52 ways to say “I love you”

Today is Valentine’s Day.  A day when millions of people buy chocolates and flowers, make dinner reservations, and lavish attention on the object of their affection.  But for those of us who are married, with children, jobs, and commitments, sometimes the romance gets pushed aside in the chaos of everyday life.  I am willing to raise my hand and admit that I’m guilty of this.  I’m guilty of taking my husband for granted, of not taking the time to show each of my children how special they are to me.

I decided that I need to change that.  This year, at least once a week, I will make a conscious effort to show my loved ones how much I care.  I think it works for anyone – our spouses, our children, our parents, even our friends.  One small thing a week really is not that hard, once you look at how simple it can be.

With that in mind, I have come up with a list of 52 simple ways to say “I love you.”

1. Make heart shaped pancakes.
2. Squirt ketchup into a heart shape onto the plate.
3. Bake cookies together (from scratch or from refrigerated dough, they won’t care!  You could even make them heart shaped!)
4. Snuggle together and read a book.
5. Ask your child what he wants to do, then actually do it.
6. Text your husband for no reason at all.
7. Scatter colored candy sprinkles on your morning frozen waffles
8. Light birthday candles and let the kids blow them out.
9. Ask your husband how his day went.  Then actually listen to what he says.
10. Play your favorite music and dance around the kitchen together.  The crazier, the better!
11. Play your favorite music in the car and “car dance” at the bus stop. (works best if there are other parents at the bus stop to give you strange looks)
12. Write a love note on the mirror.  Dry erase markers work great!
    

    Love note written after bed – one of the first things they will see in the morning.

13. Pick one thing you like about your loved one and tell them.
14. Let your child “help” around the house – even if it will be more work for you to clean up later.
15. When you borrow your loved one’s car, return it with a full gas tank.
16. Say, “I’m proud of you.”
17. Turn off the TV and have a “date night” at home.
18. Eat breakfast for dinner.
19. Or dinner for breakfast.
20. Have a backwards dinner:  eat dessert first.
21. Better yet, skip dinner and go out for ice cream.
22. On a clear night, go outdoors together and look up at the stars.
23. Spend 5 minutes just listening to what your loved one has to say.  Focus only on them:  don’t multitask, just listen.
24. Stick a small piece of candy in a lunch box.  Surprise!
25. Say “thank you.”  And mean it.
26. Follow through.  When you say you’ll do something, do it.  They remember.
27. Cook their favorite meal.
28. Have a picnic on a blanket in the living room.
29. Snuggle on the couch and watch a movie in the middle of the afternoon “just because.”
30. Write a love note.  Tuck it into a lunch box or briefcase.
31. Go to the park or the backyard and play tag.
32. Build an indoor tent (and get in with them).
33. Set up a “media-free” hour.  Turn off the TV, put away the smartphone, laptop, kindle, iPad, etc. Spend that time with your loved one(s).
34. Pull out the board games (and play a game)
35. Bake (or buy) a birthday cake. When it’s nobody’s birthday.
36. Hug them.
37. Say, “You did a great job.”  When did you last tell your teen or husband this?  We say it a lot when our kids are little. Is it less important when they get older?
38. Go to a coffee shop, order coffee (hot cocoa or chocolate milk for the little ones) and just chat.
39. Dress up and have a tea party.
40. Say, “You’re special.”
41. Write a love letter and mail it.  It only costs a few pennies, and they’ll be surprised to get mail in a day or so!
42. Be present – five minutes of your undivided attention is better than an hour where you’re thinking of something else.
43. Do you have alphabet magnets on the fridge?  Spell it out!
44. Stomp a giant heart into the snow with your loved one’s initials inside.
45. Watch a sunrise or sunset together.
46. Write out an Alphabet of Appreciation. “You are A for Awesome, B for Beautiful, C for …” (you get the idea).
47. Do something for your loved one that he or she hates to do.
48. Call them on the phone for no reason other than to say hi (and I love you).
49. Try your hand at writing a love poem.  Even if it’s “How do I love thee…? Let me count the ways!”
50. Laugh together.
51. Tell them something that is really important to you.  Ask them to share theirs with you.
52. Volunteer at a local charity together.  (so this isn’t necessarily a quick one, but nothing makes you appreciate your loved ones more than helping those who are less fortunate).

So, what do you think?  Are you up to the challenge?  What other simple ways can you think of to show someone how much you love them?  Share them with us below!