HHS HealthBeat (February 14, 2006)

Surprise Valentine’s Day

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

OK, it's Valentine's Day. Flowers, candy, I love you. What about next month?

That's a valid question because showing love isn't one day – it's every day. HHS' Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Wade Horn:

"If you wait a month, and you do it for no apparent reason other than you really love your partner, that's going to actually have greater meaning in your relationship than a feeling that you kind of had to, because it's something called Valentine's Day." (13 seconds)

A surprise Valentine's Day might be a skill to learn. And Horn says marriage is a lot about skills – including ones that can be taught in class. Marriage education classes – not counseling for troubled couples, but teaching for couples that just want to be better – can show new ways to talk, listen and interact.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: August, 15 2006