The changing role of modern mums

Modern mums are unmarried, older and refuse to give up work to become traditional housewives, according to new research. In 2007, only 29 per cent of UK mothers gave up work when they had their first child.

The poll, which has been conducted by Pot Noodle to compare mums today with mums in 1977 when the instant hot snack first reached our shores. It also revealed that 53 per cent of mums gave up work altogether to look after their children in 1977.

But nowadays, a quarter of mums want to return to work and continue rising up the career ladder compared to only 12 per cent in the 70s.

More than half of mums are also ditching the traditional image of having children after getting married, with 45 per cent having their first baby before walking down the aisle.

But this is a stark contrast to 30 years ago when a staggering 82 per cent were married before giving birth.

Almost half of mums today are single when they start a family compared to only 16 per cent in the 70s.

Parents are also getting older as the poll of 2,000 women revealed that the average age for having their first child in 1977 was 23 while over a quarter of Brits are now waiting until hitting 30 plus before hearing the patter of tiny feet.

The extra few years can make a difference though as 56 per cent of people today considered themselves to be financially stable when they started their family, but only 45 per cent of parents from 1977 could say the same thing.

The poll also found that mums in the 70s spent seven hours a week doing the household chores – an extra three hours than women today.

Pot Noodle commissioned the survey comparing mums in 1977 to mums today to learn more about our constantly changing attitudes to everyday events. Now, in its 30th year, the Pot Noodle brand has also made some changes, having further improved its product formulation, which now contains 50% less salt across the range than in 2005.

Mums who had their children in the 1970s worried less with only 43 per cent saying they were concerned about the levels of salt in their child’s food compared to a staggering 76 per cent of parents nowadays.

Profile of the average mum in 1977:

Age at marriage – 21
Age at having first baby – 23
Total children – 3
Average salary before having children – the equivalent of £7,839
Average weekly shopping bill - £32.35
Average shoe collection – 7 pairs
Average handbag collection – 4
Time spent doing the chores each week – 7 hours

Average mum in 2007:

Age at marriage – 25
Age at having first baby – 26
Total children – 2
Average salary before having children - £14,406
Average Weekly shopping bill - £55.67
Average shoe collection - 10 pairs
Average handbag collection – 6
Time spent doing the chores each week – 4hrs 15 mins