Kate Middletonis getting candid about the challenges of homeschooling her children during lockdown amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The mom of three, 39, spoke with a group of fellow parents in a candid video chat, in which she revealed which subject she struggles with most as she helpsPrince George, 7, andPrincess Charlotte, 5, with their assignments from home.
When asked how she would rate her math skills on a scale of 1 to 10, Kate replied, “-5.”
“I’m obviously right at the bottom!” she said with a smile.
Melissa Loosemore, the headteacher of Roe Green Junior School in London, then asked Kate and the other parents to write down the one word that best described parenting during the pandemic.
“Exhausting,” Kate wrote.
Kate Middleton talking with the parents this week.Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
“As parents, we have day-to-day elements of being a parent, but, I suppose, during lockdown we’ve had to take on additional roles that others in our community and lives would have helped us with,” she added.
One of those new roles has brought “horror” to her children — George, Charlotte and 2-year-oldPrince Louis— she admitted.
“I have become a hairdresser in lockdown – much to my children’s horror!” she said.
Kate also told the group that her husbandPrince Williamhas been the biggest support to her during the pandemic. It was clearly the right response – as other parents answered their partners and other family members. “We don’t want it to beBridgertonor something like that, do we?” quipped Loosemore.
Kate Middleton talking with parents earlier this week.Kensington Palace
The other parents on the call all have children who attend Roe Green Junior School in Brent, whichKate visited three years agoto launch her Mentally Healthy Schools project.
The video chat, which took place on Tuesday from her new office space at the Queen’s Sandringham House, was intended to build on some of the key issues that came up in Kate’s work for children aged 0-5, or the Early Years – such as parental well-being and loneliness.
“I know how challenging it is juggling work, home life, school life and everything else that you as parents are doing, so really well done,” Kate said.
“Fingers crossed, let’s hope for the positivity as you’ve all been saying,” she continued. Make sure everyone looks after themselves — it’s very hard to prioritize but it’s definitely needed now more than ever.
“It’s important for our children that we look after ourselves too.”
Nicole Seidemann, a mother of four, talked to the Duchess of Cambridge about the importance of exercise to her mental well-being, while fellow parents Musadiq Subar and Rajana Panchani spoke about how much they value support from their friends and colleagues during this difficult time.
The group also discussed the issue of parental loneliness. Kate’s Early Years survey found that loneliness was rising dramatically during the pandemic – from 38 percent to 63 percent – as parents find themselves cut off from support networks, friends and family.
The Cambridge family’s 2020 Christmas card.Matt Porteous / The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/Kensington Palace via Getty
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source: people.com
