Juggling Valentine’s Day

Whether you are male or female—if you’re in a relationship—Valentine’s Day and working law enforcement can present a challenge. Between rotating shifts, working weekends, etc., you just never know when you’ll be able to celebrate this romantic holiday with your significant other. This year, Valentine’s Day is on a Monday and that just makes it weird anyway.

As you plan what to do with or for your significant other, you have to consider your schedule, their schedule, unexpected schedule changes (working late, weather emergencies, manpower shortages because of COVID...the list goes on) and more. It’s of great value to remember that time is the greatest gift we can give, and if we’re giving material gifts, they don’t have to conform to the traditional “romantic Valentine’s Day” characteristics.

Every year I used to give my wife two dozen red roses for Valentine’s Day. The local florist in our jurisdiction gave law enforcement a special price. If the officer buying the flowers was married to another officer, or a doctor, a firefighter or a nurse, the florist wouldn’t take any payment. It was his way of saying thank you to the public safety community. While many would take umbrage with that practice, and every officer I knew found a way to pay somehow, it was actions of appreciation like that that made the community feel a little less negative. Certainly we can all use that these days.

But you don’t have to just give flowers or candy or whatever. Time and memories are a great thing to give, so here’s a suggestion: Give your significant other a blank journal with photo placement pages included. As you go through the year together, write down the special trips you take; the dates you go on; the special time you spend together. Take a few pictures and print them out. Include them. NEXT Valentine’s Day, sit and review the year with your significant other before you give and start that next journal. It’s a very romance-focused thing to do.

Jewelry is always a great gift but make it practical if you’re giving it to someone in public safety. Watches are great if they’re durable enough to take the abuse of the street. Necklaces are good because they can be hidden under uniform shirts. Rings...they can present unique challenges, but the QALO silicone rings can be customized and make awesome memorial gifts. (My wife’s daily wear wedding ring says “27+ years” on it, memorializing our last anniversary).

Finally, time is perhaps the greatest gift of all. Our significant others put up with us working weird shifts, holidays, weekends, extra hours, secondary employment and more. You want to really surprise your special someone? Take the day off—but don’t tell them until the day. Make some plans and surprise them with the plans. Give them the gift of unexpected happy time… but at least get a card to go along with that.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day with your significant other. If you have to work, celebrate before or after your shift and acknowledge the day.