I heard the best Valentine's day advice I've heard yet, and from a radio sports guy no less. Basically, what he said was:

in most of the families I've seen, the woman bears a disproportionate burden of homemaking and childcare. One thing you guys could do, if that's the case at your place, is to help out - like in the morning, help get the kids ready for school, help with breakfast, don't be all 'I've got my coffee and I've got my briefcase and I'm good to go.' It's the little acts of love you do regularly that mean something, not a big expensive bunch of roses.

I don't know if the fellow is married but if he is I think his wife is probably lucky.

And actually being kind on a regular basis - that makes so damn much more sense than going into debt for a diamond necklace that she'll be able to wear maybe a couple times a year. (Of course, no industry gets rich off of simple kindness).

I also got a bunch of forwards from a friend - most of this stuff is what the good folks at Snopes call "glurge" but there was one little bit that amused me:

during a violent thunderstorm, a little boy called out for his mother.
"Mommy, I'm scared. Can you come and sleep in my room tonight?"
His mother kissed him but said "No, dear, I can't. I have to sleep in the room with Daddy tonight."
As she walked out, she heard his shaky little voice say: "The big sissy!"