Hardworking mums devote one third of their waking lives to running around after their children, it emerged yesterday.
The incredible extent to which the nation's mothers are at the beck and call of their families was revealed following a detailed study into the lives of 2,000 mums.
The report found the lady of the house can expect to put in around 27,250 hours in their lifetime shopping, cooking and carrying out chores.
That means they devote a staggering 1,135 days of their lives to bringing up the kids.
The study was commissioned by milk&more, the modern online top-up shopping service.
Spokesman Andrew Kendall said: "Everyone knows that mums are the backbone of the family unit.
''But seeing just how long they spend running around after their families puts things in to perspective.
''If mums got some help with just the cooking, they would have nearly four additional hours a week to spend time having fun with their children.
''With most mums working as well it's important that they have flexibility in their lives.
''Spending nearly half a year of your life just doing essential food shopping isn't exactly fun.''
The report found shopping takes up the bulk of that time, taking up a massive 4,155 hours 49 minutes.
Cooking, baking and preparing breakfasts and lunches uses up 2,180 hours and 52 minutes - or more than 90 days.
Mums also spend 35 hours 51 minutes a week doing chores
Unsurprisingly, three quarters of the mums surveyed said they felt they would like a few more hours in the day to get everything done.
One in ten said they found themselves cleaning and paying bills well in to the night.
Cleaning and tidying up after the kids takes up 2,620 hours and 48, minutes while getting the clothes washed and dried takes up another 2,442 hours 57 minutes.
Mums also spend 2,180 hours and 52 minutes washing up and 1,506 hours and 57 minutes cleaning the bathroom.
On top of that they spend 1,694 hours and nine minutes cleaning the oven.
The school run and taking kids to afterschool clubs take up 1,740 hours 57 minutes and 1,301 hours 2 minutes respectively.
And 1,432 hours and four minutes are spent running the family to appointments such as the dentist and doctor.
Only four out of ten mums said they get any help around the house despite the fact that most of those surveyed held down a full time or part time paid job as well.
CHORES OVER A LIFETIME
- Food shopping - 4,155 hours 49 minutes
- Cooking - 3,603 hours 36 minutes
- Tidying - 2,620 hours 48 minutes
- Washing - 2,442 hours 57 minutes
- Washing Up - 2,180 hours and 42 minutes
- Ironing - 1,787 hours 45 minutes
- School Run - 1,740 hours 57 minutes
- Cleaning the oven - 1,694 hours 9 minutes
- Helping with homework - 1,544 24 minutes
- Cleaning the bathroom - 1,506 hours 57 minutes
- Appointments - 1,432 hours 4 minutes
- Running kids to afterschool clubs - 1,301 hours 2 minutes
- Paying bills and sorting repairs - 1,240 hours 12 minutes
