Give Mom What She Really Wants for Mother’s Day

It’s that time of year again! Mother’s Day is right around the corner and we get another chance to show Mom just how much we care by showering her with presents. Mankind has been celebrating motherhood since the days of the ancient Greeks, but that doesn’t mean we have to keep recycling the same old gift options, like a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates. What if we got creative and used this May 13th as a chance to show mothers everywhere how much they mean to us by giving them what they really want? Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to give Mom thanks this Mother’s Day… Stay Away from the Trap of Traditional Gift Ideas Even though we know how stressful motherhood can be and we want to give mom a break on the holiday that’s dedicated to her, many of us fall into the trap of “typical thinking” when it comes to Mother’s Day gifts. Take the old “breakfast in bed” standby, for example. You think that serving Mom a meal without her even having to get out of bed in the morning would be a great way to show her how much you appreciate her hard work. Only trouble is, this usually ends up making more of it for her once she’s up and at ‘em. Someone has to clean up the breakfast aftermath, after all. And guess who that falls to, as it usually does? Or maybe you think avoiding the whole breakfast in bed fiasco is a smarter choice, so you make a reservation for a nice Mother’s Day brunch. You think this is surely the right way to go since you’re removing the need for clean-up duty. Sorry to say, but brunch is just something else that Mom will see as a chore. After all, she has to get herself and the kids dressed up, make sure everybody is on their best behavior, and deal with a crowded restaurant full of other families out doing the same thing. So much for Mom’s “special day,” right? Think Outside the Box with 7 Gifts Mom Actually Wants Fear not! There is a way to make Mom happy, give her a gift that she’ll enjoy, and come out looking like a hero. We’re talking about thinking outside of the box by choosing one of these unique gift ideas that Mom will be thanking you for much longer than she would for a fuzzy bathrobe. 1. Remove some of the causes of her stress You don’t have to wait until the actual holiday to start showing Mom that you care! Studies have shown that mothers suffer from a scary amount of “decision fatigue” from having to constantly remind their children and significant others about what needs to get done on a day-to-day basis. From social or school obligations to medication reminders, moms are always there to help make sure their family is doing what’s necessary to make life easier. Why not return the favor by taking one reminder off of her plate? Remove the need for Mom to drop hints that Mother’s Day is coming soon by making sure that you set your own reminders. If you’re giving her little hints that you’ve remembered the holiday on your own, that’s one less thing for her to stress about. And while you’re at it, why don’t you start picking up your own dirty socks, remembering to take your allergy pill, and making sure the fridge door is closed all the way? You might be surprised by how much Mom will appreciate that little bit of extra effort! 3. Give her 24 responsibility-free hours One of the best gifts that you can give any mother is giving her the chance to stop “momming” on Mother’s Day. Mothers love their children. They love their partners. But sometimes, they just want a chance to be able to focus solely on themselves. What better way to say thank you for the other 364 days out of the year that are dedicated to her family than by giving her this one 24-hour span of me-time? Give her a break from laundry, dishes, and grocery shopping. Let her choose what she wants to do with her day, whether that’s getting a manicure, reading a good book, or making a Target run just for her needs. This doesn’t mean that you have to abandon ship for all of Mother’s Day. Most mothers are going to want to be surrounded by their family on that special day. It just means that she should be able to make it all about her – however that might look! Let’s face it, Mom is exhausted, but she can’t rest if she’s stressed, so give her the blissful oasis of a day free from motherly responsibilities, and she’ll be happier than any gift card or spa day could ever make her. 3. Offer her the chance to wake up when she wants Speaking of letting Mom rest, how about giving her the gift of sleeping in until she actually feels like waking up this Mother’s Day? You’d be surprised by how much most mothers dream of being able to wake up like a “normal person,” instead of being jolted out of bed by a screaming match, a tantrum over a missing stuffed animal, or a little one crawling into bed with her. Chances are that the mother in your life would absolutely love it if her family could just keep it together for one night and refrain from waking her up. Getting a solid 8 hours of sack time might just be the greatest Mother’s Day gift ever. Letting Mom sleep in on Mother’s Day morning is not only a great way to show her how much you love her, the entire family just might end up enjoying Mom’s special day all the more, thanks to her being well-rested and chipper from a night of peaceful sleep. 4. Declare a day of “cease fire” amongst siblings Don’t let Mom’s peace end once she’s out of bed – keep celebrating her with a day full of quiet by having the kids promise to put a stop to all arguments for 24 hours. This one can be a toughie for some siblings but Mom is guaranteed to love seeing her little ones getting along. And the best part is she will know that they’re doing it for her. Dads can help this along by making a game out of the “sibling truce,” with the promise of a special reward at the end of the day for whichever kid can keep the peace the longest. Not only will Mom surely enjoy her peaceful new world, the whole family will get the benefit of some serious bonding time, once the threat of temper tantrums and other meltdowns is off the table. 5. Let her unwind for a while In the busy life of a mother, it’s a rare occasion indeed when she gets the chance to even use the bathroom by herself, let alone turn it into her own at-home spa. Give Mom a chance to relax and unwind without the need for a reservation at a downtown salon by declaring the bathroom a “break from motherhood” zone with some quick and cheap tips for the most relaxing bath of her life. Kids can even make a “Keep Out” sign for the bathroom door and make themselves scarce when Mom is soaking away her stress and cares in a tub full of bubbles. And you get bonus points for adding candles and relaxing music! 6. Figure out what’s for dinner on your own On this day of all days, make sure that Mom is off of meal duty! That means that the family is responsible for making sure they eat, and it doesn’t matter if the food groups are followed or not. Dad should be in charge of planning every meal and any cleaning up that comes afterward. Mom shouldn’t be consulted, expected to get dressed up for a reservation at a fancy restaurant or have to think about meals in any way, shape, or form. This may not seem like much of a gift, but trust on this one – Mom will love it! If you run out of kid-friendly meal ideas or want to avoid a messy kitchen, Uber Eats or another food delivery service is a great alternative to doing it on your own. Just download the app, order what you want for the fam, and enjoy a meal together after it’s dropped off right at your door. 7. Make sure the day is packed with quality time Just because Mom wants some peace and quiet on her special day doesn’t mean that she wants to be shipped off to a spa or have her family leave her completely alone. Women embrace motherhood because they love their families and want them to be with her as often as possible. Your Mother’s Day goal should be to spend quality, stress-free time with Mom. Mothers want to be with her children, minus the stress and responsibilities, and that means spending a long, leisurely day with her family. That’s it, that’s all. Manicures and pedicures are great, but they shouldn’t be the highlight of Mom’s special day. That should be getting to be with the people she loves, without a single care in the world, and having a chance to relax and enjoy her family. Give Mom a Gift She Can Enjoy All Year Long Moms should be celebrated 365 days a year! And thanks to Mother’s Day and Better Sleep Month both being in the month of May, coming up with a way to give Mom a gift that keeps on giving is easier than ever. Show Mom how much you care by surprising her with the best memory foam mattress for busy mothers, and she will be able to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever her crazy schedule might throw at her. After everything Mom does for you, she deserves the best sleep she can get!