Henrik Takes N + F + C + I to the Copenhagen Zoo

[lynda]

Seems he is a better grandfather than father



Could it be that he dressed her? She looks fine

My thoughts exactly.  I think I prefer Henrik to Marge. I'm sure he can be difficult and I'm pretty sure that he wasn't a good father, but at least he cares for his grandchildren and he seems to treat them equal.  Marge seems always formal with the kids and although she smiles a lot, there is no real warmth IMO.

I'm not sure about the kids' behaviour. I work with children and to me Christian and Isabella appear like children who are bored and often ignored. Christian rarely looks really happy and relaxed which I find odd.

We only have Fred telling the entire world what bad parents he had,
Joachim has turned out with lovely manners, very articulate in Danish, English, French & German..............he has never bad-mouthed his parents, nor as anyone - other than Fred saidd how terrible they were.
Perhaps Fred has always had to blame someone else...............

[BessieWallis Warfield]

Seems he is a better grandfather than father



Could it be that he dressed her? She looks fine

My thoughts exactly.  I think I prefer Henrik to Marge. I'm sure he can be difficult and I'm pretty sure that he wasn't a good father, but at least he cares for his grandchildren and he seems to treat them equal.  Marge seems always formal with the kids and although she smiles a lot, there is no real warmth IMO.

I'm not sure about the kids' behaviour. I work with children and to me Christian and Isabella appear like children who are bored and often ignored. Christian rarely looks really happy and relaxed which I find odd.

We only have Fred telling the entire world what bad parents he had,
Joachim has turned out with lovely manners, very articulate in Danish, English, French & German..............he has never bad-mouthed his parents, nor as anyone - other than Fred saidd how terrible they were.
Perhaps Fred has always had to blame someone else...............

  Good point!!

[tgb]

I can't be too harsh on X and IZ on the ground since we don't know how long the ceremony lasted. But what's even more striking to me is  what a little diplomat Nikolai is -- standing with hands folded in front, sitting attentively with hands folded, focusing on the speaker instead of being distracted by X. Felix also behaving well for his age. That pair has been trained really nicely.

[secondfromtheleft]

Autism is not curable but I'm not sure that, if Christian does have autism, he's not fit to rule.

My son has autism and has a higher IQ than his siblings.  Brilliantly equipped when it comes to school work (to the point where he is in Prep but is doing Grade 3 work out of boredom) but socially inept alot of the time.  But, with the right therapies and the help of his peers, his behaviour is 'normalising' itself pretty quickly.

Autism is a spectrum and, IMO, if Christian does have it, it's mild like my son's autism.  Quirky.  Odd.  A little strange.  But more than capable of holding their own.

  :star:Freethespoon!  From one mom with child on the spectrum to another. I agree with everything that you are saying.

My own son is a year older and has a very similar story to your son.

IMO it is very likely that there have been other monarchs who today would have been diagnosed with a spectrum disorder. I believe that Christian if he's on the spectrum will be up to the task though he's never going to be entirely comfortable in social settings. He'll need extra preparation and practice, but I truly believe that it would be possible to carry out the ceremonial roles associated with the Danish monarchy.
I'm making the following statements based upon my own conclusions that Christian is on the mild end of the spectrum. His behavior that has been caught on video, the school and classmate choices, and some of Frederik's statements about Christian have convinced me over the years.
IMHO the DRF's "less than enthusiastic" response to the news about Mary's last pregnancy is due to the fact that they were worried about a repeat diagnosis for one or both of the twins. I wouldn't be surprised if they're already looking for possible symptoms with both of them. I also believe that they would have had Isabella screened as soon as the family received the news.

My son has Asperger sy - some of Christian´s behavior seems suspicious to me, but we do not get enough information to be completely sure. If it´s true, it surely complicates matters for him - the social requirements of being a future heir to the throne. Anyway, it´s a condition you can work with and improve.

