Help me make it through Y6 leavers' do with some dignity

[Pippidoeswhatshewants]

I am so happy for dd to leave primary - she is looking forward to secondary, raring to go. Yet I am a blubbering wreck!
I just chatted with a friend about the leaving do and started crying. I'm afraid it will be much worse on the night. Please help me with your best strategies so that I retain some dignity!

Aren't pregnancy hormones supposed to have left the system after 10 years?!?

[Muskey]

Just blubbed my way through dd leavers assembly. The only advice I have is don't wear make up that day. As it ends up all over the place. Don't worry about crying if dd assembly is anything to go by everyone is crying including the blokes. I caught dh rubbing his eyes a couple of times pretending that he had hay fever. Also enjoy the moment

[Leeds2]

Take plenty of tissues!

[madhairday]

Oh I feel your pain, I'm a wreck with a week left, still got to get through leavers disco and leavers assembly. Definitely take tissues -- and don't worry as you won't be the only one blabbing everywhere! Ds is my last child so it's end of an era :( but exciting too....so mixed.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I'm sure you won't be the only one, I think even I might shed a tear this week and I'm usually impervious to anything like this, I only normally cry through upset or stress.

[gymboywalton]

i work in a school and we have been rehearsing the leavers service...cue members of staff welling up all over the place....

it's not just you!

[Pippidoeswhatshewants]

Thank you, lovely vipers of mumsnet

[slicedfinger]

DD's year have come through some tragic events. I expect actual sobbing when they go their separate ways. 90 of them, and they are off to around 9 different secondaries.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

At ds2's school this is the first year parents have been invited to the leavers assembly. I'm thrilled and dreading it at the same time.

Ds1 left last year and I got through it ok. But ds2 is my youngest and it feels strange to be leaving primary education behind for good.

On the positive side, ds1 has loved his first year at secondary and absolutely thrived so I don't have the same fears I did before he started.

[TwigletPiglets]

Wear sunglasses or have them at the ready!

[Blueandwhitelover]

I work in a small school so at some point have been with every class, each year I weep my way through the Leavers' Assembly and performance. They do too, even the tough year 6 boys will often have a tear when all of a sudden the reality becomes clear.

[Meandyouandyouandme]

I was alright at the leavers assembly until my DD2 won outstanding contribution to the school, they award 4 of these out of 60 children, and totally wasn't expecting it. They award one to a boy and girl from each class. My DD had predicted the other 3 winners correctly on the way to school, but couldn't decide on a suitable boy from her class, obviously neither could the teachers and two girls won it from her class. I was an absolutely sobbing wreck.
I remember going home, DH wondered why I was so red eyed, and I told him she won the prize, and he said why didn't I tell him she was going to win the prize I said that I didn't know obviously, which was why I bawled my head off.

[TawnyPippit]

Last year at my DCs school they did the Sound of Music for the end of term performance. Apparently for the leavers assembly the y6 children all filed in singing "Climb Every Mountain", and when they sang "a dream that will need all the love you can give, every day of your life, for as long as you live..." there was just this huge collective yelping sob from all parents. I heard this from the dad of one of the children who said he was openly sitting there with tears running down his cheeks...

Just warning ya - try and find out what the songs are going to be as those are the killers!!

[Muskey]

Dd year sang so long, farewell from the sound of music as well as reach for the stars, with a little help from my friends. I was ok until dd played Danny boy on the flute. The fact that she had been practising it for weeks should have given me a clue. It still caught me unawares.

[pinkteddy]

tawnypippit that made me laugh and cry at the same time!

[mrz]

I'm a teacher and cry every single year ... This year will be doubly poignant because I've taught most of the class three times.

[TheFirstOfHerName]

In ten days, my youngest two (twins) will be leaving the primary school that all of my children have attended. I am the least sentimental mum I know, but even I'm going to take tissues to their leavers' play.

[T1meout]

Our Y6 have been really horrible to each other in these last weeks, so I think we are going to be rather relieved that it's all over.

[Artus]

Mine are 28 and 31 and the thought of "one more step along the road I go" still makes me tear up.

[YeOldTrout]

I expect to be bored stiff (sigh). Teeth itching to leave. Reminds me to check what day it is since DS still wants me there.

[madhairday]

Dd in y6 leavers sang that 'Gold Forever' song. Everyone was weeping on that line 'the memories of being here with you, are what I'm going to take my whole life through, cos some days stay gold forever... ' gosh I'm welling up now! Ds has informed me I will Definitely Cry next week at their song so I'm prepared. ..

[ChippyMinton]

Even reading this thread has made me well up

I will spend much of the next few days in tears - Y6 production, leavers mass, last day of term shirt-signing and park afterwards. And the leavers party, of course.

You can try hiding behind sunglasses or your camera but there's no escaping it, especially when all the parents around you are also trying their best not to blub. Go armed with tissues and let it go!

[thehousewife]

I cried ironing her primary school uniform yesterday, knowing it'll be going in the bin on Friday, FFS I need to get a grip. It's not like me at all but I'm finding it all so emotional. She on the other hand can't wait to get to high school!

[Icedfinger]

I'm a teacher and always blub in leavers assemblies. Year sixes make it their aim to make me blub!

[Beautifullymixed]

I am also feeling emotional about DS11.
What makes it worse is that I'm a TA in his school and have also seen all his friends grow up.
He has the star part in the school play and we have the leavers service, and the shirt signing and clapping out of the playground to get through.......

He is my DC4 though and I should be used to this now, but what makes it worse is that we never got any of our chosen schools. Even the school that I've been a parent at for ten years. We lost the appeal and have been given a place at the local school that we never wanted. It's very hard to see all the kids happy with their choices in the playground. I smile and sometimes catch DS's face drop, but we are trying to keep upbeat and positive.

All of a sudden my very tall DS looks so grown up. He has a phone now, and the girls are falling at his feet. Literally.
I want to keep him at the age he is now. Forever

[TheFirstOfHerName]

The last few days have been spent taking them to their transition events at their new schools. Their new classes seem lovely (both the children and the parents) but for me it just brought home the reality that they will be leaving their old classes.