Dear Family Coach: I'm a father of two teenage daughters. I am so disgusted because I can't even get them to make their mother a Mother's Day card. We do so much for them, and they are taking it all for granted. My wife has made many sacrifices to be a stay-at-home mom and take good care of them, including not going back to school to become a nurse. How can I get them to recognize their mom at least once a year? — Fed-Up Dad

Dear Fed-Up: Your girls are taking your wife for granted. That's a pity, not just because of Mother's Day. It sounds like Mom's sacrifices have gone unnoticed. Mom probably doesn't ask for help emptying the dishwasher because the girls have homework. They have no idea that she decided to put her dream of being a nurse aside. Mom leaves lunch with a friend early because one daughter forgot her violin, but she never mentions it. Meals are miraculously prepared, shopping is done out of sight, laundry is folded and put away. Mom just goes on working behind the scenes so the family runs as smooth as a Starbucks. The problem is, she has taken such good care of your daughters, and is so skilled at her work at home, that they don't even notice what she does. That's not OK.

Call a meeting alone with the girls to discuss this issue. Read them the riot act and tell them that recognizing Mom for all she does for the family is not optional. They will roll their eyes and probably complain. Ignore it. If they seem to be a bit lazy about thinking of ways to make Mom's day special, then take away their phones until they're hit with a stroke of genius. They'll know you mean business and that Mom is too important for them to brush her special day aside. Make sure that you, too, show Mom how much you recognize all that she does for the family.

Dear Family Coach: My 8-year-old son wakes up at least 30 minutes before the grown-ups. He usually reads or plays quietly in his room. I'm not sure if this is all right. Should we get up with him, or should we tell him to stay in bed? — Sleepy Parents

Dear Sleepy: You don't have a problem; you have a solution, and it's great. Your son lets you sleep an extra half-hour while he plays quietly in his room. Sounds good to me. Sleepy parents are not the best parents. Parents generally underestimate the effects of sleep deprivation. Parents (and people in general) are often less patient, may have impaired cognitive function and are more likely to experience depression when they haven't gotten enough sleep.

What you are feeling is guilt. You feel guilty sleeping in while your son plays alone. But the feeling is unnecessary. As long as your son is in a safe environment and isn't showing any signs of distress, the arrangement shouldn't be questioned. You will spend the rest of the day catering to your son's needs, as you should. A few extra minutes of shut-eye will do you good.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach, LLC, advises parents on all matters of child rearing. To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at questions@thefamilycoach.com. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.