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.

Do you?

Which part of my post was bitchy?

@TwelvePaws

Nasty and unnecessary thread.

I think Kate seems very kind and caring, especially concerning children and mental health issues.
If she’s homeschooling 3 young children, she may well feel exhausted. Being rich won’t change that.

Do you feel better for getting your bitchiness out though? Probably not.

Homeschooling your 3 young children when you have zero housework, cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, worries about bills or even a job (let's face it, she does next to nothing other than a few zoom calls), has professional childcare and a PA to organise everything so she barely has to even direct staff is NOT exhausting. It would be a pleasure. Don't suggest it would be anything other than a joy.

I'm a SAHP with three kids, eldest is Charlotte age, twins younger than Louis
I'll remember my place and never complain I find it exhausting because I'm not a single parent with more children in a smaller house with more school work to do.

And if next week I find myself a single parent I'll remember my place and never complain it's exhausting because I could have 6 children and be running a business from home.
Basically I'll remember no one is entitled to be exhausted unless you're a single WFH parent to twelve single handedly keeping the economy alive

Which part of my post was bitchy?

Really?

How do we know she's a hands on mum? Because we're told?

How do you know she isn't?

I'll remember my place and never complain I find it exhausting because I'm not a single parent with more children in a smaller house with more school work to do.

Who's saying that? It's about being royal & reading the room.

It would be a pleasure. Don't suggest it would be anything other than a joy.
Why MUST it be a joy to teach a recalcitrant 5 year old split digraphs when they don't want to do it? Why are mother's particularly seen as lying or lacking if they don't love every aspect of parenthood, even the bits they never expected to have to do

@TwelvePaws

Do you?

Which part of my post was bitchy?

None of it was.

Unlike posts by other posters.

Don't suggest it would be anything other than a joy.

😂😂😂

Yeah, right.

But it is exhausting. Even if you have a nice house and a partner.

@GintyMcGinty

But it is exhausting. Even if you have a nice house and a partner.

No no, only single parents in tiny flats find it hard work. The rest of us need to shut up, it's a pleasure and a joy

I fucking hate homeschooling, SAHM of two. Not saying there aren't moments of pleasure and joy but on the whole it's a grind, not the life I chose, and I hate feeling like they aren't progressing as they should and missing out on normal life. I 100% get the feeling I'm not allowed to complain because I'm not also working, but believe me its still hard, just not as hard.

@SleepingStandingUp true plus we have more time for banana bread, yoga and learning mandarin 😂

withmycoffee

You don’t know that she doesn’t do any of those things in lockdown though? You just think you know that. But even if she doesn’t and she ‘just’ homeschools her children, she may find it exhausting.

But let’s say that she does find it joyful, and she wrote ‘joyful’ on that piece of paper, do you think people would have been happy with that? She can not win. And if she doesn’t make appearances like this, she gets moaned at too for not doing stuff. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m not a particular fan of the royals but she’s in the position that she is in, what is she meant to do? Just accept that she’ll never please everyone I suppose.

@marbellamarc

Which part of my post was bitchy?

Really?

Yes. I would like to know.

No no, only single parents in tiny flats find it hard work. The rest of us need to shut up, it's a pleasure and a joy

And if you do struggle, your money will magically make you feel a lot better. I would recommend grating a £20 and sprinkling on top of a cake made of 50s, topped with melted gold- instant relief. If only someone would have told the many people who seemingly 'have it all' that their struggles don't count before they struggled so much with their life they couldn't carry on.

[quote GintyMcGinty]@SleepingStandingUp true plus we have more time for banana bread, yoga and learning mandarin 😂[/quote]
DS does yoga every morning, that nice Jaime lady comes in and teaches it. In future I shall watch him whilst I eat 🍌 bread 😂😂. If I was a decent parent, no doubt I'd be teaching him yoga myself and LOVING IT

Nothing in her life is a logistical challenge.....well yes it is. she can't pop to Tesco can she? She can't have a play date without planning, vetting, security and God knows what.

None of it was.

Calling a thread nasty & unnecessary because you have a different opinion & asking posters if they feel better by getting their bitchiness out is bitchy.

Unlike posts by other posters

I've not seen many. But I don't consider questioning or criticising the RFs actions bitchy.

@TwelvePaws
Perhaps she should have wrote #Johnty and then when asked to explain, explain that he's the private tutor they've locked in the attic for the last year because she's too good for split infinitives and really just sits reading mills and boons in-between zooms. I think it would make a lot of people on here happier

At what point on the spectrum of rich to poor, privileged to not, are ones feelings valid?

Live in social housing = valid; live in privately owned = Not valid?

What if the mortgage on the privately owned is crippling and there’s no outdoor space?

What if you’re rich, with 3DC with special needs and the special needs provision is unavailable is that less valid than someone who is poor but is “home schooling” one motivated, high achieving 14 year old.

I would have preferred boring af!

I’m not doing it mum! Don’t you know I’m going to be king one day! 😂😂😂

Made me chuckle

AND the pressure of having to educate a future king. No slack days for them.

Why not? It’s not like the royals have been super hot on education historically.

Besides, I suspect they have plenty of help there.

At what point on the spectrum of rich to poor, privileged to not, are ones feelings valid?

I don't think that's the point. Of course it's shit for lots of people for different reasons.
However the point of this exercise (because she is a royal) was maintaining profile & being relatable to the plebs. It was a fail.