That said, both my children (6 and 4yo - so very much  like C. and I.) have been instructed to cover their mouths while yawning,  to not dig in their noses etc. since they were little and reminded when necessary, so they know very well how to behave. Still, I cannot be 100% sure that they will never be spotted showing off their tonsils while yawning, not even the girl who is neurotypical.

[BessieWallis Warfield]

Autism is not curable but I'm not sure that, if Christian does have autism, he's not fit to rule.

My son has autism and has a higher IQ than his siblings.  Brilliantly equipped when it comes to school work (to the point where he is in Prep but is doing Grade 3 work out of boredom) but socially inept alot of the time.  But, with the right therapies and the help of his peers, his behaviour is 'normalising' itself pretty quickly.

Autism is a spectrum and, IMO, if Christian does have it, it's mild like my son's autism.  Quirky.  Odd.  A little strange.  But more than capable of holding their own.

  :star:Freethespoon!  From one mom with child on the spectrum to another. I agree with everything that you are saying.

My own son is a year older and has a very similar story to your son.

IMO it is very likely that there have been other monarchs who today would have been diagnosed with a spectrum disorder. I believe that Christian if he's on the spectrum will be up to the task though he's never going to be entirely comfortable in social settings. He'll need extra preparation and practice, but I truly believe that it would be possible to carry out the ceremonial roles associated with the Danish monarchy.
I'm making the following statements based upon my own conclusions that Christian is on the mild end of the spectrum. His behavior that has been caught on video, the school and classmate choices, and some of Frederik's statements about Christian have convinced me over the years.
IMHO the DRF's "less than enthusiastic" response to the news about Mary's last pregnancy is due to the fact that they were worried about a repeat diagnosis for one or both of the twins. I wouldn't be surprised if they're already looking for possible symptoms with both of them. I also believe that they would have had Isabella screened as soon as the family received the news.

My son has Asperger sy - some of Christian´s behavior seems suspicious to me, but we do not get enough information to be completely sure. If it´s true, it surely complicates matters for him - the social requirements of being a future heir to the throne. Anyway, it´s a condition you can work with and improve.

That said, both my children (6 and 4yo - so very much  like C. and I.) have been instructed to cover their mouths while yawning,  to not dig in their noses etc. since they were little and reminded when necessary, so they know very well how to behave. Still, I cannot be 100% sure that they will never be spotted showing off their tonsils while yawning, not even the girl who is neurotypical.

I agree about Christian's behavior - a lot of it matches my son's but I am reluctant to give an armchair diagnosis on this one.  Once one child is diagnosed the others are watched very closely.  Over the years watching Christian lay on the ground, etc, it does raise the question in my mind.  It also might be why they have a large staff - children on the spectrum typically need hours upon hours of therapies in the early years, play therapy, occupational therapy, sometimes speech therapy. 


IF Christian is on the spectrum I wish his parents would come forward with this.  It would go a long way towards dispelling some of the stigmas.

[Barrie]

I think it is very important to Joachim that his children are well behaved where I think Fred takes a bit more of a laxed approach to many areas of parenting.

[christina01]

I agree Barrie, I think Jokke is stricter in some ways. Iam with those who think Xtian's behaviour isn't quite right for someone his age. He does seem a little odd, however I am no expert either. I too found it odd that Xtian and Issy get to sit next to Henri, and the older two, or further down the line two, sit on the outer. Is it their ages, or simply protocol, I don't know. One would hope protocol doesn't enter into it for an outing such as that. I also get the feeling Nik and Felix know they are not as important so to speak as X and Issy. 

[secondfromtheleft]

I agree Barrie, I think Jokke is stricter in some ways. Iam with those who think Xtian's behaviour isn't quite right for someone his age. He does seem a little odd, however I am no expert either. I too found it odd that Xtian and Issy get to sit next to Henri, and the older two, or further down the line two, sit on the outer. Is it their ages, or simply protocol, I don't know. One would hope protocol doesn't enter into it for an outing such as that. I also get the feeling Nik and Felix know they are not as important so to speak as X and Issy. 

