The Recipe for a Perfect Mother’s Day

Ingredients:
1 tired mom
1 favorite meal
2 lbs of high praise
3-4 flowers of choice
1 cup of foot massage
1 bed with clean sheets

Directions:

1. Gently welcome the tired mom into her day with the flowers of choice. Mix in high praise, either verbally or in written form, accompanied by optional pictures and diagrams demonstrating how she improves the lives of those around her.
2. Invite the tired mom to the table for her favorite meal, and let her choose whether to eat it alone or with those who love her. Do not be offended if she decides to eat alone; simply step away with an understanding smile.
3. Clear the table, clean the kitchen, and direct the tired mom to a comfortable chair.
4. Commence foot massage. Should tired mom fall asleep during the foot massage, make no comment on snoring, and leave her alone to finish her nap.
5. Continue mixing ingredients throughout the day, garnishing with praise and sprinkling in hugs and appreciation regularly.
6. Have clean sheets on the bed ready for the tired mom to have a much-needed night’s sleep at the end of the day.

As with most recipes, there are hundreds of possible variations that will create fantastic results. The most important and non-negotiable ingredient in this recipe is the last one: The Bed. Clean sheets are up to you, but while a mother might say, “All I want for Mother’s Day is obedient children,” what she really means is this:

“All I want for Mother’s Day is to go to bed and stay there all night long!”

While all mothers appreciate flowers, notes, and praise, few things are as healing and restorative as sleep. Unfortunately, good rest can be hard to come by, especially if there is a baby or child who won’t sleep in the same house!

What makes sleep such an important part of Mother’s Day? Really, it is an essential part of every day, and here are a few reasons why:

Immunity Army

Moms sometimes have to live off of apple slices, soggy carrots, and leftover granola bars. That less-than-ideal nutrition paired with a constant barrage of stuffy noses and unavoidable germs can take a whack at anyone’s immune system. Sleep is the secret weapon to help our bodies fight any sickness trying to invade. When we sleep, it gives our bodies time to heal and recover. Sleep truly is the best medicine.

Bless Your Heart

When we aren’t getting enough sleep, our bodies feel stressed, and in response, they release the hormone cortisol to signal the heart to pump faster to keep up. Our hearts are working pretty hard already, and they don’t need extra cortisol constantly knocking on the door. Sleep helps the body know that everything is under control, and it keeps the excess cortisol at bay.

Brain Games

If we haven’t made this point yet, every level in our body needs rest – from the simplest cell to the most complicated neurons. Sleep is when our brains process the day, rest, and work on problems while the rest of the body recovers. Sleep improves our memory, problem-solving skills, and capacity to handle stress. There is a reason for the saying, “Let’s sleep on it.”

Hopefully, we’ve convinced you that sleep is the ideal Mother’s Day gift this year, but here are some other practical gift suggestions to help her get a whole night’s sleep this year:

• Tea Party: A soothing cup of tea can be a fantastic way to shift into sleeping mode, but a hectic bedtime routine might leave a cup of tea forgotten and cold on the nightstand. Did you know they make mugs that keep hot beverages at the right temperature? If that is too much, just a new mug and a collection of soothing teas make a wonderful gift that communicates the importance of rest.
• Bath and Body: There are countless masks, lotions, and scrubs that can be a relaxing part of a mom’s bedtime routine. Look for lavender or chamomile in the ingredients. Those plants have been a part of healthy sleep for centuries.
• Set the Scene: Diffusers, journals, and scented pillows or face masks can set the stage for deep sleep. Additionally, clearing the room of clutter, vacuuming, and making the bed can set the stage for amazing sleep.

The perfect Mother’s Day is as unique as the mother you’re celebrating. Whether you gift her a mani/pedi, that new purse she’s been eyeing, or just a few hours to herself, you should save the best for last: a fantastic night of sleep. But however you mix up the day, making an effort to help her end it with a solid night’s sleep will be worth it.

And, if you’re looking for an actual recipe to use for the day, we have that covered too! What we eat profoundly affects our sleep. Give this sleepy smoothie a shot on Mother’s Day to send her to bed with a full heart and stomach.

Bedtime Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 kiwi, peeled and frozen
• 1 banana, peeled and frozen
• 100 ml chamomile tea, cold
• ½ cup almond milk, cold
• 1 T almond butter (optional)
• 1 T maple syrup (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat 100ml of water to boiling. Add 1 tea bag of chamomile and let it cool.
2. Add kiwi, banana, chamomile tea, almond butter (if using) to the blender and pulse for one minute or until well combined
3. Add maple syrup as needed for additional sweetness.

From: https://milkandpop.com/bedtime-green-smoothie/