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.

I'm what you described and not struggling, should I be struggling? YABU shes only human and we all cope differently.

Puppy planning , as was mentioned up thread ,there are any number of better words she could have chosen or perhaps better words her PR could have gamed out / prepped her with .

@Livingtothefull, their popularity has always risen and fallen. They were intensely unpopular in the mid 1930s and again in the 1960s. There was huge public condemnation of the Queen in 1997 because of her attitude towards Diana’s death.

Unless there’s a referendum - which on present polling would be decisively in favour of keeping the monarchy - they’re not going anywhere. And comparisons with Marie Antoinette are risible, much as I’d like a revolution it’s not happening here any time soon.

JaneNorman Sat 30-Jan-21 13:26:01
@RonaldMcDonald I too have a theory. I have a theory that you are a deeply unpleasant person. I know nothing about you, I’ve never met you, but your words have given me a small glimpse into your personality so I’m going to just fill in the blanks in a way that suits my agenda.

Do you see what I did there?

I dunno.....Made yourself look silly and a bit of a royal arse licker?
RonaldMcDonald knows loads more about Prince William and Kate than you do about RonaldMcDonald? You know, what with them choosing to be public figures and employing PR to tell us all about them and their lives.
Your comparison doesn’t make sense.

But can't you see how much harder it is for a single parent, in a flat with no garden, limited income and possibly children with SN? Some people are having a much more challenging time than others

But having a partner, large house, garden and comfortable income don’t guarantee it’s less challenging. They could have all sorts of other difficulties like marital problems, threat of losing their income (and house), poor health, high stress from juggling a high pressure job with home schooling etc.

It’s difficult for everyone and wealth/big house/garden doesn’t make it automatically easier.

@HikeForward But having a partner, large house, garden and comfortable income don’t guarantee it’s less challenging. They could have all sorts of other difficulties like marital problems, threat of losing their income (and house), poor health, high stress from juggling a high pressure job with home schooling etc

Threat of losing their income? High pressure jobs? (in normal times yes for that one, but certainly not right now).

I'll happily take a few weeks of 'exhausting' homeschooling with a full time nanny, schools that cover the full day with zoom calls, large grounds, and two parents doing minimal work on full pay with recession-proof jobs.

The way I see it is that if someone with all her resources finds it exhausting, doesn’t it validate the feelings of those who are in much less privileged position and allready on their knees.
I hope that makes sense.

I have two DC, 9 & 12. We are very privileged in many ways, big house, big garden and no money worries. I absolutely know I have it good and I’m very thankful. But I have still cried a lot because I worry and despair for my DC.

I know their popularity has risen and fallen VinylDetective although it is arguable whether they have ever been 'intensely unpopular'. They dug themselves out of the latest crisis after Diana's death because the Queen took good advice to say/do the right things to (belatedly) give a public show of respect towards Diana whatever her private feelings might be.

And I don't agree that Marie Antoinette's example is irrelevant just because the times are different. The C18th French monarchy failed to 'read the room' of the changing times and once they lost the support of the public it was all over. Times are changing now; there will be a 'new normal' when lockdown ends and it will be up to them to adapt to it.

I can almost guarantee had this thread been about Meghan it would have disappeared.

Yes, after it had reached max and then another one would have been restarted right after. Nothing against either women and not bothered about Kate’s wording, but it would have been way more brutal against Meghan than what I’ve read here about Kate and on top of that it would have descended into Good Kate and Evil Meghan as it usually did on those threads.

@Smncandles

Jane Norman , yes we can see what you did. Do you not have instincts about people ? Never act on a hunch ?

Well it certainty wouldn’t involve publicly slating people I don’t know on things that are none if my business.

Times change constantly. The only certainty is change. Personally I believe they’ve weathered enough change in the past to weather some more.

'Past performance is no guarantee of future performance'.

God forbid if Meghan was in the same position, and said the same thing. The response in the main would be a venomous onslaught.

What should she say instead?! Tell us all about the tutors and nannies she has.

It’s hard for everyone tbh!

“Well it certainty wouldn’t involve publicly slating people I don’t know on things that are none if my business.”

