CRY BABY

EMOTIONAL women will spend 1.3 years of their lives crying, it has been revealed.  The astonishing report shows the average woman cries for 12,012.92 hours over the course of 78.5 years. 

Unsurprisingly, during our first year of life we shed 3 hours of tears a day whenever we need changing, feeding or entertaining.  But even as we reach our mid 20s we continue to cry for as much as 2.24 hours a week as falling out with a partner, watching a soppy film or losing a loved one upsets us.

The poll of 3,000 people, conducted by TheBabyWebsite.com shows the reasons why women cry change dramatically over our lifetime.

Babies who cry for an average of 3 hours a day tend to cry most when hungry and tired, but also whinge when poorly or in discomfort. Crying is also a baby’s only form of communication.  Between the ages of 1 and 3 years of age, children cry for up to 2 hours and 5 minutes a day.  Their main reasons for crying include falling over, hurting themselves and feeling tired.  And between the ages of 4 and 12 years old children continue to cry for 2 hours and 11 minutes a week.  Kids in this age bracket are most likely to cry after hurting themselves, being told off for doing something naughty or feeling poorly.

Kathryn Crawford, spokeswoman for TheBabyWebsite said:- “It is unsurprising that young children cry as a direct result of having accidents.  Despite a parent’s best efforts to child-proof the home, being more adventurous goes hand in hand with a child’s natural development.  As a child grows older they will naturally try to do more and more – this means being more physically active and so having accidents are more common, but also pushing the boundaries and being more naughty.”

The poll reveals that teenage girls shed tears even more than their younger siblings, blubbing for 2 hours and 13 minutes a week.  Most common causes of upset for teenagers include hormones, arguing with friends, being dumped and being grounded.  For women aged 19 to 25, who cry for 2 hours and 14 minutes a week, a soppy film, indecisions about a long term relationship and losing a loved one are all enough to make them wail.  And for women aged 26 and over, who also cry for 2 hours and 14 minutes a week, the most common causes for an emotional outburst include falling out with a partner, hearing someone else’s bad news and feeling tired.

Kathryn Crawford continues:- “Interestingly this research shows that we go full circle when we become adults, as feeling tired is one of the most common reasons adults and babies cry.  But other more serious issues affect women in adulthood, as we’re more likely to cry about things which affect other people as well as those things which affect us – like bad news, our parents, and worrying news reports.”

TOP 5 UPSETS AGE 0-1

1. Hunger
2. Tiredness
3. Only form of communication
4. Discomfort due to wet/full nappy
5. Feeling ill

TOP 5 UPSETS AGE 1-3

1. Hurting themselves
2. Tiredness
3. Falling over
4. Wanting something
5. Being told off for being naughty

TOP 5 UPSETS AGE 4-12

1. Being told off for being naughty
2. Hurting themselves
3. Tiredness
4. Feeling ill
5. Falling out with a friend

TOP 5 UPSETS AGE 13-18

1. Hormones
2. Arguing with friends
3. Being dumped
4. Being grounded
5. People being horrible

TOP 5 UPSETS 19-25

1. A soppy film
2. Being dumped
3. Losing a loved one
4. Indecision about a long term relationship
5. Having a baby

TOP 5 UPSETS 26+

1. A soppy film
2. Falling out with a partner
3. Losing a loved one
4. Feeling tired
5. Hearing someone else’s bad news

The good, the bad and the ugly of working in the North West

THE first national survey to explore the realities of graduate jobs reveals employers in the North West to be among the most socially responsible and charitable in the country. Developed by Graduate Prospects, Real Prospects 2009 has surveyed 24,500 graduates UK-wide about their views of employers based on actual experiences, rather than their perceptions pre-employment. The results reveal the North West as one of the best and worst places for graduates to work. Key findings include:-

* Almost one in three (34.7%) of graduates believes their employer has not met expectations

* Employers in the North West are among the most charitable

* Employers in the area encourage recycling and energy-efficient travel

* North West graduates are among the least satisfied with their training and development

* Graduates in the region are the most likely to take their holiday entitlement, with the exception of the West Midlands

Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate Prospects comments:- “Jobs are hard to find at the moment and it won’t be any easier for this year’s graduates, but if you are lucky enough to land a position with an employer in the North West, working life is looking much brighter than many other places in the country. This is a worrying time for students and graduates, so it’s unsettling to hear that if they do find work, it’s not always meeting their expectations. To bridge the gap between expectation and reality we must focus on improving communication and development opportunities. By investing in our young talent, we are investing in our future.”

Graduates in the North West are among the less confident (53% confident) about their future with their current employer, falling behind the national average (56% confident) as well as those most confident in the South East (62%). However, this increases when asked about their employer’s future within the sector (80%), just 4% behind the South East (84%).

Employers in the North West are among the most charitable. With 77% encouraging staff to take part in charitable fundraising, they fall only slightly behind the top performers in the South East (78%) and West Midlands (79%). In addition, 87% of employers in the region encourage recycling and 65% promote energy-efficient travel – 4% above the national average.

Only 64% of graduates in the North West are satisfied with their training and development - South East rates highest with 72%. The region also falls behind the national average when it comes to inspiring and motivating graduates with only 52% reporting their employers are good in this area.

Graduates in the North West are second only the West Midlands as the most likely to take holidays, with 64% taking their full entitlement in the last 12 months, compared to 68% in the West Midlands.

Real Prospects is a new annual survey, which launched in January 2009. Responding graduates completed a first degree between 2004 and 2008, and are in full-time or part-time employment. By taking part, employers are verifying their commitment to improving transparency and raising standards within the industry, facilitating more informed decisions for developing graduate programmes.

Real Prospects has been developed by Graduate Prospects in partnership with the Association of Graduate Recruiters, Human Resources magazine and the Guardian, and conducted by Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU).

Email today, your news room with your views on this topic to news24@southportreporter.com.

WITNESS APPEAL - WOMAN RAPED IN NEWSHAM PARK, L6

MERSEYSIDE Police have issued an appeal for witnesses after a woman was raped in Newsham Park, L6, on Friday night,8 August 2009.  The 18 year old victim had been in the park with two friends earlier in the evening but was walking home alone around 11pm when a man approached her from behind.  The offender pushed the woman into some bushes and sexually assaulted her before running off.  He is described as being white, around 5ft 10ins tall and was wearing a dark woolen hat, pulled down over his face, a dark clothing.  High visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area and detectives are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious to come forward.  Detective Inspector Rob Hill of Lower Lane CID, said:- "This is a very serious and despicable attack on a defenceless young woman and we will continue our investigation until the man responsible is caught and brought to justice. Although these type of incidents are quite rare, someone, somewhere will know who has done this and I would appeal directly to them or to anyone who may have been near or inside Newsham Park between the hours of 11 pm - midnight to contact me and your information will be acted."  Call Lower Lane CID on:- 0151 777 4560 or Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.