Perfect mother ‘bakes cakes and plays with children for 90 minutes a day’

The perfect mother bakes cakes, regularly helps the children with their homework and plays with them for 90 minutes a day, according to a poll of children.

She walks them to school, does not mind the children getting muddy and lets them watch TV every day, according to the study of 3,000 children, aged between six and 15.

Kathryn Crawford of www.TheBabyWebsite.com, which commissioned the research, said: “Day in, day out mums are told what they should and shouldn’t do for their children and how to be the ‘perfect mum.’ ‘’It seems we can never get it quite right. Well now our children have spoken and it turns out that they don’t want an all-singing, all-dancing ‘super-mum after all. ‘They just want a normal everyday hands-on mum who gives them lots of love and attention and is there for them when they need her. ‘There’s obviously no such thing as the ‘Perfect Mum’ but our findings show that ultimately, there’s no substitute for ‘being there’.’’

Most children said the perfect mother should be up at 7am and her biggest priority from then on should be enjoying time with them. Almost three in four said they expected her to help them with their homework daily, while seven in 10 said the perfect mother would allow them to watch television whenever they were well-behaved. Being able to let her hair down and enjoy getting dirty in the garden were also important to four in 10 children.

Mothers are expected to bake home-made cakes, make a packed lunch daily and cook all three meals of the day in under 30 minutes. More than three fifths said they should iron clothes, whilst almost half expect her to wash and dry all the dishes. But as well as providing for their children and being a bundle of fun, they are also required to be affectionate at all times.

Six in 10 said they loved it when she gave them hugs and kisses while 65 per cent appreciate mum being there when they hurt themselves. Half of those polled say the perfect mother would tuck them in every night after reading their bedtime story.

Top 20 things the perfect mother does:

1.Enjoys spending time with the children

2.Helps children with their homework

3.Allows children to watch TV sometimes

4.Is happy to play games – 69 per cent

5.Praises the children regularly

6.Is there when the children hurt themselves

7.Makes homemade cakes

8.Gives lots of kisses and cuddles

9.Tells the children when they are being good

10.Irons clothes

11.Allows children to help with the cooking

12.Makes a packed lunch every day

13.Takes the children to the park regularly

14.Tucks the children in at night

15.Comes running when the children call out for her

16.Does all the washing up and drying up

17.Reads the bedtime story

18.Ferries children to classes and friend’s houses

19.Is able to let her hair down

20.Enjoys getting dirty in the garden

Culled from Telegraph.co.uk