All Work And No Play For Mums On Holiday

Most of us work hard all year and save up for our well earned two week break with the family. There are lots of things to organise in a family holiday, making sure everyone has enough of the right kind of clothing, money, travel documents and insurance even arrangements for looking after pets have to be done before we actually set off.

In most households it is reasonably fair to say that the role of organiser is admirably fulfilled by the mother. She knows where everyone’s passport is and if the kid’s swimsuits will still fit. She may well delegate some jobs such as asking dad to get a good deal on the currency and insurance or asking the children to pack their own clothes, but on the whole the buck stops with mum.

So why is it that when we actually arrive at our chosen destination mum doesn’t get a break but is still ‘working’? It seems that, according to recent research well over half of all mums’ say that they will be putting in 42 hours of work a week looking after their kids while away.

Many said that they will be working for six hours a day through their holiday cooking, cleaning and keeping children entertained. Small wonder that more than one in ten (13 per cent) said that they came back from holiday more stressed than when they left or find holidays harder "work" than work.

"It looks like its all work and no play for mums going on holiday this year," said a spokesperson from the Post Office, which conducted the survey.

"But family holidays can send stress levels soaring for both parents, so we advise mums and dads to be prepared.

"If they arrange their travel essentials like insurance and EHICs before they go on holiday, it gives them extra peace of mind should anything go wrong while away."

When you are away try to make sure that you do get some quality grown up time when the kids are asleep even if it is sharing a bottle of the local wine on the balcony and watching the sunset.

If you would like to know more about holidays why not ask AnswerBank Travel.