By Scott McCoy

Guys… it’s almost Valentine’s Day.

As a guy, I find this day to be nothing but a way to extract money from us men who have women in our lives.

We feel obligated to buy her flowers, or candy, or something else that is suppose to tell her that we love her.

And because we feel obligated, it’s a hollow gesture, right?

“Honey, here are some flowers and chocolates. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

What we really mean is, “Honey, here is stuff I got you because I had to.”

Now, ladies, please don’t think that we men don’t love you. We do.  But being forced to buy you stuff on a specific day because it’s the social convention, isn’t showing you affection – is it?

The company that makes those huge teddy bears has TV commercials playing on every channel right now.  According to the commercial, if us guys get her a big teddy bear, it will pay off for us in a big way.  Of course, we all know what they are referring to.

So, is the guy’s objective of Valentine’s Day to get lucky by offering token gifts?  How is that romantic, or meaningful?  And does it even work?

So guys, does it really matter if we get her something for Valentine’s Day?

YES!  For the love of everything holy – YES it does matter!

I’ve been married for nearly a quarter of a century, and I’ve learned one simple and universal rule… keep her happy.

I’ve slept on the couch.  It’s not fun.

Therefore, I’ll be buying her the chocolates; the flowers; and perhaps even the teddy bear.  I’ll keep the status quo, because I’ve learned my lesson.

And if she says you don’t have to get her anything for Valentine’s Day – guys, do it anyway!  Believe me, you don’t want to go there.

So my advice to all the men out there who are in new relationships and have little experience with the ramifications of not keeping her happy – don’t question Valentine’s Day.  Just accept it.  Spend some money on her. Take her out.  Send flowers to her work. Do the dishes. Cook her dinner.  Whatever.

It’s just one of those things in life that us guys have to accept.

She will love you for it.

And you’ll avoid the couch until the next time you do something stupid.

Scott McCoy is the former mayor of Pontiac, Illinois. He fought FEMA in Pontiac’s worst natural disaster in recorded history – reversing FEMA’s denial for federal help for the historic flood that greatly impacted Pontiac and Watseka. In 2008 and 2009, Scott successfully took on then-Governor Rod Blagojevich, who attempted to shut down the Pontiac Correctional Center. He also worked to build Pontiac, Illinois into one of the top tourism communities in Illinois.

Scott has been a small business owner for the past 20 years. His company develops software technology and video marketing media.

In 2015, Scott and his family moved to Normal, where his wife, Jennifer, is completing her degree in the ISU Principal Preparation Program.

In December, 2015, Scott joined the WJBC Forums.

The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumulus Media, Inc.