Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed by the Duchess of Cambridge's claim that home schooling is 'exhausting'

911 replies

Livingtothefull · 29/01/2021 21:43

www.edp24.co.uk/news/kate-middleton-video-call-parents-homeschooling-challenges-pandemic-7080128

I accept that lockdown has had an impact on everyone to some extent, however privileged. But I can't help being irritated by this. Even if we accept that she is doing the home schooling herself without any help, I don't think there is any comparison between her situation and that of many other people. I am not saying lockdown isn't difficult for her.....but it is a million times harder if you are say a single parent, struggling with home schooling and a minimum wage job which you may lose any time, worried sick about your and DC future if this happens. And doing it in a poky flat instead of a vast country estate.

And I know she may be trying to show empathy with the rest of us. But TBH I would have much more respect for the royals if they would just acknowledge their privilege rather than claim common ground which just isn't there.

OP posts:
YouKnowItsTrue · 29/01/2021 23:33

It’s all relative though isn’t it.

Just think about the differences between the people reading this thread. Are we saying that we all are in the same boat and she is not?

PuppyMonkey · 29/01/2021 23:33

Exhausted - pmsl Grin

GADDay · 29/01/2021 23:34

@MeanWeedratStew

She often tries to relate to mums by talking about how hard it is, but she really has no idea what it's like for those of us who have to actually work (whether as a SAHM or a working mum). I suppose her advisers must tell her to say these things.

I've never been a huge fan, but I went completely off her and William after their superspreader train tour. Showing your royal mug to the peasants is not essential work, ffs.

I dont give a jot about the RF, but do you think you could try to see it from the other side?

DoCs life must be extremelt difficult - in a different way. Constant scrutiny, judgement, no right of reply. Privileged - absolutely. No amount of privilege could make up for living in a fishbowl. Poor woman can't win.

At least she tries and seemingly keeps coming back for more.

LizFlowers · 29/01/2021 23:34

@Thewithesarehere

I can’t imagine MM issuing a statement like this. I hope she doesn’t.
Archie is a bit young to be having formal home schooling :-).
BrieAndChilli · 29/01/2021 23:35

Just because someone else has a broken leg it doesn’t make your sprained ankle hurt any less!

So just because some people have it worse doesn’t mean you can’t find things hard (or harder than normal - it’s all relative)

By some of your reasoning none of us should be complaining at all as there’s plenty of people in worse off situations - 5 years olds working in factories, while families Africa affected by loss due to aids, people in war torn Syria etc etc bet most of them would look at us and think we all live pretty privileged and golden lives!

Yes - Kate Middleton has a massive house (and a choice of houses to spend lockdown in), most probably a nanny/housekeeper etc staying with them, private education who are probably providing a lot more support than some state schools are able to due to budget etc, private healthcare so no worries when they catch covid that they won’t get the best care/ventilator etc, Jobs are secure and if not they have mega bucks in property/trust funds/investments etc

But they have 3 kids and I’m sure they are doing some of the care and homeschooling, they are still not able to see family and friends like the rest of us, bored and fed up like the rest of us, not able to sneakily break any rule (which most normal people probably have done eg gone for a walk with a friend when strictly not supposed to etc) etc

I’m finding lockdown very hard mentally, it is hard but I know that DH job is fairly secure, I’ve still got a job (although hours cut by 1/3 after furlough ended), we’ve managed to buy a house, none of us have got covid (or if we did it was very mild), kids state schools have provided a good online provision etc etc. I know there are plenty of people who have it worse than me, lost jobs, loved one shave died, kids have greater special needs than mine do, have lost their houses as can’t afford the mortgage, have health issues etc. I’m still entitled to have a little moan.

shindiggery · 29/01/2021 23:35

I wish some posters here could try having a nanny, especially combined with working from home.

It's like a golden childcare tree in your minds, isn't it.

They come and find you. They have little homing devices and they can open doors. It's a dreadful thing. Modern nannies cannot prevent it, they don't have the weapons. Even DoC's children come and find her, as a previous post describes.

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 29/01/2021 23:36

I am far from a royalist either, ssd but some of these assumptions are ridiculous.

It's shite.

Airyfairymarybeary · 29/01/2021 23:36

Tbf even if I had a nanny, chef, and tutors etc my kids would still be hanging off me all day long!

