a cheap restaurant (bills are piling up), flowers (something less expensive than roses), candy, a gift and the evening ends with a passionate kiss and whatever that leads to

Married 3-5 years – Dinner at home, flowers (definitely not roses), candy, a gift (something practical like a blender or toaster) and the evening ends as you both fall asleep watching movies on the sofa

Married 6-8 years – Flowers, candy, a gift (still something practical, maybe a new cell phone) and the evening ends with a hug

Married 9-10 years – Candy, a card and she hurries to bed hoping to get to sleep before he starts snoring

Married 11+ years – Pick up a bag of candy while out shopping at Wal-Mart

But seriously: How we celebrate can change over time as tokens of our affection change from physical items to intangible moments shared. The important thing is to make sure your spouse knows how you feel. Take advantage of a day like Valentine’s Day to love your spouse in whatever ways are meaningful to you both.

So what did I miss? Does this progression fit your experience? Are there other changes you’ve experienced over the years?

Related posts:

1. Three Creative Valentine Gift Traps
2. Husband Skills: The Art of Deflective Vagueness
3. Anything For Love
4. Bedroom Behavior
5. Signs Technology May Be Damaging Your Marriage’s Communication