Kate Middleton admits parenting is a ‘constant challenge’

Kate Middleton opened up about the “mum guilt” she experiences when she has to say goodbye to her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis

40 year-old Kate Middleton has revealed she experiences “mum guilt” when she has to leave her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to carry out her royal duties.

Like many parents, dropping your kids off at school can be a challenge, especially when they ask why you can’t stay with them – and being a busy mum in the royal family is no different.

The Duchess of Cambridge recalled feeling ‘guilty’ when she was too busy to take her daughter Charlotte to school on Giovanna Fletcher’s podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby.

During the interview, which was to raise awareness for her 5 Big Questions survey, she spoke openly and honestly about parenting and childbirth.

When asked if she feels mum guilt, Kate admitted: “Yes absolutely – and anyone who doesn’t as a mother is actually lying.

“Yep – all the time, Even this morning, coming to the nursery visit here – George and Charlotte were like ‘Mummy how could you possibly not be dropping us off as school this morning?’

“It’s a constant challenge – you hear it time after time from mums, even mums who aren’t necessarily working and aren’t pulled in the directions of having to juggle work life and family life.”

She also says she sometimes feels guilty about the parenting decisions she makes.

She said: “[You’re] always sort of questioning your own decisions and your own judgements and things like that, and I think that starts from the moment you have a baby.”

Explaining how she deals with the guilt, she added: “The more people you have around your children who are safe and loving and caring, the better.

“So yeah – it was a real weight off my shoulders that actually it’s not totally my responsibility to do everything, because you know we all have good days, bad days – and you can dilute that with others who aren’t on that particular day struggling.

“I think it makes such a difference for your child, keeping them as constant and happy as possible.”

Kate also opened up about her difficult pregnancies, and how she suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum – extreme morning sickness – with all three children.

“It was fine. I got very bad morning sickness, so I’m not the happiest of pregnant people.
“Lots of people have it far, far worse, but it was definitely a challenge. Not just for me but also for your loved ones around you – and I think that’s the thing – being pregnant and having a newborn baby and things like that, impacts everybody in the family.

“You know, William didn’t feel he could do much to help and it’s hard for everyone to see you suffering without actually being able to do anything about it.

“I wasn’t eating the things I should be eating – but yet, the body was still able to take all the goodness from my body and to grow new life, which I think is fascinating.”

The duchess also reflected on her own childhood, and praised her parents Michael and Carole, for how they brought her up, and how it has impacted how she parents her children.

She said: “I had a very happy childhood. It was great fun – I’m very lucky, I’ve come from a very strong family – my parents were hugely dedicated to us – my siblings. I really appreciate now as a parent how much they sacrificed for us.

“They would come to every sports match – I was very keen on sport – they came to every sports match, they’d be the ones on the side-line shouting, and we’d always have our family holidays together.
“But I think the things that really resonate with me most are the simple things and actually I see that now with my own children, life now is so busy, so distracting and actually sometimes the simple things like watching a fire on a really rainy day provides such enjoyment.

“I remember that from my childhood – doing the simple things, going for a walk together, and that’s really what I try and do with my children as well because it totally strips away all the complications, all the pressures.”

The Duchess of Cambridge showed her playful side recently as she whizzed down a slide in Denmark during a rare solo overseas visit to promote her work on early childhood education.