Felix & Nikolai: First day of School

[Little_star]

My parents used to drop me of at school when I was Felix and Nikolai's age so I see nothing odd about the fact that Alex is doing the same. That just seems like being a responsible parent IMO.

[Cara]

it's pretty normal and common for both parents to accompany an 11 and 8 year old to school on the first school year day. nice also if the step parent goes along as they do live as a family.

[dutchess]

Can't see anything special in this event either. Just a mum and a stepdad dropping the kids off at school. Happens millions of times all over the world every day.

[agapi]

I read your opinions about parrents-children and first day at school and it seems that we are rased different in Greece. In Greece, it is normal and common for a mother or a father to drop their children at school, but please pay attention to the word 'or'. Of course, it is not a crime if both parrent want to do that, but it is very rare, to be honest I haven't seen this during my 12 schoolyears . In Greece moreover, it is common enough for children at the age of 11 or 8 to be accompanied to school by their grandparrent, because the parrents, who are state's emplyees, start their work at 7 in the morning and the lessons ay school start at 8:15.... I have never been droped to school by both my parrents, because as state's emplyees, they should work that time. My mother had the right to go later to work, when the school started and that's all! All the other days, my aunt, who didn't work, droped me to school and at the age of 11, I was allowed to go to school with my classmates.
That's way, it is so strange to me that martin and Alex accompany the boys to school. After all, the lesson lasted only for 50 minutes, so no big deal!

[hanzo1]

I think that the paps and Alex have some sort of understanding when to take pictures and when not
I remember that the Nikolai won something and the paps where waiting outside the school to take his pics he seems very uncomfortable while Alex was  enjoying every moment It seems to me that she called the paps so they would captured It

[Maria]

We can hardly expect Margrethe to drop the kids of to school And as many have said, it's perfectly normal for parents to take thier kids to school. Furthermore it's the first day of the new school year - it's not unusual for both parents to take the child to school.

[Jane]

Yes, here in Australia both parents usually try to be there at the first day of the school year. I can understand why N and F get photographed on this occasion.

[thrilla]

We can hardly expect Margrethe to drop the kids of to school And as many have said, it's perfectly normal for parents to take thier kids to school. Furthermore it's the first day of the new school year - it's not unusual for both parents to take the child to school.

I guess my daughter's school is just different. In "0" class and sometimes 1st grade, it's not unusual for both parents to accompany kids to school the first day, but from 2nd grade, the first day of school is just a regular school day. My daughter didn't even want me to come into the building with her this year, because it would have looked too "childish" for her. She's 8 years old.

I wasn't sure if both hubby and I should plan to go with her the first day this year, if it was still a big deal or not, so I asked several friends with slightly older kids in other schools what they usually did and none of them said they made a big deal out of first day of school after 1st grade. Maybe Kreb's school is just different and the first day is a more af an event there? I don't get the impression that it's such a big deal in the rest of Copenhagen, at least judging by my friends that I spoke with, whose kids go to a variety of schools, public and private.

[chicken]

when I was a little kid, early 80's, my siblings and I all walked to school from home - about a kilometre or two.  we often walked together, but sometimes my brothers would run ahead etc.  We did this even in the rain with our gumboots on and raincoats. We crossed a park and walked along a track next to a storm water drain!

These days, this is totally unacceptable - schools have rules (both public schools and private schools) that such young kids aren't allowed to walk to school. Especially in the junior years they must be dropped off by parents or on the bus, and at my niece's school, the parent of a kindergarten child must be available to talk to the teacher before class in case the teacher has something to say to the parent - the school expects high levels of parental participation in the kids' schooling.

it just shows how much times have changed imo!

I agree with the posters who say it's lovely to see Martin with the kids on first day of school - i like to see step parents fully integrated into their kids lives and playing a proper, parental role despite not being the actual parent.  I work in family law, and see so many separated families where there's huge tension between the old and new families and the kids know this and pit the parents against eachother so the kid can have their way.  you end up with really unstable homes, and kids without discipline because there's no "united front" from parents.  The kids end up with very chaotic lives - escpecially in the teenage years.


my boyfriend's son is nearly 18 and his parents drive him to school EVERY DAY!  now compare THAT to my upbringing!!

 
chick

[Maria]

We can hardly expect Margrethe to drop the kids of to school And as many have said, it's perfectly normal for parents to take thier kids to school. Furthermore it's the first day of the new school year - it's not unusual for both parents to take the child to school.

I guess my daughter's school is just different. In "0" class and sometimes 1st grade, it's not unusual for both parents to accompany kids to school the first day, but from 2nd grade, the first day of school is just a regular school day. My daughter didn't even want me to come into the building with her this year, because it would have looked too "childish" for her. She's 8 years old.

I wasn't sure if both hubby and I should plan to go with her the first day this year, if it was still a big deal or not, so I asked several friends with slightly older kids in other schools what they usually did and none of them said they made a big deal out of first day of school after 1st grade. Maybe Kreb's school is just different and the first day is a more af an event there? I don't get the impression that it's such a big deal in the rest of Copenhagen, at least judging by my friends that I spoke with, whose kids go to a variety of schools, public and private.

