You may be planning your own Valentine’s Day dinner with your partner, but if you have a teen at home, you may be running interference on their own Valentine’s plans. This holiday can be a fun, cutesy way to celebrate love and relationships, but your teen may be experiencing all sorts of emotions, depending on their relationship status.
Already Spoken For
Your teen may already be in a relationship and are looking forward to the romantic dinner with their partner. It may even be their first Valentine’s Day Date! Whether they have been in a relationship with their partner for a while, or were just asked out for dinner on February 14th, you want to make sure you can have open and honest conversations with them. Now there has probably already been the birds and the bees conversation, but it cannot hurt to talk again about being safe and thinking things over on the big day. Make sure they know they can come talk to you at any time, and that they can call if they need a ride or have any questions or doubts.
Looking for Love
If your teen is single and feeling the pressure of a lonely Valentine’s Day, you can always help them cheer up. Make sure they know that they don’t always have to be in a relationship, and that they are perfect and whole just as they are. Of course, having a partner is fun and exciting, but it also doesn’t “complete” them, either. A teen is definitely going to feel the societal pressures of being alone at Valentine’s Day, and you can help them feel more comfortable with being alone, if that ends up being the case. And if they do get an invite for dinner, make sure they understand any ground rules like curfews, and to contact you if there’s any issues or if they are running late getting home.
Galentine’s Day
If by February 14th your teen finds themselves at home for dinner, they may not want to mope around all evening. Even if that’s the path they choose, you can always try to get them out of their room for a family dinner instead. Over dinner, you can always regale them with past dates you had that didn’t go well, so they can feel a little better about their current situation. You can also have a little party or get together for them and their other single friends, to help ease the loneliness.
Katie Kyzivat