A fascinating report on the views of Irish mothers and grandmothers about the experience of being a mother now compared to in the past.

1. PR360
SudoCream
Mothers and GrandmothersAugust 2017/SRS17-201
© Strictly Private & Confidential

2. A bespoke dual methodology survey was carried out in order to assess the opinion of mothers now and in the past.
The fieldwork dates were the 8th of August – 21st of August 2017.
Methodology
2
405 mothers with children
aged 10 and under took
the survey online
400 grandmother with at least one
daughter took part in the survey via
face to face interviewing
FACE TO FACEONLINE

3. Profile of Sample – Mothers
3
41
29
66
54
41
49
27
19 46
23
11
28
10
36
15
1*3
AGE
%
REGION
%
STATUS
%
SOCIAL CLASS
%
Working
%
Fulltime
Part-time
No
Married
Living
together
Single
Divorced
Widowed
Separated
ABC1F50-
ABC1F50+
Under 34
35-44
45+ Conn/Ulster
Munster
ROL
Dublin

4. Profile of Sample – Grandmothers
4
30
70
36
30
1 6420 2
20
4
19
5
REGION
%
STATUS
%
SOCIAL CLASS
%
Married
Living together
Single
Divorced
Widowed
Separated
ABC1F50+
ABC1F50-
Dublin
ROL
Munster
Conn/Ulster

5. Q1 Are you satisfied with your life as a mother?
Q2 Did you find your life as a mother when your children were young fulfilling?
The majority are satisfied with life as a mother and grandmothers
felt just as fulfilled when they were young mothers
5
48
75
41
23
8
22
-
Very much so
SATISFIED MOTHERS
%
FULFILLING GRANDMOTHERS
%
(Base: All respondents)
Somewhat
Not really
Not at all
89%
98%

6. TOTAL
Age Region Status Social Class
UNDER 35 OVER 35 DUBLIN ROL MUNSTER
CONN/
ULSTER WORKING
NOT
WORKING ABC1 C2DE
% % % % % % % % % % %
Mothers
Satisfied 89 88 90 88 91 88 92 91 87 89 89
Grandmothers
Fulfilled 90 - - 99 97 95 100 96 100 99 97
Demographics
6

7. Mothers get the greatest joy out of watching their children grow
and develop
Watching children grow and develop
Unconditional love for children
Spending time with children'/'enjoying their company
Loved unconditionally'/'being depended on by children
To see one's child happy and well
Pride and fulfilment from having a child
Teaching and instilling values'/'traditions
Joy of caring'/'providing for children
Special bond between mother and child
28
22
21
20
13
10
9
9
3
%
(Base: All respondents)
Q2. What is the best thing about being a mother?
All others 1% or less 7

8. Q3 Do you feel valued for the work you do as a mother by your family and by society?
Did you feel valued for the work you did when rearing your children?
Grandmothers feel that they were valued more by society and
their family than mothers do today
8
35
57
12
30
43
31
38
36
17
9
34
22
6 4
16 12
Very much so
BY FAMILY BY SOCIETY(Base: All respondents)
Somewhat
Not really
Not at all
Mothers
%
Mothers
%
Grandmothers
%
Grandmothers
%
Very much so
Somewhat
Not really
Not at all

9. TOTAL
Age Region Status Social Class
UNDER 35 OVER 35 DUBLIN ROL MUNSTER
CONN/
ULSTER WORKING
NOT
WORKING ABC1 C2DE
% % % % % % % % % % %
Mothers
Family 77 73 80 67 81 81 84 80 73 80 74
Society 50 53 47 49 49 50 52 55 40 50 49
Grandmothers
Family 88 - - 88 84 80 99 86 89 90 86
Society 66 - - 75 61 46 78 69 62 70 63
Demographics
9

10. Grandmothers feel that mothers are valued more today, but
mothers today are less likely to see it this way
10
25 21
42
41
23 35
10
4
MOTHERS
%
GRANDMOTHERS
%
I feel I was valued more
I feel mothers are
valued more today
Valued about the same
Don’t know
I feel I am valued more
I feel my mother was valued more
Valued about the same
Don’t know
Q4 Do you feel that you are valued more for your work as a mother than your mother was?
Do you feel that today’s mothers are valued more than you were?
(Base: All respondents)

11. The majority of grandmothers feel that mothers receive about the same
or more thanks today than when they were rearing Children
11
39
40
22
About the same
%
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)
Do you feel that mothers today receive more thanks for their work than was the case when you were rearing children?
I feel mothers today receive more thanks
I feel that I received more thanks when I was rearing children

