Here in the U.S., we’re just 5 days away from a holiday beloved by moms everywhere: Mother’s Day! And, if it’s your first, it’s even more special. Some of our international readers may have already celebrated Mother’s Day; others may not be celebrating it for months to come. No matter when you celebrate, however, Mother’s Day is special for moms everywhere: it’s a chance for your adoring family to shower you with love and gifts, to tell you how much they appreciate your many sacrifices, and to generally spoil you rotten.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated. Maybe all you need to count your Mother’s Day a success is for someone else to do the dishes for a change! Regardless of whether your Mother’s Day celebrations are big or small, we think there are three important things you moms out there should do for yourself this Mother’s day.
- Get some sleep. It wouldn’t be a Baby Sleep Site blog post if we didn’t mention sleep, right? If you’re an exhausted mom (and as a reader of this blog, you probably are), then put your own sleep needs first this Mother’s Day. Recruit your spouse or partner to watch the baby for a few hours in the afternoon so that you can get a much-needed nap. Or, if possible, ask them for the gift of a full night’s sleep — they can get up with the baby for the 1 a.m. feeding! (Breastfeeding moms, you can pump this once, can’t you?) If your partner isn’t in the picture, consider asking friends or family members to take your baby or toddler for the afternoon. You’ll be amazed at how far a few uninterrupted hours of sleep will go towards making you feel like a new woman!
- Do something you enjoy. A mom can’t live on sleep alone, so use your Mother’s Day to indulge in a few hours spent doing something you love. Maybe you’ve been longing for an afternoon out with friends — use Mother’s Day as your excuse to do it! Maybe you’re dreaming of sitting in a coffee house, sipping something warm and reading a good book. Or perhaps your desires are even simpler — maybe all you want is a little time sitting on your own couch, savoring some peace and quiet that you know won’t be interrupted by any little ones. Whether you’re longing to do something big and extravagant or small and simple, use Mother’s Day as a chance to do it. Every mom needs little breaks to get away and recharge her batteries, after all. Ask your spouse or partner to help you make this happen, or considering asking friends or family members (or even a trustworthy babysitter) to take the kids for a bit. And remember — taking some time for yourself isn’t selfish. It can feel that way, but spending an afternoon or evening away from your baby, doing something you enjoy, may be just what you need to feel renewed and refreshed. And that will likely make you an even better mom.
- Spend some time with your baby (or babies). After you’ve gotten some sleep and taken a few hours to do something you love, take some time and spend it with your little ones. After all, they get the credit for making you a mom in the first place! Mother’s Day can be a great chance for you to spend a few hours playing, snuggling, reading, or just being lazy with your kids. Use the day to do things you don’t normally have extra time to do: paint pictures, bake cookies, read a whole stack of books, play dress-up, or watch a movie from start to finish. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy your children when you set aside your normal responsibilities (work, chores, bills, etc.) and focus on having fun with your kids.
A few hours of sleep, some time spend doing what you love, and a few hours devoted to enjoying your little ones — sounds like a great day to us 🙂 From all of us here at the Baby Sleep Site to all of you: Happy Mother’s Day!
How do you plan to spend your Mother’s Day? Big plans? Small plans? Let’s hear it!
And don’t forget to enter our Spoil Mom! Mother’s Day Giveaway
Feel like you’re too exhausted to even think about enjoying Mother’s Day? Maybe we can help! Please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.
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@ Janis — Oh, man, is this a glimpse into my future! My oldest is 5, and my husband’s already informed me that next year, we’re going to start enrolling him in sports. So I have a feeling I may be spending some Mother’s Days sitting on a bench, cheering my little guy on 🙂
I spent many mother’s days with my “babies” watching them play sports for their travel teams. I guess there is no better way for a mom to enjoy her kids as she watches them enjoy themselves and have fun in sports!
@ Mariel — Happy First Mother’s Day to you! That first Mother’s Day is a special one 🙂 Glad to hear you’ll be spending it with family, and that your husband’s going to have a surprise in store for you! Enjoy!!
I plan to visit with family. Unfortunately, my family is not in the picture. I will be spending my day with my in-laws whom I love very much. We get along great! Unfortunately, my husband has to work, but it will be fun! I believe my husband is going to help me celebrate Moms day on Friday! He asked what I wanted for a gift. I told him to surprise me. I’m excited. I am a first-time mom and our daughter is 10 weeks old. This is my first Mom’s day!