I think it depends on what your traditions are. Someone from my work took a day off to take her son to his first school day - he's in second grade and she talked about going with him, crying ect I think that's a bit extreme but on the other hand me and and my dad celebrated my first day of school all the way up to university with a trip to Tivoli and a big icecream so I won't rule out making a tradition of my own marking the first day of school Though following my oldest son on his first day to school will most likely be ruled out by him - I'm glad we've got a little brother

[thrilla]

I feel sad for Martin's daughter seeing these pics
The fact that he isn't taking the part of her dad is IMO the biggest sign that he is fake but why would he care? he can play the fake daddy and Alex would pay for his life which at the end makes her a fool

I completely agree, the fact that Alex parades Martin around with her sons in front of the Danish media playing happy families, without thinking about the impact this has on Martin's biological daughter. Shows that Alex's has a very selfish side. In my view,  she is also very thought less.   

Alex shouldn't be blamed for Martin's behavior.  Should she just hide him and not have him in any pictures w/ or w/out the princes?  Life goes on. . . As for Martin's family issues, it has been discussed numerous times, that we really don't know the details of all of that.  It's just conjecture from people.  I would've preferred Jokke there instead.  Don't know why he couldn't make it.  Perhaps it would've been best for Alex to arrive alone, but Martin is their 'stepfather,' like it or not.

ITA.

Surely people should be happy that Martin seems to have a warm, loving relationship with his stepsons. Or would they prefer it if he and the boys didn't get on?!

It's not that black and white, LS. I'm happy if they have a good relationship to Martin, Lord knows I loves me some Nikolai and Felix!    what bothers me is I get the impression that regardless of how close they really are to him, Martin seems to be using them as a prop in his live, On Broadway performance of "Countess Consort and Candidate for Stepdaddy of the Year" by Martin "of Fredensborg" Jørgensen, playwright. He really can't be photographed without a big arm around one boy or the other, moreso than either of their biological parents. It would be sweet if it seemed really genuine, but in his case, he is starting to look like a bit of a media and attention whore and I find it doubly troubling in this instance, since he does not seem to have come to terms with his own biological child. 

[agapi]

I can't agree more thrilla, this is exactly how I feel everytime I see Martin with Nikolaj and Felix 
(BTW we only have photos of him, when his stepsons are around  )

[Little_star]

ITA.

Surely people should be happy that Martin seems to have a warm, loving relationship with his stepsons. Or would they prefer it if he and the boys didn't get on?!

It's not that black and white, LS. I'm happy if they have a good relationship to Martin, Lord knows I loves me some Nikolai and Felix!    what bothers me is I get the impression that regardless of how close they really are to him, Martin seems to be using them as a prop in his live, On Broadway performance of "Countess Consort and Candidate for Stepdaddy of the Year" by Martin "of Fredensborg" Jørgensen, playwright. He really can't be photographed without a big arm around one boy or the other, moreso than either of their biological parents. It would be sweet if it seemed really genuine, but in his case, he is starting to look like a bit of a media and attention whore and I find it doubly troubling in this instance, since he does not seem to have come to terms with his own biological child.  [/quote]
I consider myself very lucky as my parents have a very happy marriage and I've never had to deal with the whole issue of step-parents.

I always feel a little sorry for step-parents as they're in the unfortunate position of always being viewed with suspicion; by the kids, the ex and outsiders. Martin strikes me as being a touchy feely sort of guy so it doesn't strike me as being weird that he chooses to hold the kids hands or their arm. Is it OTT in public? Maybe, but then I don't think I've ever seen the boys look uncomfortable by his actions.

I think he's a turd for ignoring his daughter, but I don't know all the details about that.

[royal observer]

I would like to write something about martin's real child, but I don't find right to start a whole debate once again about this issue. What wonder me is the fact that mary chooses to bring her children alone to their school,although christian and isabella are young and they maybe need mummy to be there. On the other hand Alex and martin accompany the princes to their school, even though they are old enough and they have visited this school many times! Does someone want media attention?  Does someone want to be potraied as perfect parrent?

Christian's first day of school is always covered and will continue to be that way so I don't have a problem with Alex reminding the press and the public that the Queen has other grandchildren as well - and better looking ones at that. 

[pixiecat]

ITA.

Surely people should be happy that Martin seems to have a warm, loving relationship with his stepsons. Or would they prefer it if he and the boys didn't get on?!

It's not that black and white, LS. I'm happy if they have a good relationship to Martin, Lord knows I loves me some Nikolai and Felix!    what bothers me is I get the impression that regardless of how close they really are to him, Martin seems to be using them as a prop in his live, On Broadway performance of "Countess Consort and Candidate for Stepdaddy of the Year" by Martin "of Fredensborg" Jørgensen, playwright. He really can't be photographed without a big arm around one boy or the other, moreso than either of their biological parents. It would be sweet if it seemed really genuine, but in his case, he is starting to look like a bit of a media and attention whore and I find it doubly troubling in this instance, since he does not seem to have come to terms with his own biological child. 

I consider myself very lucky as my parents have a very happy marriage and I've never had to deal with the whole issue of step-parents.

I always feel a little sorry for step-parents as they're in the unfortunate position of always being viewed with suspicion; by the kids, the ex and outsiders. Martin strikes me as being a touchy feely sort of guy so it doesn't strike me as being weird that he chooses to hold the kids hands or their arm. Is it OTT in public? Maybe, but then I don't think I've ever seen the boys look uncomfortable by his actions.

I think he's a turd for ignoring his daughter, but I don't know all the details about that.
[/quote]

I think so too, and even though I don't know any of the details surrounding that, it makes his touchy-feely behavior with N&F even creepier to me.  If he didn't have any children of his own, maybe it wouldn't seem so creepy.  But since he has a daughter that he ignores, it makes this behavior look even weirder to me.  Of course...I don't know any of the details surrounding the situation with his daughter.