#LionessMama Week 15 Round-Up!
6th February 2017
10K – Time To Giveaway: #1
7th February 2017

In An Ideal World

It’s sad to say but I can only recall three times in my whole life when I was with someone for Valentines Day – and one of those was when I was 15!! I used to get quite angry and upset about being alone on Valentines and then came to realise that I shouldn’t really be upset about one day when I am technically single for the other 364 days of the year too. However, I am a hopeless romantic at heart and just because I am not with someone does not mean that I don’t disappear off into the occasional and dare I say awesome day dream about my ideal Valentines day (cue blurring the sides of the screen as you read and plinky plonky music meaning you are entering my dream world)…

love heart coffee cups with a red rose in each and red rose petals strewn next to them

My eyes peek open to see light streaming through my windows which is pretty strange as I am pretty sure I close the curtains each night. I turn to look at the baby monitor as I am surprised it is light and Alyssa has yet to wake me and see that it is not there. In a total panic I go to dash out of bed and see that there are rose petals all over my floor, red ones, and a smile starts to creep onto my face.

I pull on my slippers and my dressing gown and begin to follow the petals which lead down the hall and into Alyssa’s room and there at the end of a trail is a big teddy holding a heart that says “I love you mummy!” I pick him up and give him a cuddle and then notice that there are more petals leading out of her room and so I begin to follow and start heading slowly down the stairs. It is at this point I can hear a deep voice shhing my giggling daughter which brings a smile to my face. As I arrive at the bottom of the stairs, the petals lead me into the dining room to the table where there is a beautiful bouquet of fuchsia pink gerberas in a vase on the table beside plates stacked high with blueberry and chocolate chip American pancakes and fresh juice and gorgeous smelling coffee. However, the best thing about the whole table is the little girl sat grinning at me and the man beside her.

I’d sweep Alyssa up in my arms and a  big strong arm would go round my shoulders and lean in to kiss me and wish me Happy Valentine’s Day. We’d sit and eat breakfast together and then all get dressed up nice and warm and go out for the day spending it playing in parks and walking through woods and stopping off for hot chocolate too. That evening, once Alyssa was in bed, we’d light a fire and turn on some festive lights (like those little heart fairy lights) and curl up in front of it with a delicious takeaway and a bottle of wine and watch crappy TV curled up in each others arms.

It might sound silly and actually it really isn’t anything hugely special – the best Valentine’s gift for me would just be to have someone to share it with. To have someone to come home to. To have someone to hug when I just need a hug. To just have someone. I wouldn’t need to go out and would be quite happy to spend the evening at home… I guess at the end of the day I am just a complete and total hopeless romantic. There’s no harm in it though – we all just want our own happily ever after, don’t we?!
This is a collaborative post – all opinions are my own.

40 Comments

  1. I remember these feelings, Katie. And being a romantic is really quite nice. But I think the entire marketing of V-Day has gotten out of control. We should appreciate & love each other everyday, right?
    I love how many women are celebrating Galentine’s Day now—that’s totally fun!
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

  2. Stephanie says:

    It’s so great that your little girl plays such a prominent role. That really is the way it should be. You could start your own Valentine’s traditions with her? #ablogginggoodtime

  3. I love that Alyssa is so involved in your perfect Valentine’s Day! Seriously, though, Valentine’s Day is really overrated. My husband and i don’t even really celebrate it anymore. It’s just an excuse for restaurants to double the prices on their menus! #ablogginggoodtime

  4. Awww … that’s really lovely. We don’t even celebrate it anymore. It’s just a day. Last year I didn’t even get a birthday card, valentines day is a non-event for us.
    #ablogginggoodtime.

