What Makes A Supermum?

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If you are on the PTA, always look glamorous on the school run and bake your children’s birthday cakes from scratch then you could quite possibly be a Supermum – according to a new study.

A poll of 2,000 UK mums has revealed a definitive guide on how to achieve perfect mum status – with the only downside being you will be secretly despised by all the other mums in the playground!

The study revealed that the majority of mums (57%) have a number of friends and acquaintances who portray themselves as the perfect mother – with well over half (60%) claiming they find these kinds of mothers highly irritating. And that’s something we can associate with! Because while we are happy to like and comment on their social media photos – in reality we have to admit that most of us secretly find mums showcasing their prowess annoying.

So how do you become a Supermum? Well it’s not by jumping into a phone box and emerging with your pants on outside your trousers! Always having wet wipes and tissues in your bag and having drinks and snacks available at the drop of a hat made the list of 40 signs a mum has obtained perfect mum status.

Reading to children every night, always having a week’s worth of meals planned and helping out at school discos and fetes is also essential, according to the mums who took part in the study. And according to the research, the average mum knows at least two friends or acquaintances who portray themselves as a Supermum (even if we all know they aren’t really!).

One in five described supposed Supermums as “smug”, while over one in ten said mums who took the daily grind in their stride made them feel “inadequate”. And seven per cent were more cutting, admitting more simply, “I can’t stand them”. Although almost a fifth of those involved admitted they found them inspiring.

The survey – Are You A Supermum? was carried out among 2,000 UK mothers by Whaoo! chocolate filled crepes. Here are the results in full:

1.            Never arrives late for school drop off / pick up

2.            Is on the PTA

3.            Always looks glamorous on the school run

4.            Posts parental achievements on Facebook

5.            Bakes children’s birthday cakes from scratch

6.            Helps out at school discos / fetes

7.            Never argues with partner in front of the children

8.            Has a week’s worth of meals planned

9.            Makes sure the kids homework is done

10.          Has school uniform washed and ironed for Monday morning

11.          Gets children to always say please / thank you

12.          Bakes cakes with their children

13.          Always has arts and crafts stuff close at hand

14.          Reads to the children every night

15.          Always makes sure the children look clean and presentable

16.          Cooks from scratch every night

17.          Gets everyone out of the door on time

18.          Gets the children to bed on time

19.          Always has the correct school uniform ready

20.          Goes all out to entertain children’s friends

21.          Disciplines children when necessary

22.          Knows when a hug is required

23.          Allows children to help with the cooking

24.          Gets children to behave well in restaurants

25.          Never forgets to make packed lunches / snack boxes

26.          Has snacks and drinks available at all times

27.          Always has wet wipes / tissues at hand

28.          Always remembers hats, scarves and gloves in the winter

29.          Keeps the fridge well-stocked

30.          Never runs out of milk or washing up liquid

31.          Buys a gift for your child’s teacher at the end of term

32.          Has a First Aid kit at home

33.          Ensures their child eats ‘anything and everything’

34.          Remembers what days are PE days

35.          Let’s their friends come over to the house

36.          Picks up other people’s kids from school if asked

37.          Organises regular sleepovers

38.          Lays the breakfast table, the night before

39.          Regularly checks the kids for nits / lice

40.          Ensures children have their hair cut regularly

Emily Cleary

After almost a decade chasing ambulances, and celebrities, for Fleet Street’s finest, Emily has taken it down a gear and settled for a (slightly!) slower pace of life in the suburbs. With a love of cheese and fine wine, Emily is more likely to be found chasing her toddlers round Kew Gardens than sipping champagne at a showbiz launch nowadays, or grabbing an hour out of her hectic freelancer’s life to chill out in a spa while hubby holds the babies. If only!