We’re going to let you in on a little secret: it doesn’t matter if you serve your wife French toast or a bowl of stale Cheerios for her Mother’s Day breakfast in bed. What she really wants for Mother’s Day is rest, relaxation, and lot of downtime in her best pajamas.

People create nighttime routines for relaxation: small things like sliding on your favorite slippers, turning down the lights, wearing the most comfortable pajamas, turning off your phone, or opening a good book are all popular bedtime rituals. These healthy bedtime habits are the key to getting a good night’s sleep.

This Mother’s Day weekend ‘set the mood’ for R&R by showing her that you appreciate everything she does for your family. The easiest way to show your gratitude is by taking on some of the tasks she does regularly, freeing up time for her to decompress.

Here are simple ways to show appreciation will have a big impact on Mother’s Day, or any day of the week:

1. Give mom time to unwind.

Order pizza on Sunday night. Put a movie on for the kids and take charge of cleaning up after dinner. Suggest she sneak away to take a long bath, read a book, and enjoy some quiet time to herself while you get the kids ready for bed. Then let her rest, uninterrupted.

2. Give mom a morning to sleep in.

Keep the kids from bombarding her with their homemade cards at 5am on Mother’s Day morning. Explain that she’ll be really excited to see them after she’s had a good night’s sleep, then suggest she lounge in bed for as long as she’d like. For moms with young children, simply taking a shower alone is a luxury. When you hear her stirring, quietly knock and ask if she’d like coffee and a little something to eat (prepare those stale Cheerios!).

3. Give mom some space.

Another way to show her you understand her needs is by giving her some space on Mother’s Day. Take the kids out of the house and let her enjoy a quiet Sunday morning leisurely sipping coffee in her softest bathrobe without a schedule or agenda.

4. Give mom family time without the headache.

If you and your wife need some time together as a family, plan all the details yourself and keep it low-key. Go out to breakfast or see a movie, but when your toddler gets fussy or your 5-year old starts to whine, be the one to take the reins so she can finish her waffle in peace and drink her coffee while it’s hot.

5. Give mom time together.

Not everyone can spring on a couple’s massage or weekend retreat at a bed & breakfast. Show her you care by picking up a nice bottle of wine and carving out some time for the two of you. After you’ve put the kids to bed, pour her a glass and tell her how much you appreciate what she does every day. Be specific: what is it that she does regularly that you might be taking for granted? What does she do to make things easier for you and the rest of the family? There’s no need for a Hallmark card or a $600 spa treatment if you’re being sincere.

These ideas for Mother’s Day are small gestures of appreciation for your partner. The holiday is about acknowledging the mothers in your life. Nothing says “I see that you work hard” like offering someone time off and telling them how much they deserve it.

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