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 29/01/2021 23:37

Ok,I’ll spell it out km has money,privilege,advantage. She’s not exhausted
Every need,unmet outcome,milestone will be thoughtful met by throwing money at it
As aristocracy do
So spare me fawning sycophancy..jealous..Just like us..poor Kate

marbellamarc · 29/01/2021 23:37

@shindiggery what do you think it's like without a nanny?

greendress789 · 29/01/2021 23:37

Tone deaf!!!!

LizFlowers · 29/01/2021 23:37

I like your post, brieandchili.

Tobleronehouses · 29/01/2021 23:38

@Somethingkindaoooo

Jesus!!

Ok, so, some people homeschool, work, and run a house. Exhausting

She homeschooled, no doubt has royal duties, and has to do everything under a microscope. Exhausting.

Just because she isn't knocking up a spag bol and trying to do sales scales from a kitchen table, doesn't mean she can't be exhausted

Except she is probably less under the microscope now than probably at any time since she married PW. Yes there will be comment such as this thread which can't be easy or nice, but at least she is away from the paps ATM. Her life must be somewhat easier under lockdown from that pov surely?
ellyeth · 29/01/2021 23:38

She may well be home schooling but I doubt she has the same practical pressures that many people have - shopping, cooking meals, doing the washing, ironing, hoovering, etc., along with the pressures of going out to work or working from home.

In my opinion, it's pretty unconvincing and bears no relevance to most people's experience of lockdown.

Jakarta · 29/01/2021 23:38

What do you want her to say. Tough luck peasants- I have a Norland nanny, chef and a PA.

This made me Grin

marbellamarc · 29/01/2021 23:39

Just because someone else has a broken leg it doesn’t make your sprained ankle hurt any less!

No but you can be aware that their broken leg likely hurts more & is more difficult to navigate.

scubadub · 29/01/2021 23:40

Yabu you don't get to negate her feelings and opinions based on the fact the others have it worse. It's how she feels, and who says that they still have all of their staff?! Maybe most of the staff are furloughed etc. You don't know what it's like to be her so you can't possibly say how she feels.

Chutneywashisname · 29/01/2021 23:40

You're just jealous

Are you 10 years old? Do grow up.

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 29/01/2021 23:41

@marbellamarc

Just because someone else has a broken leg it doesn’t make your sprained ankle hurt any less!

No but you can be aware that their broken leg likely hurts more & is more difficult to navigate.

She's not denying it's harder for others at all.
Lancrelady80 · 29/01/2021 23:41

What a disgusting and deeply offensive thing to say about three innocent children. The oldest is only 7 ffs.

How about we start talking about killing your children and see how you like it?

PuppyMonkey · 29/01/2021 23:42

Yes - Kate Middleton has a massive house (and a choice of houses to spend lockdown in), most probably a nanny/housekeeper etc staying with them, private education who are probably providing a lot more support than some state schools are able to due to budget etc, private healthcare so no worries when they catch covid that they won’t get the best care/ventilator etc, Jobs are secure and if not they have mega bucks in property/trust funds/investments etc

But apart from that ... total exhaustion Grin

Throwaway99 · 29/01/2021 23:43

She is saying what she is supposed to say. It's all fucking bollocks. And anyone falling for it is a bit thick.

violetcobra · 29/01/2021 23:43

Everyone's allowed to feel tired.

shindiggery · 29/01/2021 23:43

marbellamarc

I've tried both.

If Kate was on The Only Way of Essex, she might be fighting on a race course while merry hell goes on at home, because she could. But nothing I've seen has led me to think she is that kind of parent. A nanny will not make a difference to a dedicated parent's willingness to make themselves available, or to put up with being pursued. It just doesn't make a difference. It just makes it slightly less likely they'll all crash land on you at the same time. But especially in these Covid times when two parents find it hard enough to carry out any other duties and school/handle paper work for the education of one child, let alone several and a pre-schooler, a nanny will not magically make this situation Not Exhausting!

Your children get more of you with an extra pair of hands around, because you're pulled in fewer directions. It's nicer for them. I don't have a nanny at the moment so I do know what it's like not to have a nanny. I don't, and neither do you, know the individual circumstances of every parent in the country and I'm sure it's much harder for others. But I reserve the right to be exhausted because I am.

Chutneywashisname · 29/01/2021 23:44

She is saying what she is supposed to say. It's all fucking bollocks. And anyone falling for it is a bit thick

That is it in a nutshell.

Swipe left for the next trending thread