Once upon a time, Valentine’s Day meant getting dressed up, going out for dinner, and having a full conversation without interruption. Now it often means juggling school runs, searching for clean socks, and only realising it’s Valentine’s Day because a child brings home a piece of heart artwork that will live on the fridge for months. And honestly, that’s okay. Valentine’s Day just looks different now. It’s still full of love, just louder, messier, and far more tired.
So this year, here is a different kind of Valentine’s Day Wishlist. It doesn’t include diamonds or flowers, just the things that feel incredibly romantic in this season of life.
At the top of the list is a quiet hour. A room to ourselves. No questions. No background noise. No one touching us. We would happily sit in silence and soak it in.
Next, we would love full control of the TV for one night. No negotiating. No kids shows suddenly reappearing. No documentaries someone insists are “worth watching.” Just one show we choose, even if we fall asleep before the credits roll.
A proper sleep-in would be wonderful. The kind where someone else hears the early morning chaos and handles it. The kind where we wake up unsure what day it is.
And if we are really dreaming, we would love to finish a hot drink while it is still hot.
Valentine’s Day is not just for couples though. It matters just as much for single parents & carers. Those carrying the load solo, making every decision, doing every pickup, every bedtime, every late night worry on their own. Love on Valentine’s Day might look like carving out ten quiet minutes, buying yourself flowers, or sitting in the car in silence before heading inside. Always remember that self love is not selfish. It is necessary.
For families raising children with additional needs, love often looks different again. It can mean constant advocacy, careful planning, interrupted sleep, and celebrating milestones others may overlook. Valentine’s Day might not be about dinners out or grand gestures, but about small moments of connection, flexible expectations, and giving yourself grace. The love in these families is deep, resilient, and often invisible to the outside world.
Even if Valentine’s Day can feel a little gimmicky, it still has meaning. It shows our children that love matters, that kindness is valuable, and that expressing care for each other is important… especially in today’s climate where simple acts of thoughtfulness can make a huge difference. It teaches them how to celebrate the people they love, even in small, everyday ways.
Underneath the humour, Valentine’s Day is really about love in its everyday form. It is about mums and dads, partners and single parents, carers and families, showing up in ways that are rarely seen but deeply felt. Love looks like teamwork. It looks like patience. It looks like kindness towards ourselves.
So this Valentine’s Day, whether you are sharing it with a partner, celebrating solo, navigating extra needs, or simply getting through the day, remember this. Valentine’s Day is about all the people we love, including ourselves.
From the team here at Autism Advisory & Support Service – Happy Valentine’s Day!
