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Ellie Jane Aged 10 months

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It's been said a million times before but motherhood really is one of the toughest jobs going.

Most of us do a pretty good job fumbling our way through it, working partly on instinct and partly on the age-old advice of generations of mothers before us. But not everyone mothers 21st century style. Take our fun quiz to find out what era your mothering skills really come from.

How old were you when you had your first child?

	Early 20s
	Late 20s
	Under 20
	29+

It's Tuesday…what are you up to?

A long lunch with my friends while the kids are with the childminder
Tumbletots first thing, then into town for some retail therapy
Making 100 butterfly cakes for the Brownie meeting
Washing and ironing - Tuesday is laundry day

The Government passes a law banning the sale of disposable nappies with immediate effect…what do you do?

I've got enough to last me for months…I bulk buy
Oh, mine were all out of nappies by 9 months anyway
I've only ever used terry nappies
I use a complete toweling nappy service, it's easy, it's environmentally friendly and there are no dirty nappies to deal with

Industrial action by TV broadcasters means that there is absolutely no TV…how do you cope?

I hardly ever watch the TV, and the kids are always outside playing
I've never owned a TV anyway
What? No TV? Who'll keep the kids happy now?
Well it won't affect the computer, PSP, GBA, DS Lite or Wii, will it?

Ten minutes before visitors arrive, your 2 year old scuffs the wall with his shoe…what's your remedy?

I'll just move the furniture around a bit to cover it. Everything's black ash anyway so it won't look out of place
No worry, it's barely noticeable on my patterned wallpaper anyway
Grab a slice of white bread and rub over the mark
One of those little magic eraser pads will have that off in no time

It's one disaster after another. Now your electrics have blown and you've no way of cooking dinner. How do you prevent a riot?

MacDonalds, here we come!
My parents are only five minutes away and they love seeing their grandchildren
We'll just pop next door - neighbours help each other out in times like these
The only difficult choice here is whether we order pizza or Chinese to be delivered

Your parents have offered to pay for the baby's pram. What do you choose?

Something retro like a Perego wicker carriage pram
A traditional carriage pram like a Silver Cross
Something ultra-modern that converts from pram to pushchair to car seat
Something smart and practical, like a Maclaren or Mama and Papas

What's your favourite 'mumism'?

"If the wind changes your face will stay like that forever"
"There's no use crying over spilt milk"
"That would feed the starving children in Africa for a week"
"Bored! How can you be bored? I was never bored at your age"

It's been one of those days where everything that could go wrong has gone wrong…who do you turn to?

The neighbours, we're like one big family and everyone knows everyone else's business
My mother, and if she's not around then my sister, aunt, grandmother etc
My best friend, I'd be lost without her
My children, they're very sensitive to my needs

It's another rainy day and the kids are bored. How do you keep them entertained?

There's a new Disney film at the cinema that the kids would love to see
We'll put on our waterproofs and wellies and take the dog for a walk - a bit of rain never hurt anyone
Let's make it Bake Day - we can make cakes and buns and gingerbread men and the kids can lick the bowl out when we're done
I'll take them shopping, everything is indoors anyway and there are loads of shops and restaurants, we'll have a ball

What's your favourite magazine?

Take a Break
Family Circle
Good Housekeeping
Marie Claire

Should mothers go out to work?

Part time hours fit nicely around the children
My husband's wages are enough so I don't have to work
A mother's place is in the home
I juggle career/job and motherhood

What do you think a mother's role is?

Keeping the house and kids clean and tidy and waiting for my husband to get home
Keeping the kids clean and tidy and having a meal waiting for my husband when he gets home
Keeping the kids and house clean and tidy and having a beer waiting for my husband when he gets home
Keeping the kids and house clean and tidy in partnership with my husband who is waiting for me to get home.