  5. Rhian Harris says:

    Ahh, it’s a lovely dream! Reality is that it’s just a day, and a cheesy one at that, but I can see that you might feel a bit down about it. Try to ignore that and spend the day with your lovely little. Cards from the kids are worth so much more anyway #ablogginggoodtime

  6. Aw that’s so sweet đŸ™‚ We don’t celebrate it, I always found it more awkward than lovely! We might get a curry or something for dinner rather than cooking, but it’s not a big day on our calendar! #ablogginggoodtime

  7. Kat says:

    I’ll be alone valentines day, Adam works nights, I’m alone most nights to be honest so I get that feeling of lonliness. It’s really hard these times of year where it’s all over the place and you don’t have someone to share it with romantically. Take the time to treat yourself though! Take some time for you. xx #ablogginggoodtime

  8. Lucy At Home says:

    It must be hard to be alone at a time when everyone else seems so loved-up and couple-y. Valentines day seems to be such a bog thing these days. I hope you get yourself a big treat and have lots of fun with Alyssa #ablogginggoodtime

  9. Anna says:

    That’s a lovely dream, that’s not to say it will never be your reality though đŸ™‚ I often get sucked in by the flowers and hearts of Valentine’s Day but the I come over all pragmatic. ‘No we won’t go out for a romantic meal, they’ll whack the prices up anyway’.
    Happy Valentine’s to you Mummy in a Tutu x #ablogginggoodtime

  10. Aleena Brown says:

    Personally I find the whole day a bit cringey and generally try to ignore it, but that sounds like a truly lovely day! I hope you enjoy the day with Alyssa, and if it helps I’ll be spending the day knee deep in formula milk, dirty muslins and play dough!! #ablogginggoodtime x

  11. I too am a romantic and have many fantasies about the perfect Valentine’s day. Too bad reality is nothing like my dream world. In reality hubby is busy at work all day, comes home tired. We eat dinner like always. Work away at chores around the house. After a long day of parenting, working, and juggling responsibilities we fall into bed exhausted. That’s when he mumbles, “oh yeah, happy valentine’s day” as I remember the box of chocolates that I bought a month ago stashed in my nightstand. Oops. “Thanks, you too. I bought you these” I mumble handing over the box. “My favourite” he says. “I know” I reply. Then we fall asleep. The fantasy is much better than the reality. #ablogginggoodtime

  12. Debbie says:

    Oh, your dream is lovely Katie, and I hope that one day your dream will come true! It’s not daft or silly, it’s nice and simple… And possible.

    #ablogginggoodtime

    xx

  13. Your dream sounds lovely. I think Valentine’s Day is such a day of pressure and commercialisation though. My husband and I don’t really celebrate it anymore. #ABloggingGoodTime

  14. Alice Soule says:

    Yes, we really do. Everyone has their ideal scenario but remember it rarely acts out as you dream it! #ablogginggoodtime

  15. Nothing daft about being a romantic, and that sounds like a pretty damn perfect valentines to me. Valentine’s Day also happens to be my husbands birthday so we tend to celebrate that instead. Given his job he’s actually been away at sea for more valentines/birthdays than he’s been home for so we tend to just do something nice just the two of us each time he’s home instead.
    #Ablogginggoodtime

  16. Gosh this post made me feel rather sad. I remember when I was single and Valentine’s would come around and I was just crushed! I just felt like a loser that nobody wanted. Isn’t it ridiculous?! Fact is, as you pointed out, I was also single the rest of the year too so why let this one overblown day (which was a commercial thing from a start) make me more aware of my singledomness? If it’s any consolation, there are some seriously gorgeous guys for you to feast your eyes over in my linked post this week!! Chin up lovely. But that’s just another annoying thing people say isn’t it?! #ablogginggoodtime

  17. Your dream is gorgeous: simple and achievable – probably when you are least expecting! Alison x #ablogginggoodtime

  18. What a gorgeous and lovely dream. Good things will happen when you least expect it babe. I know the whole Valentine’s thing is getting a bit out of control but we should also spend valentines as an excuse to show love to any of the people we love around us. Lots of love xx

    Amina xx | http://www.AliandHer.com

  19. Ahhhh you’re such a soppy thing and I hear you that Valentine’s Day is difficult for people who aren’t in the place they want to be right now in terms of relationships. But I’m with Popple – it’s totally over-rated so try not to think about it too much – the marketing men will have won đŸ˜‰ xx #ablogginggoodtime

  20. Aww honey!!! I do totally understand but valentines day is such a commercialised thing these days – my husband hates it so there is no beautiful romantic fluff going on over here at all – I’m dreaming of your ideal valentine’s day too – seriously!! It’s film stuff – I love it and want it all as gorgeous as you portray but it’s not my reality either! Let’s share a bottle of wine and chats online lovely!! #ablogginggoodtime

