Vital Statistics

82% of the respondents were moms or equivalent
18% were dads or equivalent

70% were married
15% are single (including those who are divorced or widowed)
13% are common law
2% are in a domestic partnership

75% have partners who are the biological parent of their children
10% have partners who are not

44% work full-time
30% either stay at home with the kids or are looking for work
26% work part-time, from home or are self-employed

lovers not fighters

35% argue with their partner less than once a month.

But when arguing, 21% said it’s over money (runners-up for argument topics: 17% household chores, 15% disciplining the kids, 9% the amount of time we spend with each other, 3% work, 3% sex and 8% other: “All of the above,” “In-laws,” “Irrelevant, ridiculous stuff.”)

in the bedroom

Most (70%) have sex at least a few times a month. 13% don’t have sex at all.
Reality Check: Findings from the Durex Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey indicate that a driver of sexual satisfaction is the frequency of sex, and only 44% are fully satisfied with their sex lives.

When not trying to conceive, 37% use the pill, 26% use condoms and 38% use other methods, including “Vasectomy,” “IUD” and “Luck.”

12% have either had an affair or considered it.

When it comes to sleep, a lucky 57% get more than seven hours per night. 41% between four and six hours. Happily, only 2% get less than four hours per night.

Most (41%) usually make the bed every morning, while 31% do so rarely or never.
On to Something: Recent research from Kingston University in the UK found that bedbugs aren’t as likely
to survive in the dry, warm conditions of an unmade bed.

money matters

Equal numbers do and don’t have a will (37% each). 26% have been meaning to get around to it.

66% have a joint bank account with their partners.

16% don’t tip their hairdresser (but of the 84% who do, the most common amount is between 10-15%).

10% don’t own a car. Of those that do, the most popular option is a sedan (34%) followed closely by a minivan (26%).

48% sometimes purchase organic products for their family. 17% never do.

parenting points

The top three most challenging aspects of parenting were discipline (30%), time management and organization (22%) and making sure the kids eat right (14%).

Almost 66% of respondents hope their kids grow up healthy and happy. 17% say that they hope their kids will be good citizens of the world and their community. 12% say that success and financial stability is their greatest hope for their kids. 6% offer other hopes for their kids, including “All of the above,” “That they will grow up to know God and love others,” and “That my son’s leukemia stays in remission.”

71% pass judgement on other parents every now and again, 14% do so at least once a week, and 15% say they don’t at all. We’re not sure we believe that 15%.

Most (48%) have strayed from religion, having attended religious services when they were young, but don’t take their children now. 29% take their kids to religious services, and 23% never went, and don’t take their kids now.

29% of the respondents stay home with the kids during the day. 1% hire a nanny.

family matters

We asked “Which family is yours most like?”
40% The Barones (Everybody Loves Raymond)
25% The Huxtables (The Cosby Show)
15% The Simpsons
9% The Gilmores (The Gilmore Girls)
7% The Simmons (Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels — though, this was before that video of Gene’s alleged philandering surfaced online)
4% The Jolie-Pitts

17% don’t get along with their mother-in-law, but 71% do (the rest don’t have a mother-in-law).

The good old telephone is the preferred method of family communication during the day, with 49% using it over cellphones (31%), computers (11%) and PDAs (2%).

we should get out more

63% get out with friends (sans kids) once or less per month
78% get out on a date with their partner or a prospect once or less per month

62% take a vacation at least once per year, but 38% don’t take a vacation every year

Only 15% are coaching their child’s sports team or leading their extra-curricular clubs, but 35% are volunteering at their child’s daycare or school.

47% either don’t work out, or work out once in a blue moon. 22% work out at least three times a week.

Of those who are the biological mothers of their kids, 33% are still working on losing the baby weight. It took 19% less than six months to lose it, 14% took between six months and a year, and 12% took over a year.
You Can Do It: One hour of walking with a stroller burns approximately 175 calories — the equivalent of just over half of a Snickers bar.

Most (51%) order in once or twice each week. 44% never order in or only do so in extenuating circumstances.

selective readers

69% read only a few select parenting magazines.
22% read only Canadian Family.
9% read as many. parenting magazines as they can get their hands on.

What should we ask in our next reader survey? Send your suggestions to editor@canadianfamily.ca