Perhaps my boyfriend is atypical, but he doesn’t give two shakes about Valentine’s presents. He says Valentine’s and anniversaries are girl things. I send e-cards and buy the occasional dvd and he’s perfectly happy.
Actually, notinksanymore, your boyfriend is VERY typical. Guys prefer to keep their emotional investments close to the vest. It’s not that we can’t be just as sentimental or romantic as women; it’s more that we just don’t like to make a big production out of showing it, and to be quite honest, don’t feel that we even need to. As a rule, we prefer practicality and efficiency over sentimentality and show.
A bit of advice for Cathy, and for women like her: Don’t look to what your guy SAYS about your relationship, or to HOW he says it, to determine how he feels about it or you – look to what he DOES about it if, as the song says, “you wanna know if he loves you so.”
After 22 years of marriage, my husband and I still give meaningful Valentine’s Day cards to each other but we long ago gave up exchanging gifts. We still go out to dinner, too, but it’s usually someplace casual and we’re more likely to go in our blue jeans than our fancier dress clothes.
A lot of expectations are driven by retail advertising.
Have a holiday: sell cards, sell candy, sell diamonds, etc.
My husband is not one to buy things, so I don’t expect it of him.
After 38 years of marriage, I know he will probably take me out to dinner for my birthday and for our anniversary and for Christmas, he will give me a 100.00 bill.
But, he is there when needed, to fix a broken appliance, or trap squirrels in the attic or provide emotional support when something bad happens, like when my company downsized.
Or disgust us. A few minutes in a card shop wouldn’t kill him.
My husband seems similar to other posts – we exchange cards, go to dinner, go to a “Funky Valentine” concert which is usually hillarious and that works for us.
WebSpider almost 14 years ago
Does anyone recall if there was ever a Cathy strip with a storyline of her actually getting professional therapy?
gobblingup Premium Member almost 14 years ago
If there was, the therapist probably said a big “AAAAACK!!” on the last strip.
legaleagle48 almost 14 years ago
Cathy, Cathy, Cathy. When are you going to learn that men and women aren’t just two different sexes, they’re two different species?
notinksanymore almost 14 years ago
Perhaps my boyfriend is atypical, but he doesn’t give two shakes about Valentine’s presents. He says Valentine’s and anniversaries are girl things. I send e-cards and buy the occasional dvd and he’s perfectly happy.
legaleagle48 almost 14 years ago
Actually, notinksanymore, your boyfriend is VERY typical. Guys prefer to keep their emotional investments close to the vest. It’s not that we can’t be just as sentimental or romantic as women; it’s more that we just don’t like to make a big production out of showing it, and to be quite honest, don’t feel that we even need to. As a rule, we prefer practicality and efficiency over sentimentality and show.
A bit of advice for Cathy, and for women like her: Don’t look to what your guy SAYS about your relationship, or to HOW he says it, to determine how he feels about it or you – look to what he DOES about it if, as the song says, “you wanna know if he loves you so.”
ruizuno almost 14 years ago
Women live to please others, men live to please themselves. Its how its always been.
Gretchen's Mom almost 14 years ago
After 22 years of marriage, my husband and I still give meaningful Valentine’s Day cards to each other but we long ago gave up exchanging gifts. We still go out to dinner, too, but it’s usually someplace casual and we’re more likely to go in our blue jeans than our fancier dress clothes.
ellisaana Premium Member almost 14 years ago
A lot of expectations are driven by retail advertising. Have a holiday: sell cards, sell candy, sell diamonds, etc.
My husband is not one to buy things, so I don’t expect it of him. After 38 years of marriage, I know he will probably take me out to dinner for my birthday and for our anniversary and for Christmas, he will give me a 100.00 bill.
But, he is there when needed, to fix a broken appliance, or trap squirrels in the attic or provide emotional support when something bad happens, like when my company downsized.
lindz.coop Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Or disgust us. A few minutes in a card shop wouldn’t kill him.
My husband seems similar to other posts – we exchange cards, go to dinner, go to a “Funky Valentine” concert which is usually hillarious and that works for us.