A dadsclub.com.au survey has revealed that Aussie Mums would prefer you to not waste your money on flowers, chocolates or over-priced dinners this Valentines Day.

Far from going thrift, this year Mums are asking their partners  to write off the commercialism of Valentines Day and have you adopt some of these 15 lifestyle changes for the other 364 days of the year ..

• Give her a break from the kids – become The Master Chef of your castle at least once a week. And on February 14, make sure YOU organise a baby sitter and head out to your ‘local’ or picnic at the park or that romantic car park. Can’t get a baby sitter?….then grab some takeaway or ‘don’ the apron! Take control. Get bloke friendly recipes here.
• Talking about control, apply greater self discipline on your “much loved” nuances. Avoid these turn-offs: bed-time farts, scratching your butt or re-arranging your family jewels at school functions, do something about your smelly-feet etc.. Get solutions to these embarrassing habits and more.
• Talk, women love to talk – most blokes hate it! Seems it’s the right thing to do – so avoid ‘yups’, groans, sighs, SMS’s and emails – open up.
• Make time for each other. Schedule a date at least once a month, ideally weekly.  A walk in the park, dinner, breaky, picnic or movie
• Relinquish and say YES more often than NO. We all love to be heard and acted upon – 8 times out of 10, Mum will have the right suggestions.
• Look after yourself physically and mentally. And let her know that you do! Statistics say that many of us will feel the affects of depression or anxiety in our life span. The Aussie male suicide rate is fives times that of women’s. We’re not invincible and amazingly life is easier when you don’t go it alone. Be a man and solicit help. More info here, we also recommend  The real man’s tool box by Tammy Farrell
• Show that you love and care for your Valentine on the other 364 days of the year with a freshly picked flower, phone call, note or sign language that simply says “I love you”.
• Leave the toilet seat down (at least on this day, her birthday and your anniversary).
• Love their mother. Respecting and loving your kids’ mother is the most tremendous gift of all.
• Say you love her, often, like every day! Make sure your kids see and hear it.
• Don’t expect perfection, you’re not, so go easy when she makes a mistake.
• Be a good dad to your kids. Don’t fall for the “quality time” catch cry, you need quantity to find quality. Chances are when she committed to you; she was also looking forward to you being that near-perfect dad and role model. Get tips on how to structure your involvement with your kids. Keep Mum and the kids happy with these.
• Team effort: Share domestic duties. Research shows that when men do more domestic duties, they get more sex. “Where’s that bucket?”
• When it’s time to hang up the boots, commit to that vasectomy.
• Be genuinely happy, if your job sucks, move on: take control.

What will you do with your Valentine?

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