Here is a great article written by a teen on BodiMojo, sharing a nice perspective on how other teens should think about Valentines Day, regardless of what your facebook relationship status says!
“By Remy Marin
OK, fellow teenagers. It’s that time of year again. The time when everything is swept into a haze of red and pink with candy hearts, chocolate and stuffed animals abound. That’s right – it’s Valentine’s Day.
Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is one of the most complicated holidays you will ever stumble upon, bringing up a whole array of questions. What if I’m single? Or worse, what if my relationship is what Facebook would call “complicated?” What do I buy for my significant other, if anything at all? Should I go with a sweet or clever gift? Who else should I buy presents for? And most of all, who would ever create such an anxiety-producing holiday?
As teenagers, we’re still at the beginning of our romance journeys, and thus are still very much stuck in the abyss of uncertainty and nerves. Luckily for you all, I tend to overanalyze and excessively plan everything, and so I’ve put together my official survival guide for Cupid’s season.
Let’s start with the first question: What do I do if I’m single? We’ve all been through those years when we feel like we’re the only single person in a sea of lovey-dovey couples. It’s awkward, it can be a little sad, and it’s hard to handle. But really, Valentine’s Day is about appreciating the love we have in our lives, not reminiscing about the love we wish we had. Love isn’t just two people in a relationship, it’s about parents and siblings and grandparents and friends. On Valentine’s Day, you should call your grandparents to send your love, go on a lunch date with a parent or sibling, have a movie night with your friends! If you spend the day with the people who care about, you’ll realize that it doesn’t matter whether or not you have a high school sweetheart, all that matters is spending time with the important people in your life.
Situation number two: What if I’m in an iffy, undefined relationship? Maybe we’ve been on a few dates or flirted at parties, but we’ve never really made anything official. Does this constitute buying a present or celebrating the holiday? I would recommend acknowledging the holiday, but not going crazy. Go on a date on Valentine’s Day, and if you really feel like it’s a blossoming relationship then maybe find a nice card or send a sweet text. But I wouldn’t go any farther than that, because it could easily place you in an awkward situation of pushing the fling too far, too fast.
Finally: What do I do if I’m in a committed relationship? In my opinion, there’s no reason to get take the day too seriously or too literally- in other words, you don’t have to find sappy cards, stuffed animals, and chocolate. I prefer to make Valentine’s Day a more personal affair, one that focuses on our specific relationship instead of just a generic relationship, and see it as a tchotchke holiday- in other words, one that calls for small, fun, personal presents instead of big, expensive ones. For example, make and decorate heart-shaped cookies together if you both are arts-and-crafts people, watch that funny movie you both love, or make a personal, thoughtful card. These ideas mean more than going hallmark crazy, they won’t break the bank, and they’ll show you care without making the mood too serious.
So this Valentine’s Day, remember there’s no need to get all a flurry. Remember that it’s just about showing you care, not about the grand displays of candy and flowers, and you’ll be just fine no matter what your Facebook relationship status.”
Picture and article from http://www.bodimojo.com/blog/teens-and-valentines-day/