The guilt trap: How over half of mothers feel they don't spend enough quality time with their children

With hungry mouths to feed, endless washing, and often a full-time job to hold down as well, being a mother is an eternal juggling act. So it is little surprise that over half feel that they don't spend enough time playing with their children.

Just over 50 per cent of mothers struggle to find quality time to amuse the children due to busy lives and hectic work schedules, according to new research published today.

The majority admitted that they could do better at a string of other everyday parental tasks too, blaming themselves for a lack of patience and not cooking more meals from scratch.

Constant struggle: Over 50 per cent of mothers admit they don't have quality time to amuse the children due to busy lives and hectic work schedules

The study of 3,000 mothers found that 50 per cent felt they should try and hold their temper for longer, while 24 per cent believe they should be putting more effort into helping children with their schoolwork.

Finding activities to keep the children entertained proved to be a challenge as well, with 17 per cent of respondents wishing they could be the 'fun' parent.

Kathryn Crawford, spokeswoman for TheBabyWebsite.com, which commissioned the report, said: 'Mums are in the habit of giving themselves a hard time, and these survey results are no exception.

'For many mums, looking after the kids, managing the house and for some working outside the home too, often turns into one big chaotic juggling act.

'Mums need to remember that the most important thing of all is to provide a loving and stable environment for the children to grow up in.

'After that, if they can find a little extra time to play with the children then great - as kids will appreciate one on one attention far more than a tidy house and fine dining.'

Other parenting jobs mothers think they could do better at include praising the children, enrolling them into more clubs and classes, and listening to them more.

10 JOBS MOTHERS FEEL THEY COULD DO BETTER

1. Play more with the children
2. Be more patient
3. Cook more meals from scratch
4. Run a tidier a house
   
5. Educate the children more
6. Think up fun games to play
7. Have children's school friends round for tea
   
8. Be the fun one
9. Discipline the children more
10. Balance work and home life
    

Three quarters of the mothers polled said that they often leave the children to entertain themselves so they can get a bit of work or chores done.

And two thirds regularly feel guilty for being unable to do everything .

Seventy-four per cent of mothers think they do the best they can, given their situation, with the children being content and happy with their lives, but eight in ten admit they feel under enormous pressure to have it all, from having the perfect career to the perfect family.

Regardless of this, 53 per cent said that achieving the perfect work-life balance was impossible.

Ms Crawford added: 'I think there is a certain pressure on mums to perform brilliantly in every area of their life - and it's only natural that some areas of parenting and work will suffer if we try to do everything.

'Mums should give themselves a break, as the majority do a fine job of raising children in a happy home.'