The average busy mum’s morning regularly involves remembering 26 tasks – including school dinner money, brushing the kids’ teeth and keeping medical appointments, research has revealed. A study found the typical mother also has to be on top of everything from organising drinks and snacks, to packing PE kit and ensuring homework is delivered on time.
And all this takes place amid a flurry of moods, tantrums and accidents in between.
Other tasks on the daily to-do list include getting the children dressed, making breakfast, making sure the uniform is clean and remembering important dates of things such as eye tests.
The report also found 85% of the 2,000 mums surveyed said their workload can become ‘too much’, with manic Mondays the toughest day of the week.
And a frazzled eight in ten mums admitted to finding it hard to remember everything they need to get done each day.
The study was commissioned by eye awareness campaign Jul-Eye, and spokesman Andy Hepworth said:
”With 26 things to juggle on a daily basis it’s no wonder mums forget important tasks.
”It’s clear they are the heartbeat of the household and are constantly working to ensure a great home life for their loved ones.”
The study also found over 70% of mums admitted to doing child-related tasks single-handedly.
Additionally, six in ten have had arguments with their partner because they feel they’ve been relied on too heavily to remember everything for all the other people.
With so many different tasks to remember, the study revealed one in eight mums has completely forgotten to pick up their child from school before and left them waiting at the gates.
While a weary quarter of mums have had the horrible realisation the night before that their child needed a fancy dress costume the next day and had to stay up late cobbling it together.
It also emerged mums manage at least 26 little jobs and different things to juggle while completing at least 12 major tasks each and every day like doing the school run, organising meal times and managing domestic chores.
In fact, at least six hours and 45 minutes a day are devoted purely to keeping the family ticking over.
Andy Hepworth added:
”Of course, given the amount they juggle day to day, it can mean important things like booking and attending an eye exam for their children every year can get missed.
”The Jul-Eye campaign will act as a reminder to mums to make sure they get their children’s eyes examined.
”Busy mums can take the Eye-Q quiz to find out how eye savvy they are and locate their nearest optician, who’ll be able to provide advice on how to keep their family’s eyes healthy for the long-run.”
THE BUSY MUM’S CHECKLIST
1. Brushing their teeth
2. Having clean uniforms ready
3. Remembering any doctor/ dentist/ opticians appointments
4. Getting the kids to school on time
5. Keeping on top of calendar dates classmates birthdays/ anniversaries/ important dates
6. Laundry
7. Making kids’ breakfast
8. Remember lunch boxes/ dinner money
9. Making sure they have a good meal to come home to
10. Making sure the cupboards are stocked
11. Getting the children to bed on time so they are not tired in the morning
12. Making sure they actually eat their breakfast
13. Making sure they take a drink to school
14. Ironing
15. Reading homework/ preparing kids for tests
16. If it is raining making sure they have a rain coat
17. Remembering P.E. kit and other essentials
18. Permission slips
19. Remembering to brush the children’s hair
20. Making sure they take their homework in to school
21. Putting sun cream on them before they go to school
22. Make sure they’ve gone to the toilet before getting in the car
23. Making sure the pets are fed
24. Keep on top of uniform/ patch up holes
25. Remembering afterschool clubs
26. Keeping on top of daily medications/ vitamins/ supplements