12. Half of Mothers get thanked once a week … but for over a third
it’s a rare or absent occurrence
12
14
8
20
8
11
4
27
8
Once a day
%
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Q5 How often, if ever are you thanked by your family for your work as a mother?
A couple of times a day
A few times a week
Once a week
Rarely
Never
A few times a month
Once a month

13. Partners are the greatest form of support to mothers today
13
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Q6 In all aspects of raising your children which of the following provides the greatest support to you?
62
20
3
5
2
3
1
*
*
78
58
31
29
17
16
13
5
5
1ST MENTION ALL MENTIONS
Partner
Mother
Siblings
Friends
Father
Mother in law
Childminder/creche
Health care professionals
Work colleagues

14. This hasn’t changed over the years
14
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)
When you were rearing your children which of the following provided the greatest support?
Partner
Mother
Siblings
Friends
Mother in law
Father
Childminder/creche
Health care professionals
Work colleagues
62
21
6
3
3
1
1
*
*
83
58
35
27
22
13
4
1
1
1ST MENTION ALL MENTIONS

15. But Mothers are the greatest source of Information
15
(Base: All respondents)
When you were rearing your children which of the following provided the greatest support?
Mother
Partner
Friends
Online and social networks
Healthcare professionals
Siblings
Mother in law
Father
Father in law
40
21
6
12
5
4
3
1
*
62
50
38
37
29
27
17
16
2
1ST MENTION ALL MENTIONS

16. The majority of Grandmothers feel Mothers have more support
today
16
71
17
12
About the same
%
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)
Do you believe that mothers today have greater supports than was the case in the past?
Mothers have more support today
Mothers had more support in the past

17. TOTAL
Region Status Social Class
DUBLIN ROL MUNSTER
CONN/
ULSTER WORKED
DIDN’T
WORK ABC1 C2DE
% % % % % % % % %
Mothers have more support
today
71 53 81 80 73 66 75 76 68
About the same 17 31 10 11 13 17 17 14 18
My children are less
dependent on me
12 16 9 9 14 16 8 10 13
Demographics
17

18. Todays mothers are more dependant than on their mothers than
in the past
18
61
23
14
3
About the same
%
Do you feel that your children are more or less dependent on you for support than you were on your mother?
My children are more dependent on me than I was on my mother
My children are less dependent on me than I was on my mother
N/A
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)

19. TOTAL
Region Status Social Class
DUBLIN ROL MUNSTER
CONN/
ULSTER WORKED
DIDN’T
WORK ABC1 C2DE
% % % % % % % % %
My children are more
dependent on me
61 56 71 54 59 63 59 65 58
About the same 23 33 18 19 20 21 25 19 25
My children are less
dependent on me
14 9 10 26 13 15 12 14 13
Demographics
19

20. Mothers today have either the same or more time than was the
case for mothers in the past
20
50
17
33
About the same
%
Do you feel that mothers today have more time or less time for themselves than you did when you were rearing children?
Mothers today have more time for themselves
Mothers have less time for themselves these days
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)

21. TOTAL
Region Status Social Class
DUBLIN ROL MUNSTER
CONN/
ULSTER WORKED
DIDN’T
WORK ABC1 C2DE
% % % % % % % % %
Mothers today have more
time for themselves
50 37 62 64 37 51 49 43 53
About the same 17 33 6 12 16 20 15 18 17
Mothers have less time for
themselves these days
33 31 33 23 47 29 37 39 30
Demographics
21

22. 1 in 7 mothers today get no time for themselves each day
22
14
37
26
16
6
1
Up to 30 mins
%
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Q8 As a mother do you get some time for yourself each day (i.e. time spent not doing work, household chores, childcare etc.)?
Q9 On average how much time would you have for yourself each day?
No time
Up to 1 hour a day
1 – 2 hours a day
2 – 4 hours a day
More than 4 hours a day
11
20
36
26
7
Most days
%
Yes, everyday
Occasionally
Rarely
Never

23. Mindless activities such as watching TV or reading are the top
sources of me time
32
27
20
18
15
12
11
10
8
7
6
4
%
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)
Q10. What do you consider ‘me time’, what do you like to do during this time?
All other 2 % or less 23
Watch TV/movie
Read
Exercise
Do nothing/ rest or relax
Have a bath/ shower
Meet/talk with friends/family
Browse internet/use mobile phone
Have a cup of tea/coffee
Shopping
Making oneself beautiful/pampering
Personal hobby (other)
Sleep/short nap

24. Mothers who do not work feel more guilty for taking time for
themselves than working mothers
24
Working
Not working
Under 34
35 years+
46
52
52
46
%
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Q11. Do you ever feel guilty for taking time to yourself?
52%
48%No Yes

