But mom remains the superwoman

The study by ForbesWoman and the pregnancy website TheBump.com found that 92 per cent of working moms and 89 per cent of stay-at-home mothers felt overwhelmed by work, home and parenting responsibilities.

“Moms have an innate aspiration to do it all and a secret desire to be superwoman,” said Carley Roney, editor in chief of TheBump.com.

Seventy per cent of working moms and 68 per cent of stay-at-home mothers questioned in the poll of more than 1,200 women said they feel resentful towards their partner because of all they have to do. “It’s not just that women can’t ask for help; they don’t want to,” said Meghan Casserly, a reporter for ForbesWoman. “She feels it’s damaging her sense of motherhood to ask for help. And it’s causing resentment.”

Nearly 30 per cent of working mothers said they do the bulk of the household chores and 31 per cent said they are responsible for all of the parenting.

Much of this self-inflicted grief is encouraged by media images of a super working mom who looks glamorous while babysitting, cooking, washing and holding down a full-time job. “She wants to be the best parent with the best kids in the nicest house and look beautiful while she does it,” Casserly said.