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.

Shows how out of touch they are to reality. I think Kate comes across as a lovely, compassionate person, but I think if she makes ridiculous comments like this again, people will really go off her. She hasn’t got a clue how tough things are for families, how could she?

Wealth and privilege gets rid of a lot of life’s difficulties but comes with its own too.

Prince Andrew is probably finding the goldfish bowl very difficult & wishes he wasn't Royal. No wait, he defo needs that privilege!

I was irritated, but what was she supposed to write. She was put in that position I guess.

Thing is, a global pandemic has put a dent in Kate's catwalk ambitions. Time spent at home with the kids must be rather dull for her when she is used to shopping, lunching and travelling. I know kids comes as part of the contract of marrying Wills but I know she assumed the staff would deal with the day to day side of running their lives. I do feel somewhat disappointed that she airs her frustration though, but let's face it, life with Wills & the kids must be very boring for her.

So sick of competitive misery! She's allowed to feel exhausted. Everyone's feelings are valid!

@StrawBeretMoose

It is ridiculous and patronising, better to say nothing than come out with that claptrap.

This. Not a wise move and I like her.

So sick of competitive misery! She's allowed to feel exhausted.

Of course she is however when she is working & doing her bit to promote the RF & be "one of us" it's a mistake.

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

Not necessarily. People have different worries, pressures and personalities. Why stereotype?

Some single mums in ‘poky flats’ may be taking home schooling in their stride. They may have a great support network, childcare bubbles sorted, family locally. They may naturally have patient personalities or a high tolerance to stress and pressure. Their kids might be well behaved and keen to learn. Their school might expect less than some schools. Some mums may choose to leave a non-sustainable minimum wage job to claim UC, tax credits, housing benefit, FSM etc while they home-school, with little impact on their overall income. Others may be furloughed. Minimum wage jobs are often easy to walk into and out of compared to specialist higher earning careers.

In contrast a mum living on a big country estate (or just a big house) could have a high-earning pressured job that’s incompatible with home schooling. Who knows if tutors and nannies are affordable or available to her? Suppose her husband also has a high pressured job and losing one of their incomes would mean losing their home? Their mortgage, bills and outgoings may depend on their ability to work.
She could have mental health problems, suffer from stress/anxiety/depression. Could have physical health problems. Husband could be controlling or violent or marital problems going on. Could be isolated with no support. School might expect a lot. Kids may be wild and boisterous and not want to sit and learn. The size of her home, salary or marital status doesn’t magically make home schooling ‘a million times’ easier.

There will people on high incomes close to breaking point and people on low incomes coping fine. And vice versa. But so much depends on the flexibility of the employer and school, the mental and physical health of the parent(s), support systems, behaviour of the children, attitudes and coping strategies of the parent(s) etc.

Here we go, race to the bottom. Can one only acknowledge that lockdown is a struggle if one is a single parent, living in a pokey flat and worried about their future employment? I myself don’t fit that criteria but I can confidently say it’s been exhausting for me as a married mum of two trying to work full time and support home schooling. This narrow point of view is exhausting in itself.

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.

Then she’d cock her head and look out from under her fringe like she was going to cry.

Kate’s not Diana. To be fair, I didn’t realise she was directly asked for one word to describe homeschooling. I’ll let her off this one.

I myself don’t fit that criteria but I can confidently say it’s been exhausting for me as a married mum of two trying to work full time and support home schooling. This narrow point of view is exhausting in itself.

What's that got to do with a member of the RF making a PR misstep?

I think she could have said, like I often do, actually, "gosh I'm finding this hard, I can't being to imagine what others less fortunate are going through". That would have been empathetic. She can't pretend to be in the same boat as people worried about their job and their rent and trying to do it all with no help.

@Nopreservatives that's more than one word. I'm not sure how one human being saying they are exhausted, which is a physical state, is her claiming to be in the same boat as others for everything, she has never said that. If I were her I'd sack off all of the charity stuff rather than be judged by a bunch of bitches online for everything.

I'm finding it hard & tiring even though I have more than many.

However you expect some level of self awareness depending upon your situation. I might moan to my friends about a crap dinner I'm not going to do that whilst volunteering at a soup kitchen. I can complain about my cellulite but perhaps insensitive if my audience are in wheelchairs.

The point of this work exercise was to show how the RF are just like you & me but it's backfired.

[quote Backbee]@Nopreservatives that's more than one word. I'm not sure how one human being saying they are exhausted, which is a physical state, is her claiming to be in the same boat as others for everything, she has never said that. If I were her I'd sack off all of the charity stuff rather than be judged by a bunch of bitches online for everything.[/quote]
It is actually her job to do the charity stuff though

If I were her I'd sack off all of the charity stuff rather than be judged by a bunch of bitches online for everything.

Well that makes no sense as they need to do charity & remain visible in order to exist. Very difficult to do in a pandemic!
Why are you so judgemental of others judging?

Ffs its not a race to the bottom a struggling person is struggling the state 9f there bank balance shouldn't come into it

She hasn’t got a clue how tough things are for families, how could she?

Why would she, if she’s never been in that position herself?

She can guess at what it’s like, observe how people live during her charity interventions, imagine how tough it must be. But how can she be expected to fully understand what it’s like to live in poverty if she’s never had to?

I don't get this view. In the same vein no one on here has any right to complain that they are finding things hard, as there are x million people in the world worse off than you. They don't have furloughs, or basic sanitation, access to benefits, healthcare etc, etc. Do you acknowledge your privilege? I'm sure you don't, because everyone is living their own reality and experiencing their own struggles.

The context is not because she is rich but because she is Royal.

Why are you so judgemental of others judging?

Because its pathetic and sad. Women get enough judgement from society, let alone other women criticising, policing their feelings and judging. If a man said it, would men be up in arms? Unlikely. It's sad. Plus the charity work might be their work, she's in a position to say she can't be fucked though.

They are all insufferable. Her experience is nothing compared to the rest of the country and they are too stupid to realise it. No money worries, no risk of redundancy, it doesn't matter if her children do not do well, lovely housing, lots of help ...

Love how MNetters are always going on about mental health issues in lockdown but then love to tell other people how priviledged they are and how they have no problems and shouldn’t be stressed or depressed.

Everyone is allowed to feel exhausted and depressed. I have one child, a good income and a great DH and have spent this last week feeling borderline suicidal.

It’s not for outsiders to judge how anxious/ exhausted/ stressed other are allowed to feel.

Nice thread. I really hope the Duchess of Cambridge never actually reads online comments about herself. It would be enough to give anyone a complex.

@itispersonal

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

At least I’d respect her honesty!!