Coffe mornings can be competitive events
A new study shows mums go all out to impress their friends when having them round for coffee, by splashing out on expensive biscuits, fresh coffee and cleaning the house from top to bottom.
Indeed, women are so intent on astonishing their friends with their amazing hosting skills, they forbid their children from playing with toys prior to the event, while 36 per cent of mums even ban the children from certain rooms to keep them spotless ahead of the gathering.
A third of mums will even buy and wear new clothes and make up in a bid to look like the domestic goddess in complete control.
Deneice Harwin from Philips Saeco, which commissioned the poll of 2,000 mums, said: ”With TV shows like the Great British Bake Off, the UK has witnessed a boom in home entertaining and stay at home mums are hosting more coffee mornings than ever before."
The report reveals that mums will spend almost three hours getting the house ready for a coffee morning, tidying away toys and going into a general cleaning frenzy.
Nine out of ten mums admit they go to an extra effort to make sure the house is completely spotless, and 52 per cent will even shut off certain rooms to their guests if they are too messy.
Once the house is clean, mums will set about laying out flowers, new ornaments, photos and sometimes soft furnishings to give the place a welcoming feel.
Two thirds of mums will buy freshly cut flowers, 28 per cent will get in a new houseplant and 23 per cent will set out the best crockery.
Once the house is in a perfect state mums will tend to the kitchen, making sure their guests are suitably impressed with their offerings of tea and coffee.
Nearly two thirds of mums will buy in ‘posh’ biscuits, 32 per cent will attempt home-made cakes and 18 per cent will even try to make some nice biscuits.
Deneice added: "From having the latest kitchen gadgets to the best tasting cake, coffee with friends is now an event where mums feel they have to prove themselves – it’s a sign of whether they are coping or not."
Ground coffee, herbals teas, fruit juices and fresh fruit are amongst other items mums will fill the cupboards with in preparation for ‘mum friends’ coming round.
On average, mums will spend an extra £12.39 on top of their usual weekly food bill on food and drink for each coffee morning.
The study also shows that 40 per cent of mums admit there is always competition within their circle of friends when it comes to hosting coffee mornings, and 13 per cent even admit that this competitiveness has led to a fall out in the circle.
Have you fallen out with a friend over who hosts the best coffee mornings? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
FemaleFirst
Shabana Adam
Tagged in Parenting Mums Parenting News