A single guy’s guide to Valentine’s Day

BY GAVIN PATRICK

Sports Editor

“What does a single guy do on Valentine’s Day?”

I’m glad you asked.

And no, we don’t just sit around talking to ourselves, pondering our lives like I just did to open this piece.

Or… maybe we do a little bit.

I confess: As someone who’s been single their whole life, it can be hard watching couples do their thing on Valentine’s Day when you have nothing to show for.

I remember one year in high school, I was walking down the hallway the morning of Valentine’s Day toward the band hall, the place I always went in the morning (yes, I was a “band kid,” and I was quite good at the snare drum, thank you very much), and I saw couples all along the walls and lockers exchanging chocolates, flowers, roses, hugs, kisses – you name it.

It just wasn’t anything I was used to getting.

The only gifts I’ve ever received on Valentine’s Day were from my mom. Sure, I’ve gotten baked goods from a girl friend (notice the space), who was also giving that same thing to all her other friends. I’ve also gotten those good ole’ plastic goodie bags from teachers with all my least favorite candies.

Let’s face it: Those are pity gifts.

In all seriousness, I do hope to one day be in a place where buying someone a romantic gift would be appropriate, but I’m in no hurry.

In fact, I’ve never even cared that much about Valentine’s Day, except maybe when I knew my mom was making heart-shaped pancakes. Those were good days.

The best part about Valentine’s Day, to me, is celebrating the ones you love. It’s not about whether you have “a Valentine” or not –  it’s about showing endearment to those in your life who deserve it. And we all deserve something.

Especially our mothers.

Since we single guys don’t have a girl to take out, how about, instead, we all call our moms on Valentine’s Day?

That sound like a deal?

There’s not many traditions for this day besides buying chocolates and roses (*whisper* and breaking up). But that’s for the beaus. If there is one tradition single guys should have on Valentine’s Day, calling our moms should be the one.

We owe a lot to our moms, single guys. This is already the third time I’ve mentioned my mom – and for good reason.

Yours may not have made you and your siblings heart-shaped pancakes every year and left you a note on the table with a box of chocolates (sorry to brag here). But she at least fed you dinner. And cleaned the house. And did your laundry. And wiped your butt. And (oh, yeah) birthed you.

Think about the little things; that’s what our mothers do. Except for the giving-birth part; that was pretty big.

As long as you’re single—which, to my mom, means not married—your mom is the most significant woman in your life, guys. We should never take that for granted.

This may sound like I’m preaching Mother’s Day right now, but I’m not. Your mom doesn’t need a gift on Valentine’s Day; that’s for Dad to worry about. All we need to do is give her a call, tell her about our day and tell her how much we love and appreciate her.

“But dude, that’s so hard. Guys can’t express their feelings.”

Yeah, I get that. But it’s a lot easier to do than ask out that girl you’ve been eyeing for months.

Our moms miss us in college. Like, a lot.

Nod your head if your mom cried the day you left for your first semester… That’s what I thought.

Even for the few who didn’t nod their heads, you at least know she was going through some things that day and probably still is. That’s because she loves you, and she misses you. She may even miss wiping your butt and putting you down for a nap.

But the biggest thing she misses is your voice.

I’ll admit, I don’t call my mom every day. I’m a busy guy, and the way I like to settle down after a full-day’s work is to not talk to anyone.

Some of you like to “settle down” at Twisted J after a no-day’s work.

Whatever it is, we probably don’t call our moms enough in college. And whoever does call their mom every day, I see you, and I salute you.

As busy as I am, I still make time, multiple times a week, to talk to my mom. It’s important. And one of those days is Valentine’s Day, and always will be – as long as I’m single, at least. Our moms deserve our time, guys. Perhaps the time it took you to read this story is all the time she needs in a day.

It’s time to start a tradition, single guys: Call your mom on Valentine’s Day, because Feb. 14 is a day of love, and that doesn’t just have to apply to a partner.

In the meantime, though, I think you better ask out that girl.