What are you doing here then ?😅

Disagree. Whilst you may think she is unreasonable personally, who are we to devalue her feelings? It is all about individual perspective.

Yes it may be exhausting for her. And if it is, I have compassion. I acknowledge some may feel they have it harder, and they may well do, but it doesn't make either person's feelings less valuable.

@HikeForward

But can't you see how much harder it is for a single parent, in a flat with no garden, limited income and possibly children with SN? Some people are having a much more challenging time than others

But having a partner, large house, garden and comfortable income don’t guarantee it’s less challenging. They could have all sorts of other difficulties like marital problems, threat of losing their income (and house), poor health, high stress from juggling a high pressure job with home schooling etc.

It’s difficult for everyone and wealth/big house/garden doesn’t make it automatically easier.

I'm not Kate but one of the biggest factors that have made things easier for our family is money.

My kids have their own rooms, tech for schooling and access to private outside space.

Of course it's harder for her to wfh but she has a partner and staff who can make sure that the kids and pets aren't disrupting the call or trashing the home while she is on calls.

Money and a secure job are priceless atm and she's lucky that the nature of her job will have people fawning over how great she is even though she's not offering her full services by wfh.

Remember that the younger generation are being an heir to the throne as a job that nobody would want. Presumably that means if they weren't doing charity work then they would stay at home with the kids and pets

@meanweedratstew

Except she works. Based on your definitions of a Mum who works (sahm or employed), she does both! She is a philanthropist who is currently focused on development in the early years AND on top of that, she's a Mum. A double job if you ask me.

While it may not be a 9-to-5 job, imagine the pressure knowing the job you do could have an immense impact on millions of children as well as looking after your own.

Why should her feelings be less valued just because she is royal?

They do work, but it's all laid on isn't it?
Pre covid times, they would both have their Royal 'timetable' to follow but it wouldn't involve getting the children to child care first or waiting for the 168 bus outside the station to get to these jobs would it? It's all nice cars and others to sort out the domestic side of things so they can arrive fluster free and go home again at a reasonable time , not stopping at the shops on the way back to pick up the food for their evening meals to then have to cook!
It's another world , which they do probably appreciate, but it's hard to know how others get on when they have never really had to do it themselves.

As far as I'm concerned today's younger royals are little different from the 'celebrities' from TV reality programs.

'Except she works'

Give me strength ....

@Smncandles

'Except she works'

Give me strength ....

Threat of losing their income? hmm High pressure jobs? (in normal times yes for that one, but certainly not right now). I'll happily take a few weeks of 'exhausting' homeschooling with a full time nanny, schools that cover the full day with zoom calls, large grounds, and two parents doing minimal work on full pay with recession-proof jobs

I wasn’t referring to Kate here but people on higher incomes in general. I dislike the assumption that you can’t be struggling if you have a big house and garden!

What use is a garden in winter? How does a big house make home-schooling easier than a flat?

Lots of comfortably off parents are juggling home schooling with work.

Agree with Hike ^

So, we have a virtual 50/50 split of royal family haters, and royal family lovers on this thread.

@Livingtothefull YABU. Kate's feelings are just as valid as anyone else's.

Mine and DH's daughter left home a few years ago, and we have no kids at home. We are both furloughed (on 20% less salary,) and in the house, or walking round our small village every single day, and not doing much else, and are terrified we will not have a job to go back to because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

We both have days when we feel low and blue, and like bursting into tears as we fear for the future so much. Add to that our age (mid 50s,) and the fact we are both in the 'at risk' group for getting covid19, and the fact that virtually everyone close to us lives more than half an hours drive away (in other towns,) so we can't see them, and you have a recipe for depression and low moods and eventually mental health issues...

We feel vulnerable and scared and a bit lonely some days, and are only just clinging on to our sanity, because of everything, and wondering when it's going to end, and if we will have a job at the end of it.

Should we just suck it up, because we don't have kids to home-school, and haven't yet lost our jobs? Like hell we will. Our worries and fears are just as valid as anyone else's...

I am sick of people trying to piss all over, and invalidate the feelings of others because other people have it worse. Some have it worse than us, and we have it worse than others... As I said, everyone's worries and fears and troubles are as valid as anyone else's.