25. Working mothers have had more opportunity to keep up with
their personal hobbies than those who are not working
25
36
27
35
31
(Base: All respondents)
Q12. Since becoming a mother have you had the opportunity to keep up with or pursue your hobbies?
59%
32%
9%
No Yes
N/A
Working
Not working
Under 34
35 years+
%

26. One third of Mothers claim to get a lie in at least once a week
26
3
8
22
13
12
14
10
18
%
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Q13 How often would you have a lie-in?
Everyday
A couple of times a week
Once a week
A few times a month
A couple of times a year
Less often
Never
Once a month

27. Mother -Daughter relationships have become more positive than
in the past
27
42
53
5
%
(Base: All grandmother respondents with a mother present growing up - 390)
Q14 Do you feel that you have a better relationship with your daughter than you did with your mother?
Yes I have a better relationship with my daughter than my mother
About the same
My relationship with my daughter is not as good as the one I had with my mother
Highest amongst
Grandmothers who worked
when rearing children-48%

28. Two thirds of mothers had a good relationship with their mother
28
7
19
24
42
7
%
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Q14 How would you describe your relationship with your mother (as appropriate)?
Poor
Could be better
Good
Very good
N/A

29. 36 37
18 22
28
41
9
MOTHERS
%
GRANDMOTHERS
%
Both mothers and grandmothers were more likely to say their
lives were easier
29
(Base: All respondents)
Q15 Do you think your life as a mother now is easier than it was for your mothers’ generation?
Do you think your life as a mother when your children were young was easier than it is for mothers today?
I think it’s easier now
About the same
Easier in my mother’s generation
Unsure
My life as a mother was
more difficult
About the same
My life was easier

30. Partners doing their fair share and technology have made life as a
mother easier than before
30
(Base: All mothers who think life is easier now – 181)
Q16 If you think your life as a mother is easier now than it was for your mothers’ generation, please outline why based on the following
reasons in order of importance, with 1 being the most important reason
Partners are doing a greater share of child rearing tasks
Technology has made home and working life easier
Women have greater control and choice on family size than in the past
Mothers have more financial independence than my mother’s generation
Parents have greater support than in the past
There is much more public information available to help mothers raise their children
39
25
11
4
9
6
72
65
56
55
48
46
1ST MENTION ALL MENTIONS

31. Q17 Do you believe that you have a good quality of life?
The majority feel that they have a good quality of life
31
24
58
15
3
Very much so
%
(Base: All respondents)
Somewhat
Not really
Not at all
Highest amongst
Mothers over 35- 88%
Married- 86%
Working mothers: 85%
compared to 79% for non
working mothers

32. 53
58
29 24
10
19
8
MOTHERS
%
GRANDMOTHERS
%
Both mothers and grandmothers agree that mothers today have a
better quality of life
32
(Base: All respondents)
Q18 Do you believe that you have a better quality of life than your mother did?
Do you believe that mothers today have a better quality of life than you did when rearing your children?
My quality of life is better
About the same
My mother had a better quality of life
Unsure
Mothers today have a
Better quality of life
About the same
I had a better quality of life

33. Worries about money and children’s futures are the greatest
issues for Mothers today
33
(Base: All respondents)
Q19 Of the life challenges/pressures associated with motherhood which are the biggest issues for you. Please rank the top three challenges
you face, where one is the biggest issue.
Financial worries
Worries about your children’s future
Time Pressures
Struggling with work and raising children
Doubting your ability as a mother
Relationship difficulties with your partner
49
15
11
11
9
3
77
66
44
40
38
25
1ST MENTION ALL MENTIONS

34. More state support is the number one factor that would improve
the quality of life for mothers
34
41
21
19
13
5
%
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Q20 Which of the following would most improve your quality of life as a Mother? Select one option
Shorter working week
Greater help from partner
More time for myself
Opportunity to meet with and connect with other parents
Increased state support in areas such as
childcare, healthcare and educational supports

35. Demographics
35
TOTAL
Age Region Status
Social
Class
UNDER
35
OVER
35 DUBLIN ROL MUNSTER
CONN/
ULSTER WORKING
NOT
WORKING ABC1 C2DE
% % % % % % % % % % %
Increased state support in areas such
as childcare, healthcare and
educational supports
41 39 43 40 45 38 44 38 48 40 44
Shorter working week 21 17 23 19 18 25 21 29 7 26 14
More time for myself 19 26 14 22 16 19 18 17 22 17 22
Greater help from partner 13 11 15 16 13 11 15 12 16 13 13
Opportunity to meet with and connect
with other parents
5 7 3 3 5 6 5 3 7 4 6

36. Partners do more indoor chores today than in the past
36
(Base: All respondents)
Q21 What percentage of the indoor household chores (washing, cleaning, hoovering etc.) does your partner undertake?
19
34
36
28
17
16
14
17
5
3
1
28
2
MOTHERS
%
GRANDMOTHERS
%
None
20%
33%
50%
All
N/A – no partner
More than 50%
None
20%
33%
50%
All
N/A – no partner
More than 50%

