We all know parenting can be tough.
We talk about it everyday.
Whether you are a single mum juggling three-under-three or a stay-at-home parent of a disabled child. Whether you work full time, part time or not at all, with one, two, three or ten kids. Mums or dads, young or older parents, we all feel that basic level of humility when we compare our journeys and realise that at some level we all struggle with parenting.
It’s the great leveller, isn’t it? That shared bond. We are all in it together.
But what about a prince?
What if you have butlers and nannies and security guards and chefs and private nurses and a team of doctors and several houses and a suite of cars?
What if you have millions in disposable income and all the help you need?
Are you allowed to have a whinge then?
Prince William has found out the hard way, that no you are jolly-well not – well, according to the world of social media.
The Duke of Cambridge committed the parenting faux-pas when he admitted he found it difficult to adjust from being a single bachelor to a married dad-of-two.
The father to Prince George, 3, and one-year-old Princess Charlotte, told a Vietnamese talk show: “There’s wonderful highs and wonderful lows. It’s been quite a change for me personally.
“I’m very lucky in the support I have from Catherine, she’s an amazing mother and a fantastic wife.
“But I’ve struggled at times. The alteration from being a single independent man to going into marriage and then having children is life-changing.”
But his comments didn’t go down very well on social media with users saying he didn’t know what “struggling” was and he was “out of touch”.
One woman wrote: “I can't even bring myself to read this when I'm currently re-juggling the shopping list to be able to make sure that the gas and electricity stays topped up, and there's food on the table and making sure that I have before and after school club fees and the dinner money for next week, whilst making sure that I don't make any unnecessary journeys because I'm in the red on the petrol.”
Another said: "Must be so hard with endless money for all the little dears needs and a team of nannies for when you get fed up playing mummies and daddies...! He hasn't got a clue what real parents live with."
“Really tough isn't it," said another commenter.
"Doing the school/nursery run, shopping for kids' clothes and nappies, cleaning up their mess, looking after them when they are ill, sharing the household chores with your wife, doing the DIY and holding down a full time job whilst struggling to pay the bills. Yeah. I really feel sorry for the poor bloke."
But others defended him.
One woman said: "Yes, he may have money and yes they may have help but that doesn't mean they don't struggle with parenthood as well. You should all know yourselves it's not just about the struggle with money but becoming a parent can affect you emotionally as well, it's a massive change for anyone no matter you background."
In the interview, the prince said that his son, George, was “a right little rascal” who “keeps [him] on his toes,” and that he found parenting Charlotte a different experience.
“Bearing in mind I haven’t had a sister, so having a daughter is a very different dynamic. So I’m learning about having a daughter, having a girl in the family.”
He then won the hearts back of those edgy from his “struggling” comments by saying he wanted his children to grow up with a down-to-earth approach.
“I would like George and Charlotte to grow up being a little bit more simple in their approach and their outlook, and just looking after those around them and treating others as they would like to be treated themselves.”
Okay Prince William for that, we forgive you.
But watch it, we are defensive and prickly us parents. Lack of sleep and continued mummy-judging does that you know. Tread very very carefully.
Top Comments
Yes money makes a big difference, but it doesn't make someone immune from struggling.
When I had my second child I was lucky enough to not have any financial stress, I was also fortunate enough to have a lot of help from family, didn't stop me from developing PND.
Can you also imagine having your every parenting move judged by the public too?! Hell no, I'd hate that.
Who's to say he's utilising those team of nannies / carers?
Of course wealth is going to make life easier, but perhaps he's doing what many do : and actually wanting to do a lot of that work.
Some wealthy people , believe it or not, still believe in doing most of the parenting ... that's how you become a parent, and have a bond with your kids.
Who's to say he / they aren't doing the hard yards?
Bet he'll never know the simple pleasure of going to a park, beach or camping trip without being bombarded ... hence they have security and live isolated lives where "everyone is your friend" and at same time, noone is.