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Across Britain, burnt toast will be served to mothers in bed this morning as wayward older sons and daughters rush to deliver their supermarket bouquets. But, according to a new survey, we should be placing a higher value on motherhood all year.
Mothers have long known that their home workload was just as heavy as paid work. Now, a new study has shown that if they were paid for their parental labours, they would earn as much as £172,000 extra a year.
The, perhaps slightly self-serving, study (commissioned by Interflora) looked at the range of jobs mothers do, as well as the hours they are working, to determine the figure. This would make their annual income £30,000 more than the Prime Minister earns.
Show all 13 1 /1313 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day 13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Ragdale Hall Clarins Mum and Me Time, Leicestershire What could be nicer than a day of pampering, especially if you get to do it together? This package includes a 40-minute facial, three-course lunch, Clarins skincare consultation and full use of this extensive, top-notch spa, where staff are friendly, facilities are fabulous and the food is scrumptious. Both of you get to go home with a Clarins perfume or moisturiser, plus a goodie bag worth £27. From £229 for two http://www.ragdalehall.co.uk/offer-detail.php/Clarins-Mum-and-Me-Time-from-229-for-two-61/
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Airkix Indoor Skydiving An Airkix skydive gives adrenaline junkies the chance to enjoy a freefall experience without actually having to throw yourself out of a plane. The specially designed air tunnel means you can try all kinds of tricks and turns just as if you’re in the great outdoors. Your instructor will help you if you get stuck. You can buy a voucher online, which can be redeemed at Airkix centres in Basingstoke, Manchester and Milton Keynes. Worried Dad will be jealous? Simply upgrade to a family flight voucher. From £29.99 http://www.airkix.com/
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day RHS Gift Membership With 92% of people telling RHS that just being in a garden makes them relax and de-stress, an RHS year-long gift membership must surely be a fast-track ticket to happiness. It comes wrapped in a luxury pack, including a £5 voucher to spend at any RHS garden, two packs of seeds and a set of postcards. Meanwhile, membership perks include free entry to the four HRS gardens and a family guest, special member offers and access to quieter days at RHS shows. £55 https://www.rhs.org.uk/join/promo/pgp397
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Raymond Blanc Cookery School, Belmond Le Manoir, Oxfordshire This is the only cookery school in the world to offer visitors the chance to watch, learn and practice in the kitchens of a two Michelin starred restaurant. Budding chefs can learn the tricks of the trade from some of the world’s culinary experts in the luxurious yet highly functional Cookery School. All courses include one day tuition, morning and afternoon tea (the biscuits alone are worth the visit), an informal lunch in the cookery school (again, wow) and a certificate. There are lots of courses to pick from, but our vote goes to the Maman Blanc (think simple, rustic, wholesome food) and Adult and Child (open to children between seven and 16). From £385 www.belmond.com/lemanoir
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Osborne House, Isle of Wight For many years this stunning seaside Palace was the family home of Queen Victoria, her beloved husband Albert and their nine children, so what better place to celebrate your own family this Mother’s Day? Visitors can explore the lavish interior, take a stroll and enjoy the sea views from the gardens and Palm terrace, and wander through the nearby wildflower meadow. Then settle down for a spot of afternoon tea in the café. Prices from £11.40 per adult; £6.90 per child www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/osborne
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Wedgwood Pottery Experience Day, Stoke on Trent Your mum’s day will kick off with a tour of the Wedgwood Visitor Centre, including the recently opened Wedgwood museum, where she’ll learn all about Josiah Wedgwood himself and see some rare pieces. Then she’ll watch the master craftspeople at work, enjoy a two course lunch in the Ivyhouse restaurant, and finally get stuck into throwing a pot or paining a plate herself, which she can take home. She’ll also get a piece of Wedgwood jewellery and other goodies. £49.99 www.gettingpersonal.co.uk
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day National Gallery, London Founded in 1824 to display a collection of just 36 paintings, the National Gallery is now home to over 2,000 works, including masterpieces from almost every European school of art. Don’t expect to cover all the wings in one visit with your mum, but the free guided tours and audio guides will help you maximise your time there. Head for the East Wing for the most popular paintings, including works by French Impressionists and post-Impressionists. If you can afford it, treat your mum in the atmospheric café stocked with Oliver Peyton goodies or the fine-dining restaurant, the National Dining Rooms. Free www.nationalgallery.org.uk
