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

[Livingtothefull]

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.

she can put her feet up anytime especially at the moment when there are no pesky Royal Engagements to perform

Didn’t she make the comment during a royal engagement Zoom call?

How do you think we come across to people worse off. I don't think you can call her out because if we complain there are way worse off people who are in poverty and in the streets with no money who think our problems are as pathetic. No one has a right to complain if that's how you think

The poor cow was asked for a one-word reaction to 'home schooling'. I have been trying quite hard to think of anything she might have said that would not get her slated. 'Full-on' is probably the best for PR.
"Ohmigod I just noticed my children look like chipmunks' would be more honest fun, though

Perhaps she is finding it hard but she should have kept her mouth shut , she has no idea what the reality is for some

This is probably the most used phrase on this thread. I find it really interesting. Why would she not know? It seems that people think that having money means you don't know what else is going on in the world? Or that being privileged means you think everyone else is the same as you?

Of course she knows. She's not stupid. As do the majority of people who earn massive incomes and live in country estates or huge city homes. She may or may not have misspoken but that's easy to do in many situations.

So she feels knackered. So what? Does that make you feel any less knackered? She's allowed to feel knackered for whatever reason she likes.

Same ball park as samcam bewailing the impact brexit has had on her business. Neither of them have had to give up work (on which your mortgage depends) because there isn't space in their tiny two bed house to facilitate two adults homeworking and also their children being home schooled - and I consider even ours a fortunate position compared to that which many are in.

I think she could have talked about how lockdown is affecting them, not try to pretend she is like everyone else.

People with decent PR have standby words for situations like this when asked direct 'poison chalice' questions.

'Challenging'

'Difficult'

'Interesting'

Followed by, 'And for you?'

I do think her answer was clumsy, yes. If that's how she really feels, though, maybe she could do some real good now by saying, 'You're right to comment on my answer. If I feel like this, sitting in my privilege, then other women must be on their knees and it's not right.'

I'm not sure how 'this person is privileged so they can't ever comment negatively about their life' fits with MH awareness or compassion. It's misguided to think people with money and staff don't ever feel exhausted and tbh I think it's cruel to mock or disbelieve anyone who admits life is difficult. You might think it's fine to judge royalty but the message you're sending to everyone that reads this is that you're only allowed to express exhaustion if you're at the bottom of an arbitrary ladder of privilege. It runs completely counter to everything MH charities have tried to achieve.

@SabrinaMorningstar

I'm not sure how 'this person is privileged so they can't ever comment negatively about their life' fits with MH awareness or compassion. It's misguided to think people with money and staff don't ever feel exhausted and tbh I think it's cruel to mock or disbelieve anyone who admits life is difficult. You might think it's fine to judge royalty but the message you're sending to everyone that reads this is that you're only allowed to express exhaustion if you're at the bottom of an arbitrary ladder of privilege. It runs completely counter to everything MH charities have tried to achieve.

That's fine and I would agree with you in ordinary circumstances if she had been chatting to a friend. (I'm sure having staff brings its own stresses. ) But Kate's comment was made in the context of her job - charity work - and she must be aware that potentially whatever she says might be broadcast to the nation. Again, I am not against her personally, I quite like her actually, but I think she should have been better prepared. That question was quite predictable.

Try wrangling toddler twins in the 14th floor of your housing association flat with a broken lift. Whilst homeschooling an autistic teen. On UC. In lockdown.

Maybe she actually does do it herself because she chooses to? No doubt she does have access to supports many parents don’t have, but I imagine it would still be challenging.

@JiminyLeeCricket

People with decent PR have standby words for situations like this when asked direct 'poison chalice' questions.

'Challenging'

'Difficult'

'Interesting'

Followed by, 'And for you?'

I do think her answer was clumsy, yes. If that's how she really feels, though, maybe she could do some real good now by saying, 'You're right to comment on my answer. If I feel like this, sitting in my privilege, then other women must be on their knees and it's not right.'

Princess Diana often said things were “daunting “, which got grating when I had to view a whole load of footage for a work thing. Maybe that would be a word that would work quite well for W&K, though. Especially in the age of Covid.

I laughed It’s was such a stupid thing to say

All she needed to say is it’s challenging. She might help out but we all know she has a number of staff so she isn’t exhausted by parenting, working and running a home

Watch their pr go into overdrive now with snippets of Kate’s busy life managing juggling everything just like other mothers to

Reminds of when Posh Spice said she know s what’s it like to be a “working mum”. This was after the Spice Girls when her “work” was a paying hobby of drawing pictures of dresses. Hardly compares with a single parent doing a minimum wage factory job.

YANBU.
The royal family have no clue whatsoever.

Everyone here is more privileged than someone else but we all moan and bitch about our lot. Why is it ok for some but not others? Who gets to decide? Who gets to say your kid is easier to home school than mine or I naturally teach better than you. You have no idea what it is like for her, money may buy many things but it doesn't buy great friends, families and confidents.
I imagine like most of us they are doing their best to deal with this, an upset child who wont work is still stressful regardless of how much money you have. Yes she doesn't have to worry about her mortgage but she does have to worry about public opinion etc.
Nice to know we only support those who struggle financially or are judged to be worthy 🤔

She seems well meaning and that is enough. Yes she’s rich and privileged, but that’s the life some people have and that’s ok. To be cross with her because you are not also rich and privileged is a bit pointless.

Ffs. She may be privileged, but she's still a human being and the mother of 3 young children. Why can't she express how she feels, too? Honestly, she can't win with some people

Spot on.

And I suspect she’s way more hands on than most people will ever want to believe.

I wonder how many nannies governesses and tutors those kids have, one thing's for sure they don't listen with.mother everyday when mothers gadding about all over the show preaching down to us mere mortals in different colours of the same coat

Is it a competition?

Actually I think she tries too hard and is too thin. It was a slip of the tongue no doubt.

Don't we all do the same? It's like me looking at sahm parents commenting how exhausting it is to homeschool your children. You can still feel exhausted.

We are both FT WFH parents to 3 kids, I do all the homeschooling, chores, shopping etc while DH tries his best to hold down his job (which pay our bills) and study and some kids things. I could cry most days because I am exhausted. But I am still priliveged to some.

She answered a question with empathy. Rich people have problems too. They can’t pay off Covid so they can get back to normal! They’re still missing family and friends and stuck in a different world to what they’re used to. The kids will be bored like all the rest of them. Part of her role is supporting mental health charities and encouraging people to be open about how they feel. She’s leading by example.

@RickiTarr, yes, I think 'daunting' would be a good answer to including her repertoire.