Holidays are times to spend with loved ones. Some are designated ‘family’ or ‘couple’ holidays, but for a lucky few the two can intersect, if those loved ones reside in the same place. For others, it isn’t quite so simple. Long-distance relationships add a whole new dimension of complication to holiday-planning, be it for specific days, or longer periods of time off from work.
Sometimes it actually comes down to choosing between your family and your significant other, or perhaps splitting time between the two, but for the more couple-oriented, shorter holidays (like Valentine’s Day or your anniversary), it can be even more disappointing in that you just don’t have the option of spending it together, because of work, school or what have you. That is what couples in long distance relationships miss out on. It isn’t the prospect of swapping presents at Christmas, drinking together from breakfast time on St. Patrick’s Day; it’s spending time with our SOs. Instead of letting it bum you out, or becoming slightly jaded and determinedly not caring that it’s whatever holiday that you would have liked to spend together, consider these options for satisfactorily supplementing your non-plans:
1) If you love the specific holiday and view it as worthy of a date: Go on a (Skype) date. This one is obvious and perhaps if you guys are on the ball with communication, it’s already a part of your regular schedule. But sometimes calling it an actual date, rather than part of a routine and, say, curling your hair instead of answering the videochat in your PJs, can make it the kind of special that’s almost as good as hanging out in person.
2) If you really want to share the day, but don’t want to feel like you’re stuck not celebrating just because your SO lives elsewhere, make other plans, but stay connected all day. There is no reason not to celebrate if you like a certain holiday, and this goes double for birthdays! Keeping each other in the loop a little more than usual is a good way to avoid feeling too bummed that he or she couldn’t be with you. Make plans to hang out with your friends or even schedule a night of complete “you time” and relaxation, sure, but text your SO between the birthday manis and pedis or Snapchat him a screenshot of your Valentine’s Day viewing of The Notebook. He might not care about Noah and Allie, but he will be pleased to know you’re having fun, even though the two of you couldn’t hang out.
3) If you enjoy swapping gifts and feel like you’re missing out or if you just want your SO to feel special, send cards. A little note to let someone know you’re thinking about them is never a bad thing…and who doesn’t love getting mail? Realistically, this works as a pleasant surprise for any time of the year, holiday or not. If you’re on top of things, you can buy (or make!) your card in advance, and leave it at their place the next time you visit; that way you ensure it’ll be there on the day you want it to, and your SO will be touched that you cared enough to plan even this small gesture of affection. Plus making some kind of material gesture from a distance might make you feel like you’ve participated enough in the traditions of the holiday to make up for missing it. (Tip: for birthdays spent apart, delivery-based websites like amazingclubs.ca are golden, because they let you ship presents directly to their door and you don’t have to fiddle around with sorting out your own postage)
4) If you reeeally wanted to celebrate, then reschedule the holiday. This is particularly applicable to Valentine’s Day and anniversaries. If you two have an anniversary around the same time of year as Valentine’s Day, make your anniversary the day you celebrate instead (or alternate with each year, depending on which one falls on a weekend day to enable a visit). If you already celebrate your anniversary with gusto and don’t want to miss out on the option of a second socially-acceptable day to publicly romance the heck out of each other, do your own thing, and completely reschedule Valentine’s Day. I know of at least one couple who got engaged after their Valentine’s Day supper, which took place a solid week or two after the 14th. Christmas during reading week? Why not! Romance is romance, and it should work to the schedule of the couple involved. I mean, who’s going to stop you?
Photos Retrieved from: Texting, Letter and Christmas in July.