37. Just under half of these Grandmothers worked outside the home
when rearing children
37
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)
Did you work outside the home when you were rearing children?
30%
18%
53%
Part-time
No
Full-time

38. Almost two thirds undertake outdoor chores
38
20%
33%
50%
67%
80%
All
18
12
19
8
27
16
%
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Q22 Do you undertake outdoor household chores (gardening) or DIY work (painting, fixing household items)
Q23 What percentage of this overall work do you undertake at your home as opposed to your partner or other family members?
38% 62%No Yes
OUTDOOR
HOUSEHOLD
CHORES

39. Work life balance is good…but it could be better for many
39
(Base: All working mother 259)
Q24 How would you rate your current work-life balance?
Q25 If you had the option (and money was no issue) would you prefer to be a stay at home mother?
37%
63%No Yes
WOULD PREFER TO BE A
STAY AT HOME MOTHER?
13
37
42
8
%
Good
Very good
Could be better
Poor
WORK/ LIFE
BALANCE
Older mothers and those from a C2DE background
are more likely to prefer to be a stay at home mother

40. There is a slight preference for mothers to want their children to
be working mothers in the future
40
32
39
18
10
%
Q26 Thinking of your own daughter(s) in the future if it was a viable option, would you be happy for them to stay at home to raise their children or
would you prefer them to work?
I would be happy for them to be a stay at home mother
I would prefer them to go out and work
Unsure
N/A – I do not have a daughter
(Base: All working mother 259)

41. The majority of grandmothers would be happy to have at least
one parent be a stay at home mother/father
41
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)
If it was an option would you be happy for a least one parent to stay at home and raise their children (your grandchildren)?
18%
72%
5%
6%
No
Already the case
Yes
Unsure

42. Do you believe that partners of mothers today contribute enough to the job of child rearing and household work?
Over half of grandmothers think that partners today do their part
in childrearing and household duties but many could do more
42
52
34
11
4
Yes, they contribute enough
%
(Base: All grandmothers respondents)
Yes, but they could do more
Not really
Not enough at all

43. Q27 Are you happy with the contribution of your partner to the rearing of your children, household work etc.?
The majority are happy with their partners contribution to the
childrearing process… but there is always room for more
43
30
41
15
7
7
Very much so
%
(Base: All mothers respondents)
Happy, but they could do more
Not really
Not at all
N/a no partner
Working mothers are most likely to be
happy with their partners contribution: 35%
Older mothers (46%) and those not working
(46%) are more likely to think partners
could do more

44. Mothers today are not as confident as mothers in the past
44
(Base: All respondents)
Q28 Do you worry about how well you are raising your children?
Q29 Do you compare how you are raising your children to how other mothers raise their children?
Rarely
Never
A little
A lot
Everyday
WORRY
MOTHERS
%
GRANDMOTHERS
%
5
28
15
48
12
14
19
14
47
33 48
29
19
18
11
6
17
8 8
3
COMPARE
MOTHERS
%
GRANDMOTHERS
%
Rarely
Never
A little
A lot
Everyday

45. Mothers today are much more harsh on themselves
45
(Base: All respondents)
Q30 Thinking about how you raise your children compared to other mothers, which statement below best represents how you feel?
Thinking back to when you were raising children, which statement below best represents how you felt?
I compare myself negatively
to other mothers
I compare myself positively
to other mothers
30
9
70
92
MOTHERS
%
GRANDMOTHERS
%

46. Experiences and emotional factors are more important than
money
46
(Base: All mothers)
Q31 On a daily basis which of the following, do you worry about in rearing your children? Please rank where, 1 is the thing you most worry about
and 5 is what you worry least about
I worry that my children are happy and healthy
I worry that my children are safe
I worry about family finances
I worry that I am raising my children in the right way
I worry whether I am spending enough time with my children
39
23
14
13
11
22
30
15
18
15
19
20
19
22
20
13
17
17
28
26
7
10
36
20
27
1 2 3 4 5

47. Children’s health and happiness is most important now just as it
was in the past
47
(Base: All respondents)
Q32 When you think about your children into the future, what specific things are most important to you? Please rank in order of
importance to you, 1 being the most important and 4 being the least important.
68
63
16
22
9
5
6
10
14
26
45
33
20
20
21
21
12
8
19
29
34
25
35
38
5
2
20
16
37
51
38
32
1 2 3 4
That my children will be happy and healthy
That they grow up to be considerate and respectful
to others
That they will be financially secure
That they will fulfil their own ambitions
Mothers
Grandmothers

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