Too much time spent at work biggest regret for parents

London -  The biggest regret parents have about their children’s early years is spending too much time at work, a new study has revealed.

The study found that more than three quarters have at least one thing they regret doing or not doing, during this period.

Two thirds admitted that they would do things differently if they could have the time again.

Almost six in ten with more than one child said that they had changed their approach with their second child to make sure they did not end up with the same regrets, the Daily Mail reported.

More than a quarter had given advice to friends after they had children, so they didn’t feel the same way.

Seven out of ten felt they had taken their youngster’s childhood for granted.

More than two thirds said it was easy to forget they would not be young forever.

In addition to working too hard, the top five regrets included worrying too much about things that did not really matter, not playing with the children more, not going on more holidays and not

taking enough photos.

More than half of parents said they regretted not having more quality time with their children when they were younger.

The survey of 2,000 parents found 63 percent wish they had done more activities with their child.

“Things can seem simpler with hindsight, and it seems you definitely live and learn when you’re a parent,” Lauren Revell, from Huggies Little Swimmers, which commissioned the research,  said.

“When your little ones are young, it’s easy to imagine your baby being that age forever. It’s only a few years down the line, as your children are getting older, that you really start to look back  and wish you had done some things differently.

“When it comes to parenting, many mums and dads wish they could spend a little more quality time with their little ones, but given the pressures of daily life sometimes these opportunities  can be lost,” Revell said.