My grandpa was not a Prince consort, but on outings, he tended to organize his grandkids in the same pattern - the youngest closest to him - regardless of his personal preferences. I guess we will be more certain when little Henrik and Athena grow a bit.
Norwegians had children on their laps during recent celebrations - it looked somehow more natural and family-like.

As or Nikolai and Felix, I hope they get to feel a difference between being important for the monarchy and being important for their grandparents.

[loubna]

it's nice to see all the kids together, joachim's sons seem to be very calm, christian and isabella much more turbulent, but i heard once that turbulent childrens became very calm adults, then patience, Danish will have the most wise princes in the world  
by way: i find that they have all amazing color of eyes 

[earl grey]

Ladies you are all making me blush. 
It hasn't always been easy, but then again: whose life is?
Best whishes to all the mothers here with a child on the autism spectrum. 
If anyone would like to p.m. me on this: please do! It may take a while before
I respond, but I always do.

[tigerben]

Seems he is a better grandfather than father



Could it be that he dressed her? She looks fine

My thoughts exactly.  I think I prefer Henrik to Marge. I'm sure he can be difficult and I'm pretty sure that he wasn't a good father, but at least he cares for his grandchildren and he seems to treat them equal.  Marge seems always formal with the kids and although she smiles a lot, there is no real warmth IMO.

I'm not sure about the kids' behaviour. I work with children and to me Christian and Isabella appear like children who are bored and often ignored. Christian rarely looks really happy and relaxed which I find odd.

We only have Fred telling the entire world what bad parents he had,
Joachim has turned out with lovely manners, very articulate in Danish, English, French & German..............he has never bad-mouthed his parents, nor as anyone - other than Fred saidd how terrible they were.
Perhaps Fred has always had to blame someone else...............

  Good point!!

  yep it is a great point Lydna , and I've not thought about it before,,but like Prince Charles , who has blamed his parents for all wrongdoing in the past!

[TLLK]

Ladies you are all making me blush. 
It hasn't always been easy, but then again: whose life is?
Best whishes to all the mothers here with a child on the autism spectrum. 
If anyone would like to p.m. me on this: please do! It may take a while before
I respond, but I always do.

Thank you earl grey. Adding my own best wishes to all of us who have a child or relative on the spectrum.

[Pepa]

Another cute pic:



I think the children have behaved very well. I have the impression that Christian and Isabella are healthy, activ, affectionate and specially, very happy children.

[Cara]

it's nice to see all the kids together, joachim's sons seem to be very calm, christian and isabella much more turbulent, but i heard once that turbulent childrens became very calm adults, then patience, Danish will have the most wise princes in the world  
by way: i find that they have all amazing color of eyes 

there's definitely hope. a few years ago nikolai made headlines because he was running wildly in a restaurant where his mother was lunching at the great annoyance of other guests. he literally ended up running into a glass door! he was about christian's age or maybe a year or so older. nikolai was also pictured having tempter tantrums (after his mother moved into her new house).

[abs]

it's nice to see all the kids together, joachim's sons seem to be very calm, christian and isabella much more turbulent, but i heard once that turbulent childrens became very calm adults, then patience, Danish will have the most wise princes in the world  
by way: i find that they have all amazing color of eyes  

there's definitely hope. a few years ago nikolai made headlines because he was running wildly in a restaurant where his mother was lunching at the great annoyance of other guests. he literally ended up running into a glass door! he was about christian's age or maybe a year or so older. nikolai was also pictured having tempter tantrums (after his mother moved into her new house).

I remember my sister calling Nicolai a little brat because of his behaviour. I am more tolerant with kids. They are just kids, that will always be my stance!

Another more troubling thing about the crown couple´s children. They look so miserable with Mary around. It just isn´t right! Latest, look at Xian at the soccer game, and look at him with grandpapa - is this even the same child?! One picture (two) can speak louder than a thousand words. Poor kids!