A woman shared a story online about her boyfriend refusing to celebrate Valentine’s Day because it marks the anniversary of his mother’s death. After three years, she admitted she was tired and asked if she should break up with him. Instead of encouraging empathy or balance, one comment flippantly advised, “Lol girl move on from trauma identifiers and love yourself first.”
This response is deeply insensitive. Grief does not operate on a timetable, and dismissing a painful anniversary as a “trauma identifier” trivializes loss. Ending a relationship solely over one day—especially when there’s no claim of neglect throughout the rest of the year—reflects emotional immaturity. Healthy relationships require empathy, communication, and compromise, not rigid expectations tied to commercial holidays.
LINKS
