Kate - news and photos III

[Diogenes]

Hear, hear!   

[ralf103]

100% agree - I remember a parent having a stand up row with me once about how unfair it was that school wasn't providing care for the children for all the weeks of the summer break (there was one week we weren't - we were for the rest as that was already beyond what a School should have do IMO!) She was adamant we were being unfair because she had to work and we should care for her children so she could do so. IMO school isn't seen as a school much anymore but merely where children go to spend time while parents work with a bit of education thrown in.

[Miss Marple]

Here in Germany they try to be their kids friends and they always have the excuse "my kid has to learn to be more independent". Many parents don't discipline them, not even, if they are sitting besides them and the kid misbehaves.

Kid shows up on a hot day for a field trip and has no water - "I told my kid to pack it" (Did you make sure - no. It would have been work).
Ambulance has to be called because kid collapses after PE because it has not eaten properly - "I am sick of reminding the kid to eat breakfast!"
Kid is enrolled in daycare from 7.30 - 5pm while mom is at home - "See, he/she is an only child, I want him/her to have company of other kids"
Kid did not do his homework - "Sorry, I am sick and tired of reminding him - and, btw, isn't that your job to motivate the kids?"
Kid has no lunch money - "We are stuck financially, sorry, we all have to save money" - while mom has the iphone 12 in front of her on the table

All occurences in my school - and they all happen daily. So the question is - no, a lot of parents don't parent anymore. They make sure their kids spent a lot of time away from them that they don't have to bother with them. Or they have absurd dreams and ideas.

"You know, Oliver nearly made the try out for Bavaria Munich (famous German soccer club). They nearly made an offer! He has to work hard on the field, so there is no real time for homework. It is his dream and he is determined to follow it. I am so proud of my kid." - Oliver had a C in PE in general, the talent scout just wanted to be nice and gave a positive feedback.

Back to Kate - I would not support something like that. IMO there is too much understanding and tolerance and a lot of people use that loophole to get out of parenting.

[Miss Marple]

100% agree - I remember a parent having a stand up row with me once about how unfair it was that school wasn't providing care for the children for all the weeks of the summer break (there was one week we weren't - we were for the rest as that was already beyond what a School should have do IMO!) She was adamant we were being unfair because she had to work and we should care for her children so she could do so. IMO school isn't seen as a school much anymore but merely where children go to spend time while parents work with a bit of education thrown in.

Yes. And they don't care. Kid writes a bad mark? - it is the teachers fault.

But not only at school. We are Roman Catholic and my boys serve the altar. 10 years ago the head altar boy sends a plan when it is your turn to serve. If you could not make it you were ringing other people to cover for you. Now - nobody cares. We attend mass weekly and about nine out of ten Sundays my boys are asked (by the sacristan) if they can cover on short notice. Our priest has tried to talk to parents about it, but is told that "they do it voluntarily, it is unfair to force them, don't put pressure on them".

My son (15) is interested in doing an apprenticeship with a big local company. In order to have your application considered they are running a one year preparation course - one afternoon a week. They teach them really interesting things, there are try outs, they spend a lot of time and energy running the course and my son absolutely loves it. They do that because they are shocked by the moral and knowledge of students leaving school. Two (!) kids from his school applied to get into the class - they teach them so many useful skills, I would even pay for having him in. But generally - no interest. "Do we have to work for free?". "Nope, you idiot. Some famous company invests a lot of money to qualifiy you for an apprenticeship with them, you get insight in many technical jobs, you get to know people, they teach you a lot of things and give you feedback on it, they give you a lot of skills - for free and lose a lot of money on you if you don't apply after school). 

[Zazoo]

It’s vary informative to read about deferent approaches around the world I’m curious if we have a British context so we can have a base of what kate will work with. I’m really curious if they will go for superficial like nature is good for kids or go deep and export examples of how to “use” nature to educate.
I’m not an educator (I’m an architect) but I’m a scout leader (volunteer) what I noticed in Milan is that the kids(7-12y) where so anxious, continuously asking what time is? If we finished?, when is the next activity? Their parents maxed their days with activities so they arrive at Saturday morning burn and crush, with parents that don’t understand that we are not nannies and/or playrooms, that there is a certain educational program behind.
Instead in Cyprus, a far smaller context parents are not very comunicative, i have a kid that is def neurodivergent, we asked indirectly many times about it (how to react, what are the stressors) both parents fail to acknowledge  that their child is less that “perfect”. And while parents seem to be more involved they either do the task for the kids(ex.write about a tree in your area. Smell texture size)so task failed essentially. Or leave the kid to do their overnight bags alone without supervision and said kid arrives with spoon but no plate, toothpaste but no toothbrush. Like check beforehand dude just five minutes!
My goddaughter started elementary this year. They still use the play-do , the 10set cubes for math, and the colorfull cards for forming words. But their white board is interactive and they all seem to be able to operate a tablet, so a compromise I guess?!

