New research among dads has confirmed what most of us mums already knew -- it really is easier to go out to work than stay at home and mind children.

Almost two-thirds of the 3,000 fathers surveyed admit they enjoy going to work because it gives them a break from their children and the same number believe stay-at-home mothers have a harder job than they do.

The results, published by parenting organisation Bounty, say that despite the calls for new-age dads to dig in and share the load when it comes to caring for kids, 24pc of them say they regularly leave for work early or return home late to avoid spending more time with their children.

And 40pc admit they get stressed if they open the front door to children who are rowdy or too demanding.

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Managing director of Bounty, Ian Beswetherick said: "Nowadays most modern dads are happy to share the responsibility of looking after the children and in doing so they now truly appreciate mums' hard work.

"The fact that dads are leaving for work early and not heading home to help with bath and bedtime can also be due to the pressures of working for old style 'dinosaur dads' who hold senior positions and don't appreciate the fact that they employ a different kind of dad who is struggling to get to grips with combining his work with the expectations of modern fatherhood".

It all sounds a bit too neat and tidy, though.

I mean, given the choice, wouldn't most women also like the option of going to the pub for a quick drink or a bit of retail therapy rather than heading straight home after a busy tiring day only to be met with a horde of screaming children all wanting her attention.

Women strove long and hard for their independence and equality in the workplace and to gain it, something had to give and that 'something' was men doing their fair share.

These days of course, many dads pitch in and may be adept at sticking on the dinner, feeding the kids and collecting the baby from the creche.

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But secretly lots of them would prefer to amble home in their own good time to find a hot meal waiting for them, children quietly playing or ready to be tucked up in bed.

Who wouldn't?

It harks back to the traditional way of parenting where dads earned money and mums did all the hard work.

There were even 'wife manuals' published in the 1940s to show the little woman at home how to do her duty by keeping the house spotless, cooking endlessly, having his slippers warmed and waiting for her man -- and not forgetting to put on some makeup and change into a nice dress before lining herself and the children up at the front door for the bread-winner's imminent arrival.

All that nonsense has changed of course, but it doesn't mean that every dad's attitude has.

The changing of roles was long and tortuous and it's no surprise.

Men could see the fall-out coming down the line once women began getting uppity about themselves.

The only way women were going to be able to take up proper jobs in the workforce was if they, the men, did more at home to allow it to happen.

It meant that they'd have to forego some of their 'rights' such as workmates who were all manly men like them, their top-of-the-food-chain status and get to grips with icky things like changing nappies, cleaning the loo and wiping baby spittle off their suits.

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But the enlightened dads also found that spending time with their children resulted in bonding which they got great joy from.

And they realised that playing with their own kids didn't have to be boring. The extra money from having a working wife wasn't to be sneezed at either.

Now if modern men are struggling with balancing work and family life, well then it's about time they found out what it was like for our mothers who broke the mould by going out to earn a crust before it was deemed appropriate to do so.

They had very old-fashioned views to contend with which resulted in them juggling more things than Coco the Clown.

The house husband may never become a majority lifestyle choice, but taking a grip of family and work life together is surely more rewarding for everyone.

- Sinead Ryan