Welsh Mums hit hardest by strains of parenthood
July 2006A survey of parents and children attending last year's National Eisteddfod, commissioned by family support charity Home-Start, confirms that while the roles of dads and grandparents in raising children is changing, it is mums who continue to carry the heaviest burden:
The main findings of the survey are:
- The day to day lives of mums had changed significantly as a result of having children, with a lack of free time and loss of freedom cited as the biggest changes
- Lack of sleep and money were the biggest changes for dads, but they saw little change to their day to day lives
- Parents are relying more and more on grandparents to provide childcare while they go out to work
- Being with the children is what makes parents happy
- The children themselves are happiest when playing with their dads and their friends
As well as highlighting the stresses and strains of modern parenting, particularly for working mums, the survey reveals the positive benefits most parents get from raising children. One mother said she hadn't realised you could love someone else so much. Another revealed, "my life is anchored in purpose - my children are the future!". The findings also confirm the growing role that grandparents have in raising their grandchildren.
Commenting on the results, Sarah Vaughan, Director of Home-Start Wales, said:
"Raising young children does not get any easier, and the survey confirms our own experience that mums in particular are finding it hard to juggle all their responsibilities as parents, wage earners and partners.
"We find that many modern parents have moved away from their family networks and are isolated. Or perhaps they are recently bereaved or they or their children have illnesses or disabilities. They often don't have the support to help them get through those crucial early years. It really drives home the need for more help for all kinds of parents in Wales so they have the opportunity to do what they do best and what makes them happiest - provide loving support to their children.
"We're running the survey again at our stand this year's Eisteddfod and will be really interested to see if there is any change in parents' experiences in the last 12 months."
Jackie Durkin, from Holywell in North Wales, is one parent who has been helped by Home-Start volunteers. She had serious postnatal depression following the birth of her second child. Her marriage had broken down and she was struggling to cope with raising the children. She was put in touch with Home-Start and, declining the support of a home-visiting volunteer, she joined one of the charity's family groups.
"Going to the group was the best thing I could have done. I'd spend two hours doing crafty things like painting or just chatting. The emotional support and knowing that others were going through similar things, and just sharing our problems, was so helpful."
After getting through the worst of her depression, Jackie decided to give back to the charity by becoming a Home-Start volunteer herself - completing the charity's training course to equip her to go into other parents' homes and offer Home-Start's unique and confidential support.
Home-Start runs a network of parent volunteers across Wales who provide support to families who are struggling to cope, and are looking to recruit more volunteers and more volunteer trustees.
Parents interested in volunteering or anyone with professional skills who is interested in finding out more about being a Home-Start trustee should phone free on 0800 068 63 68 or can find out more by visiting www.home-start.org.uk or www.home-start.org.uk/cymraeg/cymraeg.
-ENDS-Media Enquires: Home-Start communications office - 0870 220 6713
Home-Start Wales' informal and non-judgemental support for families with young children provides a lifeline to thousands of parents and children in more than 22 communities in Wales. Support is free and confidential.
Last year, Home-Start's 754 volunteers helped 2,076 families in Wales
Home-Start's unique home visiting system helps families in situations as varied as bereavement, isolation, disability or illness in parents or children, multiple births, and much more.
The charity is available in all four nations of the UK. It recruits and trains volunteers to visit families in their own homes. The volunteers aim to increase the confidence and independence of families through practical and emotional support.
For more information visit www.home-start.org.uk
Interviews and campaign materials
We have case
studies of parents in Wales
who have been supported by
Home-Start available for interview.
Sarah Vaughan, Director of Home-Start Wales is available for interview
See a selection of
the comments from parents and children in last year's survey (2005) - english
