Uinvue
FAMILY FEUDS
The average British family argues for the equivalent of nearly FOUR DAYS A YEAR - with mum sparking most of the bust-ups, according to new research.
Mum, dad and the kids have at least three disagreements a day lasting up to five minutes each.
Over the course of one year that adds up to a staggering 1,095 arguments -- totalling 91 hours or three days and 19 hours.
The most common arguments are about household chores, kids treating the house like a hotel and taking each other for granted.
The poll of 3,000 families, conducted by world family database www.uinvue.com, also found that mums were also blamed for shouting too loudly and sulking in the aftermath of the rows.
Mark De Netto, spokesman for Uinvue, said: ''The findings reflect common themes when it comes to arguments within the family which have remained unchanged over the past few decades, with the majority of arguments lasting a few minutes only.
''It was interesting to note that mum still seems to play the pivotal role within the family however the results do show that dads are getting far more involved in family issues than the generations previously.
''Although arguments are a common factor in all families our results show that they play a vital role in building and strengthening bonds within the family and act as a release valve for family members, so minor arguments do play a positive role in family life.
''However, we still think it is worthwhile counting slowly to ten sometimes.''
Researchers also found that daughters were most likely to slam doors during an argument with dad opting for a drive to cool off when everything has settled down.
And a fifth of families regularly argue about things lost or misplaced.
Other reasons for family disagreements are rows over possesion of the remote control.
Mum tend to opt for soap operas, with dad wanting sport or documentaries and the kids wanting to watch movies or reality television.
Tempers also flare amid arguments over whose turn it is to wash up and people taking too long on the family computer.
The telephone bill causes a heated debate once a month for thirteen per cent of families - with the sheer number of calls made by younger members of the family leaving mum and dad fuming.
Teenagers blasting out tunes too loud on their stereo and arguments over unfinished homework complete the top 10 family rows.
Other arguments to appear in the top 20 list include parents being treated like the Bank of England as kids bug mum and dad for cash, and people spending too long in the bathroom.
Kids bedtimes, unloading the dishwasher and decisions about meal time all causes disputes within the whole family.
One in 10 families polled even claimed they are not speaking at the moment, following an argument.
But two thirds of respondents believe family arguments are healthy, with 85 per cent of people agreeing it is best to get everything out in the open to clear the air.
TOP 20 FAMILY ARGUMENTS
1. Household chores
2. Treating the house like a hotel
3. Taking each other for granted
4. Being unable to find something in the house
5. What to watch on TV
6. Whose turn it is to wash up
7. Whose turn it is to go on the computer
8. The cost of the telephone bill
9. Loud music
10. Homework
11. Constantly being asked for money
12. Bad driving
13. Where the remote control is
14. What to have for tea
15. Putting an empty juice / milk carton back in the fridge
16. What time the children should go to bed
17. Never ending sport on TV
18. People spending too long in the bathroom
19. What time teenagers should be back
20. Who should empty the dishwasher
