'Mothers can't manage two hours' peace' - according to Mumsnetters.

[Callisto]

Article in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/18/nmums118.xml

2 hours??

I'd quite like to go to the loo by myself

Enough time to finish a cup of tea would be a luxury to me

Enough time to finish a cup of tea would be a luxury to me

I would love to take my children around the world. What a great way of educating them.

I've just started m/l. I'm making the most of it my last ever chance to have time to myself and just be lazy for a long, long time...

That Nick was a tosser wasn't he?

This was on GMTV this morning and the message seemed to be that mum's had to get up in the morning and rush around to get the kids ready for school. One woman complained she even had to 'load the dishwasher' before school.

Poor woman. I can only dream of a dishwasher!

oh come on.... not enough time to go to the loo? drink a cup of tea? but always enough time to Mumsnet eh?!!! Get off the pc and go have a drink or go to the loo

Goodness but don't we all know that mothers can't win! You do too much or not enough, damage your health or your children's, put a stress on the workplace with maternity pay or part time or don't contribute to the economy... Nothing much changes though.

What's a dishwasher?

Smirk at dooley - oh, but MN is a quick sanity saver !

I think guilt is just part of motherhood. Even if we had time to ourselves and our kids had organic meals every meal and played outside 5 hours a day we'd find something else to feel guilty about

RRRAAaaaaaaaaa!

Another smug "look at how resourceful we are" article.

Being on MN dosn't mean you're not with the kids though does it? I usually Mn when they're doing homework, so I can help if asked. or like now when I should be doing my own homework .

It can be ahrd to find time for yourself- thats part of parenting. Most epople dont ahev dishwashers etc, and well, for most peolpe (SN aside) it ain't forever is it?

Exactly Peachy, ds and I are usually out doing stuff every day but today I am doing bits of housework with MN on in the kitchen. Actually ds is currently heating up food in the microwave but I always did believe in child labour (he is 2)...

MMJanitor - short and sweet!

I'm getting a bit sick of reading how hard mums, especially SAHMs, have it. I'm a SAHM, gave up a good job with a good income and have two under fives but I'm loving it! Yes, we have bad days and there's a lot of stuff that's boring and repetitive. Can't say I actually enjoy pairing up socks and cleaning the loo but I get to spend all day, every day with my kids (except when they're at school, obviously). We don't have family close by but instead of complaining about lack of support, I made friends with people in a similar situation and we do baby-sitting swaps. I have plenty of time to myself because DH looks after the kids at weekends. That's his special time to spend with them and I get to do what I want. Obviously, not all weekend, every weekend as we do things as a family too but if I want to go out for a day, I can.

Oh, and the thing that makes me happiest is confidence in my own parenting. I can see that my kids are happy and healthy and I take very little notice of the 'experts'. I won't be made to feel guilty because CBeebies is on or DS2 has just had an ice-lolly for elevenses.

Sorry - I don't mean to sound smug but I do hate this negative image of being a mother these days.

Didn't it just list things that you might be concerned about and ask which worried you most?

Bloody hell, the way statistics are analysed

The main problems with being a SAHM as I have found it (and have also been a WOHM) are: ensuring you are not isolated (which I have managed with help from some great friends); dealing with the rollercoaster ride of caring for your children; knowing that society doesn't value the role enough to stop criticising mothers and make real changes in the workplace; dealing with the rigid beliefs of other mothers - sisterhood? I think not.

So I agree with you mummydoit but I think it's a complex role that doesn't fit in society as perfectly as it should. Crazy.

Yes, Janitor, you have a really good point there. Not a very valued role then, but not now either IMO.

Message withdrawn

I am a WOHM and yesterday dd started to come down with a bit of a cold. This morning I rang her in sick at school and my work (who are great) have allowed me a day off to stay at home and look after her.

If I am honest dd probably could have gone to school dosed up with calpol and been fine but I wanted to be at home with her today.

I feel guilty about letting work down but in a way rewarded cos this is what being a mum is all about. My work will always come second and I love spending time at home with dd. We are going to start our xmas baking.

It makes me realise how much I would love to be a SAHM sometimes....

OK I've only got one so far, but of course you can have 2 hours' peace. Unless you've got a newborn, or possibly DCs with some types of SN, you can have some peace, a nice poo and a cup of tea in the evening when they've gone to bed, can't you? What about asking your partner - if you have one, as this woman does - to have them for a day at the weekend? OK he works hard - so does she, so what?

I know some women who every time they get a bit of free time, they spend it doing housework, or somehow punishing themselves (eg going to the gym to try to drop baby weight - Ok that's fine if you like the gym, but a lot don't) or dealing with relatives or whatever. If you want some peace, take it and enjoy yourself. You don't have to load the dishwasher and you don't have to let your DP off doing his share at home, just because he "works hard".