[lothwen]

Could I just ask something?  Why on earth do people have kids in the first place if they don’t want to do the work of raising them?  Just asking for a friend …

Speaking as a mom of three kids (ages 7, 5. and 3), with the two oldest on the spectrum, currently being a full-time SAHM while I try to get the older kids enrolled in school (we recently moved to a different state), I feel like I am constantly exhausted. I don’t expect anyone to raise my kids, but you yourself said it’s “work”.  I don’t think it’s a bad thing when a parent wants some occasional respite or help.

[Nappyolean]

Could I just ask something?  Why on earth do people have kids in the first place if they don’t want to do the work of raising them?  Just asking for a friend …

Because people don’t have kids….they have babies who are super cute in their little yellow sundresses with matching bonnet or blue snowsuit with cute polar bear hat. But people forget the cute babies start walking, talking, needing, whining, costing, etc etc.

[bumbershoot]

We have a situation in my extended family in which a pair of young parents seems totally clueless about their child and his needs. It's as if they want him to perform a fantasy version of childhood without any idea of what children are and can do.

I remember at Easter when he was barely walking, his mom assigned a specific color of Easter egg for him to find at the Easter  egg hunt. Only he didn't know his colors yet, and, what was worse, his color was green and all the eggs were hidden in tall grass. She kept getting so upset and frustrated with him because he couldn't find the eggs. He didn't even really know what Easter eggs were and why he should be looking for them. And she yelled at him when he found a red egg because that was the wrong color. It just about broke my heart.

[Maria]

This is interesting but also O/T. Feel free to start a topic about it elsewhere.

This thread is for news about Kate.

[fairy]

Bumbershoot, your post is heart-breaking, that mom clearly should read up on motherhood and raising children.
BUT, I kind of wonder if we aren't completely overburdening our children in any way.
Many parents make a decision to have children, they plan conception, the labor and delivery and of course they have everything pat down until graduation from an Ivy league college. You hear, that if you aren't enrolled in a great toddler program, you won't be able to get into a great elementary school and then in due time into a good school and thus good college: so basically if you aren't making sure the baby is already connected and promoted from the cradle, everything is lost and you failed as parents.
I met mothers whose children would not know how to really play, but they were enrolled in kids programs such as early music, early language, early whattheding.
The article above e.g. mentioned this super duper much hailed program, and it said (loosely quoted:) that one teacher tickled a baby with a feather "tak(ing) her chance to teach the little girl as she plays along, sounding out the word “feather”, and giving a description of its colour and texture".
I had to sigh reading this. Let the child simply giggle and enjoy the play, must everything turn into a lecture these days?
You don't see children outside for unsupervised play, they do not learn how to really cope without parents and adults, they do not learn how to deal with other children, who they might not like or who do something they do not like, because there is an adult with them to mediate to step in. They do not learn how to assess risks, because they act in very set boundaries. They learn their life skills in a bubble.
All that is hailed as the "perfect childhood".
And obviously many if not most parents are completey overwhelmed with a task like this. So they fail and they either expect the society to pick up or they in denial and they fight everybody and the veternarian.
We are creating little monsters, whose self image is nowhere where other people see it. They either feel like complete failures, because society and Instagram tell them how to be a beautiful and successful and happy person and they just can't reach those ridiculous ideals or they are so full of themselves, having heard that their poop smells like rainbows their entire life that they can't deal with frustration or obstacles or opposition.

[fairy]

Oops sorry Maria, you are of course very right. We should start a thread on this....

[Cordelia Fitzgerald]

Any predictions for her outfits this week?

I'm figuring some new Ralph Lauren and/or new Tory Burch and/or Jason Wu

Possibly something lower cost from J Crew?

Probably rewearing an Alexander McQueen suit to the Harvard engagement

REALLY hoping for no red/white/blue themed outfits and REALLY REALLY hoping for no subtle tributes like star-shaped charms on hoop earrings.

Would be so on-message if her entire wardrobe were re-worn; would really play up the idea of sustainability/etc.  I doubt that will happen but my respect for her would definitely increase if she did that.

[periwinkle]

When they were in California after their wedding there was no theme dressing thank goodness. Hopefully Catherine has done her homework on Caroline's look which is conservative and classic and will imitate. Boston is traditional and it's getting chilly in the northeast so coats will be on display for sure. Considering how mindful they are of the American gaze with our national instinct to side with Meghan more than these two and given the antiquated optics of aspects of their Jamaica tour I wonder how "brooch-y" Kate will be? Better to be modern and not copycat a young queen. Life moves on.

[Aubiette]

I’m hoping for a repeat of this one for the Earthshot event. She has other long sleeve gowns that are nice too though.



Pick your fav or guess. I stole this off of Twitter.

[ralf103]

I'm pretty sure for the main ceremony she'll do a rewear to fit with the theme (or something from left field like a dress from ocean litter, recycled plastic or something) -  I would also love it if she did only rewears for whole of the trip stateside as it would send a powerful message. She could even pull some new jewel wears out (from late Queen even) to make up for repeated outfits.