DadTalk

What a Difference a 'Mum' Makes

What is the difference between a Mum and a Dad? Kids tell us the answer

Here at DadTalk we recently carried out a small poll asking our own kids & others that we knew this question:

“What is the difference between a Mum and a Dad?'

As Mothers Day approaches we thought we would share some of the responses - both to make you laugh, but also to perhaps open your eyes to the role your children’s mother performs. We want to remember ‘Mums’ this mother’s day - they are a very important person in your child’s eyes and for this reason alone deserve your honour.

So, what is the difference between a Mum & a Dad? Here are some real children’s answers...

“Mum is more organised with her kids. Like with out of school activities and all that. But dad just waits for the crisps to come home from the supermarket, and feeds MY frogs instead of his kids.”

“Dads normally go to work and you come out of your mummy’s tummy”.

“Ones a man and ones a girl, ones got short hair and ones got long, and I can’t talk about boy bits and girl bits cos' it’s a bit rude - but that the biggest difference - and dads can’t have babies... of course.”

“They’ve got different willies?” (4 year old boy)

“Mums tidy up while Dads go to work, Mums make you tidy your room up, Dads don't cos’ they're lazy!”

“Let's put it this way- if I told my Dad I was doing something bad like smoking he'd hit me on the back of my head and I would understand. If I told my Mum she'd sit me down, try to talk to me and I'd hate it!” (Teenage boy) 

“Mums scream and dads are grumpy, but mums are more responsible and consistent. Dads are soft when it comes to their little girls”. (Written by a boy) 

“Daddy's nicer when it comes to having to tidy rooms or do homework, and buys treats, Mummy's good at reading stories cos’ she's very expressive, also she's good at watching TV." (Written by sister of boy above) 

“Mums are girls and Dads are boys. Mums have beauty spots and Dad's don't. Mum does housework and Dad looks after my baby brother.” 

“Mum normally cooks dinner and Dad normally doesn't. Mum normally doesn't go to work and Dad normally does. Mum always reads the school notices and Dad doesn't. Mum normally washes clothes and Dad doesn't. Dad normally plays on the trampoline with us and Mum doesn't.”

Mmmm there seem to be some general themes here. Aside from the very ‘physical’ differences (which incidentally were all pointed out by boys!) it would seem ‘Mums’ and ‘Dads’ do very different things. Or, put another way, Mums seem to do a lot of stuff...giving birth, organising, out of school activities, going to the supermarket, tidying up (& making children tidy up their rooms), screaming (not so great!), being responsible & consistent, reading stories, watching TV (interesting skill, can relate to that one!), doing housework, cooking dinner, reading the school notices, washing clothes.

But Dads.... well they just go to work & jump on the trampoline!

Now I know this probably isn’t an accurate picture of how things are in your home...but I wonder if your kids see it like this?

Might be an idea to ask the question and carry out your own investigation...and in the meantime, take some time to think about Mother’s day and what you could do to honour and thank the Mother of your children. Whether you are together or apart, she is who she is (Mum) and this coming Sunday is her day...Mother’s Day.