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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:
Bookwords · 30/01/2021 05:31

Pack of eejits. The whole family

💯

LunaLula83 · 30/01/2021 05:34

Don't pull someones character apart for their upbringing. Kate is very down to earth. They won't be having staff will they, cos lockdown. Kate already said they are homeschooling and they cook.

Justa47 · 30/01/2021 05:40

@Livingtothefull

Yeah I found it annoying

JiminyLeeCricket · 30/01/2021 05:44

@LunaLula83

Don't pull someones character apart for their upbringing. Kate is very down to earth. They won't be having staff will they, cos lockdown. Kate already said they are homeschooling and they cook.
I had a quick google of this. They definitely have staff, including a full-time nanny. In fact Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo was featured only a week ago in the execrable Hello! magazine.
PeggyHill · 30/01/2021 05:46

I agree that it was tone deaf and probably not what a lot of normal people wanted to hear. She can't possibly have any idea what this has really been like for the "peasants".

However, I think there are certain things about parenting that are fairly universal. She is still going to feel the impact of homeschooling her children, even if it is cushioned by her money. There will always be people who are worse or better off than you. It doesn't mean that you don't have any problems or stresses in life. It's all relative.

I think that she's just trying to be empathetic, but overall I'd say she probably should have just kept her down and not said anything.

MrsDrudge · 30/01/2021 05:49

Definitely not bring unreasonable. Almost as tone deaf as when they were waving to the peasants in lockdown from the luxury of the royal train. Either totally insensitive and unaware or as stupid as the rest of the royals.

Bookwords · 30/01/2021 06:09

@LunaLula83 they won't be having staff coz lockdown?

GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

Yeah right!

I bet Kates shopping at Aldi in the morning!

rwalker · 30/01/2021 06:10

If she's upset you or pissed you of why don't you tell her next time you see her.

Get a grip.

vera99 · 30/01/2021 06:16

Tony Benn nailed it. Down with the lot of them (after the Queen goes she is a special case)...

“What power have you got?”

“Where did you get it from?”

“In whose interests do you use it?”

“To whom are you accountable?”

“How do we get rid of you?”

Benn asked these questions everywhere he went. I saw him write them on the chalkboards of classrooms and lecture halls. I heard him repeat them at rallies, protests and marches.

MagentaDoesNotExist · 30/01/2021 06:19

@itispersonal

What do you want her to say. Tough luck peasants- I have a Norland nanny, chef and a PA.
Maybe better if she kept her trap shut out of courtesy? Aren't they meant to teach these people manners, if nothing else useful?
MagentaDoesNotExist · 30/01/2021 06:21

@gottakeeponmovin

I am not a single parent, I have very nice house with lots of land. I have three kids and I am also struggling to home school them. It's not exclusive to people on low incomes and single parents - we are all finding it hard. So yes YABVU
Sell some lannd a get a tutor then. Problem solved.
MsTSwift · 30/01/2021 06:24

Love Tony Ben’s questions. Those get to the heart of everything.

Absolutely nothing against Kate and William personally they seem a very nice couple but the royalty thing is frankly ridiculous and cringey in 2021.

Also her comments put me in mind of Marie Antoinette. And we al know what happened to her!

marbellamarc · 30/01/2021 06:33

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

Exactly, I don't think people are annoyed about it because she's rich. It's because she's Royal!!!

JaneNorman · 30/01/2021 06:35

Let’s just go through a few of the COVID rules the RF apparently broke shall we?

From the Queen having workmen working on Buckingham Palace during first lockdown when it was illegal for builders to work

It was never illegal for builders to work. It was clarified after a couple of weeks that they could work.

royals testing positive but still expecting their household staff to wait on them hand and foot

How do you know they weren’t isolating within their home and having food left outside the bedroom door?

household staffs being expected to go the entire festive season without seeing their own friends and family

What, just like many of us you mean? And royal household staff work every other Christmas anyway as part of their normal contract of work. Again, just like lots of people do.

William lying to the press about his Covid diagnosis

In what way? By not immediately disclosing his personal medical records?

breaking rule of six

When?

doing appearances ignoring social distancing and not wearing masks

Really? I’ve seen loads of videos, photos of them wearing masks. And remember the rules aren’t that you have to wear masks at all times.

Will and Kate reportedly went on holiday by private jet at least once during the pandemic, albeit over the summer when restrictions were lessened

Well you’ve destroyed your own point there for me.

marbellamarc · 30/01/2021 06:37

her fashion is also an utter disaster - this is an area where she could excel and be a British design fashion plate, shifting the fortunes of the BFashion industry

Ha this annoys me too. She could have such fun & influence. But she has to be super safe & tasteful 🥱

marbellamarc · 30/01/2021 06:40

Shindiggery do you not see there's a contradiction between saying "well of course" and "Actually, money does not take this away. "

Yes bit of a row back there for shin.

JaneNorman · 30/01/2021 06:46

Actually I think she tries too hard and is too thin.

Wow. So only far people are allowed to struggle? What the fuck has her weight got to do with anything?

Somuddled · 30/01/2021 06:51

But people don't feel things in relation to how good or bad everyone else does. Exhaustion is a physical state, you feel it if you feel it. She is finding home school hard, it is fine for her to voice that. Do you also believe that no childless person is ever allowed to claim to be tried just because it is likely that parents are even more tired?

MusicalTrifleMonkey · 30/01/2021 06:55

@vera99

Tony Benn nailed it. Down with the lot of them (after the Queen goes she is a special case)...

“What power have you got?”

“Where did you get it from?”

“In whose interests do you use it?”

“To whom are you accountable?”

“How do we get rid of you?”

Benn asked these questions everywhere he went. I saw him write them on the chalkboards of classrooms and lecture halls. I heard him repeat them at rallies, protests and marches.

Maybe he should also have been asking how much do you cost vs how much do you bring our economy? Because the difference is about £1 billion in profit some years
Run1000km2021 · 30/01/2021 06:56

I agree this is unbelievably tone deaf. To those asking what she should be saying instead - I am sympathetic and often think they can’t get it right whatever they say, but in this case FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST KEEP QUIET. They clearly have chefs and nannies and yes whilst I’m sure it must still be hard at times, she should really recognise her privilege and maybe complain to her circle of privileged friends, not to the nation, many of whom are in a much much much worse position.

makingmammaries · 30/01/2021 06:59

Mostly I think she seems OK but the comment about cutting her kids’ hair was what got my goat. Surely the maids can take care of that?

Covidcorvid · 30/01/2021 07:05

Maybe they’re not wanting to use a tutor because you know....risk of covid, etc. Maybe Kate wants to do the homeschooling herself. Maybe they have minimal household staff because of covid, so maybe she’s doing a lot more herself. 🤷‍♀️

JaneNorman · 30/01/2021 07:09

@makingmammaries

Mostly I think she seems OK but the comment about cutting her kids’ hair was what got my goat. Surely the maids can take care of that?
So now you’re giving her shit for doing things herself?!

Would love to see the kids lockdown haircuts though. Wonder if they’re as bad as mine? (Or perhaps I shouldn’t mention that when I could have for the nanny or the cleaner to do them instead?).

WhoseThatGirl · 30/01/2021 07:11

I think she was tactless to say it but if only the truly worst off we’re allowed to express negative emotions then all most no-body could. Wealth and privilege gets rid of a lot of life’s difficulties but comes with its own too.

AubergineIsMyFavourite · 30/01/2021 07:15

Utterly contrived PR. Always is.