I went to The Reichstag whilst in Berlin, where Angela Merkel hangs out these days. Impressive. She was over the other day holding private talks with David Cameron and had tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. In a rare honour she became the first leader of a reunited Germany to address both Houses of Parliament.
When I was in Berlin we had dinner with some friends. I was fascinated by the fact that their 9 year old son knew who Angela Merkel was – “oh I’m sure it’s just because we live in Germany” said his mother, “I’m pretty sure he won’t know the name of the British Prime Minister.
As it happened he did. So I had intelligent child envy for the whole night.
Conveniently, my 13 year old son called me so I took the opportunity to reassure myself. I asked him who Angela Merkel was. “What?” he said. I repeated the question. “Who?” he said. “Well, just have a guess” I said hoping against hope that he would be heading in the right direction.
“Dunno, um, a mermaid?”
FFS.
I decided then and there that I had a lot of work to do – I would head home and sit down with my children (because if I’m honest, pretty sure my 21 year old would struggle with who she was) and discuss more current affairs with them. I would tell them that Cameron is expected to resume discussions with Merkel on EU reform next month at the trade fair in Hanover. The fact that they would fall off their chair with boredom is neither here nor there.
I relayed this story to certain members of my family who shall remain nameless because otherwise they’d kill me. “Oh ha ha I’d probably be the same, I think mermaid is quite a good description, but he’s only 13 he shouldn’t really be expected to know things like that” said one. The other said “oh ha ha, I’m laughing along because it’s funny but I’m not entirely sure I know who he is either”.
HE?
There is no hope.
janelle
March 16, 2014Sunday night. 17 yr old eating cornflakes after a full roast chicken dinner.
me (after reading Family Affairs latest post head to kitchen where he is brewing tea to go with said flakes) do you know who angela merkel is?
him: no. why?
me: are you telling me you don’t know who angela merkel is??
him: no idea. who is she?
dare i say it, he is about to write his last year of A Level History. must speak to his history teacher. good GOD! when I was at school, i know all the capitals and presidents of the world and the main rivers. jesus. what IS the world coming to !!!!!! x j
Family Affairs
March 16, 2014Ha ha – you see? NOBODY knows who she is…..even though she is one of the most powerful women on the planet right now. It’s astonishing. Lx
Trish - Mums Gone to
March 17, 2014My son does know who she is, but then he is 18 and wanting to study politics at university so that should be bread and butter stuff for him. But my knowledge of EU people is sketchy so I wouldn’t want anything more complicated than that thrown at me!
What did you think of the Reichstag? We had a great trip to Berlin a few years ago – fantastic city.
Suburbia
March 17, 2014Too late for new blog day?!!!
http://thedatingchroniclesofhiliree-j.blogspot.co.uk/
Family Affairs
March 17, 2014Never too late L x