What Do Moms REALLY Want for Mother’s Day?

I admit it. As the mother of two busy and very active teenagers in Johns Creek, I’m especially excited about Mother’s Day this year, but not for the usual reasons. I’m excited because this is one day of the year when us hard-working, sometimes unappreciated mothers are thrown a morsel of thanks for all we do throughout the year. So, what do we really want on Mother’s Day in recognition for our endless contributions to keep our families running smoothly 24/7/365?

Do we want flowers? Do we want expensive jewelry? What do we want? Husbands listen up. We want nothing. To be exact, we want time to do nothing. We want a time out from our daily grind to recharge our batteries so that we can be dragon slayers, protectors, cabbies, homework helpers, chefs, doctors, seamstresses, gardeners, shoppers, planners and maids the other 364 days of the year. Mothers simply want some time to themselves to do what they want and when they want on Mother’s Day.

Does this make us bad mothers? Not in the least. We love cooking for you (well most of the time) and we cherish family time, but our own need for privacy often gets overlooked in the whirlwind of daily life. There simply isn’t enough time in the day to catch up on our reading or to watch some mindless TV in complete solitude. When we somehow manage to carve out a few minutes of personal time, a barrage of questions that go something like this usually interrupts it…

Mom, where is my jacket?

Mom, what’s for dinner?

Mom, I need a poster for my science project that’s due tomorrow and I haven’t even started it?

Mom, can you sign this permission form for a field trip you didn’t even know about?

Honey, have you seen my keys?

Mom, my pet snake isn’t in his cage and I think he’s hungry.

Mom, Timmy’s eye is turning black and blue, but I swear it was an accident.

Moms, you know the drill all too well. On a normal basis, free time for busy moms is as scarce as water in the Mojave Desert during a drought. It just doesn’t exist. So, dads, here’s an idea that will bring a smile to mom’s face this Mother’s Day. Plan nothing. Tell the kids in advance that this Mother’s Day, mom is free to do as she pleases and she is in charge of her own schedule. How about a few morning hours to laze in bed and read the latest trashy romance novel? That’s a good start. A nice hot cup of coffee and a few slices of gently toasted bread would be a great addition.

Is there a movie mom has been dying to see that doesn’t involve animation or the word Disney? Why not surprise her with a couple of tickets and tell her to invite another overworked mom. Here’s a novel idea, why not start, fold and put away an entire load of laundry for mom on Mother’s Day. It’s the gift that says, “We got this.” Caring dads can make a door hanger that reads, “Do not disturb!” Run a hot bath for mom and fill a basket with some bath salts, a bestseller, and a few candles. Let mom soak away her worries for an hour or two, with no interruptions. That’s the key, dads. No interruptions.

Here’s the kicker. If you give mom the freedom this Mother’s Day to do what she wants, when she wants, she’ll probably love the sentiment, but gravitate towards spending the day with you. Your Brownie points will go a long way to ensure a happy wife, happy life for at least a few weeks.

To all those deserving moms out there, best wishes for a peaceful, quiet and loving Mother’s Day. You deserve it!