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Walking in Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales Upper Wharfedale is an ideal place for walking, with its farming landscape of rolling hills, dry-stone walls and outstanding views. Walking highlights include the River Wharfe, a tranquil stretch of the Dales Way; Yockenthwaite, a favourite spot for artists and photographers; and Buckden Pike, where an energetic walk to the top of Buckden Pike will reward walkers with fabulous 360-degree panoramic views of the Dales. The path between the hamlets of Cray and Hubberholme also offer stunning views down the length of Wharfedale and can be incorporated into a popular circular walk from Buckden. Free www.yorkshire.com/outdoors
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Colour Me Beautiful Session, nationwide Wearing the right colours has a huge impact on how we look and feel and how others perceive us. So why not treat mum to a colour consultation that will open her eyes (and wardrobe) to a whole range of new colours she may never have considered? Alternatively, if she finds shopping for clothes a chore, what about a style consultation, where she can learn how to select the most flattering fabrics and styles for her body shape? Or what about a make-up lesson, where mum can learn how to apply make-up quickly, effectively and in the right colours to suit her natural colouring and personality? If you can’t decide, you can book all three together and many people like to make a day of it by joining their mums. And as there are consultants nationwide, you won’t have to travel far. From £30 www.colourmebeautiful.co.uk
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Ladies Only Off Road Motorcycle Riding Experience, Powys, Wales If being in the car with your mother feels like a white knuckle ride, why not give her the opportunity to really let rip in the driver’s seat? This full day riding experience, which is aimed specifically at women, includes riding on a Kawasaki off-road bike that will be chosen to suit her ability and size in 1500 acres of forest with the stunning backdrop of the Berwyn Mountains in Powys, Wales. There’s plenty of attention to safety and excellent tuition from professional instructors throughout the day. £150 www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Cultural day out in Edinburgh Enjoy a day out in historic Edinburgh with your mum. Besides some great shops, including plenty of independent ones, there’s the National Museum of Scotland (www.nms.ac.uk) on Chambers Street. In addition, you could visit the National Galleries of Scotland, Greyfriars Kirk near to the statue of Greyfriar’s Bobby or find out more about Scotland’s literary geniuses at the Scottish Writers’ Museum, which focuses on Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Free www.visitscotland.com
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Photography session at Venture Studios, nationwide Venture Studios, of which there are many around the country, specialise in high-art portrait photography. The studio session itself makes for a fun and personal day with mum and includes studio-time with a photographer, digital retouching, a free cinematic presentation and a framed print using one shoot image. The Venture style aims to be natural, capturing real moments rather than posed images and the finished product is quirky and different. From £35 http://www.venturephotography.com/book-your-venture-experience/
13 best days out and gift experiences for Mother's Day Mini-break in Hotel du Vin, Cambridge Situated amid the Grade II listed buildings of picturesque Trumpington Street, this 41-bedroom hotel was lovingly converted from old university buildings. Retaining the original character and quirky architectural features such a glass capped well, bread ovens and carriageway, it has no shortage of unique features including a glass wine cellar. The restaurant, where you can also enjoy afternoon tea, is fabulous. Meanwhile, Cambridge itself is the perfect destination to spend quality time with mum, thanks to the stunning architecture, compact city centre, lovely shops, museums, punting on the river and of course, the university. From £155 per night https://www.hotelduvin.com/locations/cambridge/
By crunching the numbers, it found the average mother works 119 hours a week, 40 of which would usually be paid at a standard rate and 79 hours as overtime. After questioning 1,000 mothers with children under 18, it found that, on most days, mums started their chores at 7am and finished at around 11pm.
To calculate just how much mothers would earn from that labour, it suggested some of the roles that mums could take on, including housekeeper, part-time lawyer, personal trainer and entertainer. Being a part-time lawyer, at £48.98 an hour, would prove to be the most lucrative of the “mum jobs”, with psychologist a close second.
It also asked mothers about the challenges they face, with 80 per cent citing emotional demand as the hardest thing about motherhood.
Over a third of mums felt they needed more training and around half said they missed going out with friends.
Imogen Thompson, a campaigner for Mothers At Home Matter, a non-profit organisation aiming to get traditional family life recognised in the tax system, said: “Although light-hearted, it shows mothers matter all year long and not just on Mothering Sunday. The emotional, physical and mental energy mothers devote to their children can be relentless, but children are also sources of immense joy and happiness. Investing in time for parenting and nurturing relationships is money well spent.”
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