1. How does a mom get what she wants on Mother’s Day? Ask! First, though you have to decide. What do you truly want? What would make it the best mother’s day for you? So many women hold back from asking because they want other people to be happy first. We’re culturally conditioned to please others first – especially as mom’s, so this is the time to claim your desires and ask. SInce 40% of mothers say they have ended up disappointed with their Mother’s Day, it’s important to make your wishes known so you’re properly celebrated. 2. It can feel vulnerable to ask for what we want. Maybe we even feel undeserving. How does a mom overcome this? We all want people to read our minds and know what we want without having to ask, but you have to take ownership of your needs and recognize that they are legitimate. It’s not about being needy, like many of us feel when we ask for what we want. Use an affirmation like “My needs matter and I deserve to ask for what I want. Other tips are talking about it with someone, take 15 minutes to journal about it, or get input from a family member by asking the vulnerable question “is it okay that I ask you for what I want?” That can feel scary but it’s so empowering! 3. How do I make the ask/what’s important when asking? Be direct instead of dropping passive hints. Your partner, child or a friend who loves you wants to make your day as special as YOU want it to be, so you are truly making their life easier by clearly communicating what you want. Instead of saying “If you think this would be a good idea” or “Maybe we could do this…” Say “I would like this.” Or “It would make me feel really special if we did this. Can we make that happen?” 4. What other tips do you have for us? Be specific and give options - if you like physical gifts, then give them 3-5 options of merchants that you like and what you’d like from each - then they can pick which one they’d like to give, but out of the options YOU gave, Create a list of responsibilities you don’t want to do for the day, give the name of the restaurant where you would like brunch reservations or how you prefer to spend this day in celebration of you. Many moms find themselves in the kitchen cooking for their kids coming home when all they wanted to do was have some down time. Or we end up with a massive amount of people and extended family, when all you wanted was a quiet day at home. Again, by asking for what you want you’ll be much more likely to get it. 5. What tips do you have for family members? Ask the mom in your life what she wants and what would make her feel truly celebrated? Be careful of not imposing what you think she’ll want and remember – it’s not about you! You might feel hurt or disappointed if she doesn’t want to do what you want her to, but remember – it’s about her feeling celebrated. As a young girl, my mom had mentioned wanting a new colander. If wasn’t until my brother suggested a scarf did I realize it had never occurred to me that she would want something outside of a kitchen gadget! 6. Some moms may feel selfish asking for what they want. What do you have to say about that? You’re setting an example that will equip your kids for a lifetime! American moms are influencing 73.1 million children under the age of 18 in our population. So, this Mother’s Day, remember the power of your influence, ask for what you want, while setting an example for your children and advocating for yourself by speaking up About me:Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Leadership Presence Keynot