  21. Awww bless you, I am sure one day in the not too distant future you will have this. Your vision does sound pretty perfect xxx

  22. Maybe one year that dream will come true and something like this will happen. Don’t worry I will be alone on valentine’s even though I am in a relationship. I think someone should invent a singles day where everyone celebrates being single

  23. Really beautiful, but I think you should still celebrate and embrace the romantic in you, just with a twist – ignore the tradition that you have to spend the day with a partner, start a new tradition and make it an extra special mother and daughter adventure day!

  24. It’s difficult because it’s a time of year when love is thrust in our faces. It’s easy to feel like your missing out but try not to let it get to you. Valentines is over rated!! #ablogginggoodtime

  25. The link to festive lights is perfect as need to get some additional letters for my light box and they sell red ones!!! Valentines does have that tendency to be totally overboard all for hype amd not real love. Your daughter is your love and you are and always will be hers. Xxxx #ablogginggoodtime ?

  26. Kirsty says:

    Such a lovely dream – one day you’ll have exactly that xx

  27. Mums Space says:

    Thats a lovely dream, we don’t really celebrate it much anymore, it is just one day like you said xx

  28. Georgina says:

    This is so sweet! We are not celebrating it this year, I always feel it’s a real let down and you can’t live up to the hype!

  29. Helena says:

    Having been read fairy tales as a child we certainly do all wish for that happily ever after. #ablogginggoodtime

  30. Suranjita says:

    What a lovely, cosy and warm read! With your daughter by your side, it’s going to be extra special this Valentine’s day! It’s all about being surrounded by loved ones and as you said, ‘to have someone to come home to’ đŸ™‚

    #ablogginggoodtime

  31. Rebecca says:

    Awwwwwww this is so cute! You cute pie! I bet a lot of people in relationships, me included, would wish for that day too! Im actually working on Valentines day… till 11pm! <3

  32. It’s not nice being on your own. I think valantine’s day is overrated, a pretty exclusionary festival as well, keeping out the singles and widows and not making them feel great. Not particularly romantic either as it’s one (less announced) day of the year most couples are clambering to do something. Hope you find someone! #ablogginggoodtime

  33. Jenni says:

    What a lovely dream. I’m with someone but we don’t do anything for valentines day x #ablogginggoodtime

  34. I love Stephanie’s idea of starting your own V day traditions with your little one… #ablogginggoodtime

  35. This is the first Valentines Day where Hubby isnt on call so we can actually do something but instead I dont think there are any plans – probably try out a pizza maker i need to review hahahaha! no different to any other night really! maybe just more plonk than usual! He’s not an overly romantic person haha. I told him i expect something from Ben though! #ablogginggoodtime

  36. Wendy says:

    Aww this sounds like a perfect valentine’s day to me.. I hope it becomes a reality for you one day. I enjoy valentine’s day with .the husband but I can imagine email it is a difficult time to be single xx #ablogginggoodtime

  37. Crummy Mummy says:

    Valentine’s Day has a lot to answer for – all that pressure! #ablogginggoodtime

  38. Blake says:

    That sounds like a wonderful day. I hope you will be doing all of those things with alyssa, even if it means you have to do the cooking of the breakfast! My dad was never around, so me and my sister always celebrated with my Mom. We still do cards to each other now, it was and is a good thing I think! I may however have to just leave this open for my husband to accidentally stumble upon and read, maybe he’ll get some ideas from this for next year! #ablogginggoodtime

  39. Aww i think we all just want a nice hug sometimes.I know a lot of people aren’t into Valentine’s Day but we make the effort just because it’s nice to have a nice meal sometimes! #ablogginggoodtime

  40. Silly Mummy says:

    Aww that’s nice. I was single this Valentine’s, though I generally haven’t been single for any length of time in my adult life. Valentine’s didn’t particularly bother me more than any other day though, as I was never that fussed about it. It’s very close to my birthday – so I have always let partners off on Valentine’s anyway, as men generally seem to struggle with coping with two occasions next to each other, especially if gifts are involved! #ablogginggoodtime