In your household, do you ever feel like you carry the burden of most of the ‘hard’ work when it comes to your kids? Do you ever think that your other half gets away with the more ‘fun’ jobs when it comes to looking after the little ones?
A recent study has revealed that mums are much more likely to be unhappy parents when compared to dads for that very reason.
According to researchers at the University of Minnesota, mums are far less happy than dads when it comes to parenting thanks to dads tending to take on the more enjoyable tasks.
It reports that mothers experience much more stress and tiredness when compared to their male counterparts, largely due to the fact that mums are often alone when caring for their children, whereas fathers usually have the support of other adults.
One researcher, Ann Meier, said: “When mothers are with their kids, they are more often by themselves. When fathers are with their kids, they are more likely to have other adults around, offering some back-up,”
She also noted that children are more likely to require their mother ‘around the clock’, meaning dads are able to get downtime that is less interrupted, leading to their improved sense of happiness.
“Mothers are more likely than fathers to be called on my kids ‘around the clock’. Fathers’ sleep and down-time are less likely than mothers’ to be interrupted by kids.
“This is part of the reason fathers are less tired than mothers when parenting.”
This could explain why mums feel they are always playing ‘bad cop’ when it comes down to their children.
But would the level of parenting happiness change depending on which parent stayed at home and which one worked?
Although it’s not clear whether those couples involved in the study both worked or not, but we’re intrigued to know whether the report included couples with stay-at-home dads and working mums!
Do you feel like you get a raw deal when it comes to doing the ’fun’ jobs with your kids? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter (@CloserOnline)
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