By the Numbers
It’s an often thankless job with bad hours and few days off. Running a home and keeping a family going may not require a board of directors, but that doesn’t mean it’s not demanding.
Here are some numbers that add up to a lot of work.
7,300 | The number of diaper changes a baby needs in his or her first two years. |
When it comes to speed, men have mastered the diaper change. On average they take one minute and thirty-six seconds, whereas women spend just over two minutes to complete the task.
Tip: Although no one wants to drag out this experience, be sure to attend to your baby’s diaper rash. Don’t forget to use the time to play and talk with your little one.
Source: happyworker.com
405 | The hours a mom spends behind the wheel each year. |
Between baseball practices and dance lessons, the average mom may feel a little like a cabbie. And with gas prices teetering on the edge of ridiculous, it’s no wonder moms are trying to cut down on the nearly seventeen full days per year they’re driving kids around.
Tip: Make friends with the other parents because carpools are key, or try bundling your chauffeuring trips with other errands. You can also do banking, emailing, and organizing on your smartphone while waiting in the parking lot for your kids to finish their activities.
Source: motherproof.com
22 & 10 | The hours per week a college-educated mother (22) and a college-educated father (10) spend caring for their children. |
These numbers include things like playing catch, helping with homework, and bathing; they exclude things like eating dinner together and keeping an eye on kids as they play. The good news is that this number has risen dramatically since the mid-1990s.
Tip: This number also includes parental chauffeuring. Researchers warn that college-educated parents may be getting their children overinvolved in activities with hopes of helping them get into better universities. Be sure to keep extracurriculars at a manageable level.
Sources: nytimes.com and ucsdnews.ucsd.edu
330 | The loads of laundry an average family needs washed annually—that’s more than six loads per week. |
Eighty-eight percent of women do the household laundry, and they wash, dry, fluff, and fold about 5,300 articles of clothing each year. (There’s no stat available on how many facial tissues accidentally get washed.
Tip: To minimize your energy bills, wash in cold water and run only large or extra-large loads. Also establish a weekly washing and ironing schedule to avoid a dirty clothes pileup. Don’t forget to clean out your closets and donate items you don’t need—the less you have the less you’ll launder.
Source: happyworker.com
$20,415 | The value of household tasks dads typically perform a year. |
If you paid someone to do things like BBQing, tinkering on cars, plumbing, helping with homework, and moving furniture, your bills would skyrocket. And that doesn’t even include time washing the family cars or mediating sibling squabbles.
Tip: Take advantage of the “Honey Do” list but also know the hubby handyman’s limits. If fixing shingles takes him substantially longer than a professional patch-up would, then by all means hire out. (It’s also better to leave the trickier chores to experts instead of making the problems worse.)
Source: insure.com
