Not to have a back to school ritual?

A balloon arch - yeah, let's celebrate with an environmental disaster.

Honestly, we’ve kept it very simple. A family breakfast, maybe some pancakes, and a photo on the doorstep before heading out. Some friends of mine go all out with banners or even a little gift, but my two seem perfectly happy with just the photo tradition. I think kids pick up more on our mood and excitement than whether there’s a big show.

Brilliant!

We always did new pjs and a bath bomb on Xmas eve for the kids since dds first Xmas ( she’s in her 20s) but it was never a big deal- more to get them comfy and settled

No I didn’t. I bet it’s the same people who do the North Pole breakfast with the elves on the 1st December.
We’d often have a nice cooked breakfast as a family the first weekend after everyone went back, to reconnect and relax but nothing insta worthy

Actually I’ve just realised I have bought one of my DDs a back to school present this year, a nice body spray/perfume she liked in boots, she’s starting highschool and has lots of hand me downs so I bought her something new just for her and her new start at high school.

Given all 3 of mine start back on different days I doubt I will get any back to school joint pictures even if I remember.

Sounds like a consumerist marketing ploy.

My ritual is having a glass of champagne to celebrate surviving the summer holidays and the peace and quiet I can now enjoy! 🤣 just kidding, I love my dc. We don’t have a ritual either, the only time we did something was on their first ever day and that was only photos and lots of cuddles.

is this an influencer trend or am I just behind?

There was social media 19 years ago.

And as to the question no I never did anything special for going back to school. A pic on first day of primary and first day of secondary

Nope, we just take a picture.

I tend to cry because im a teacher so im back at work 🤷🏼‍♀️😅

Sometimes we go out for a cheap dinner then night before school starts as a way to celebrate the end of the summer but not always.
Or if the first day back is a nice sunny day, sometimes I take them out for an ice cream afterwards to tell me about their day but again, not a ritual, just something we might do if we fancy it.
I don't take photos of either of these events though - I personally find it distasteful and a sign of problematic consumption when mums take photos of extravengent unnecessary gifts for an ever increasing amount of events to show off and try to outdo each other on socials. Yuck.
I am guilty of a wee back to school photo in the garden of them in their uniform though, they just look super cute, so maybe I'm just a hypocrite 😂

It's so stressful as it is I am happy just to get them there! If you do take a photo though I wouldn't put it on Facebook as seems to be the trend. Hope back to school goes well.

Yes. I pour myself a large glass of gin and celebrate my and their successful survival of the summer holiday's.

I have never heard of this and I've four kids, taking a photo is all you need, well its all I do (I don't post), the only photo I'll do this year is my 3 year old starting nursery on the 18th The last thing you need is your kids expecting stuff every year before starting back at school till they leave, just make them a good breakfast ready for the day! :)

Load of rubbish. Its either an American thing or some wannabe so called influencer crap. Just do what we all do, take a photo on the door step and have a chippy tea.

I've never seen anything on social media other than the standard photo of the kids standing by the front door in their new uniform (which I actually love seeing - I don't have kids but I'm always pleased to see little updates on how my friends' kids are doing). I've certainly never seen a balloon arch or heard anyone going on about 'special breakfasts' or anything.

When I was at primary school, my mum used to take me for a milkshake and a bun after school on the first day back and I believe she did the same for my older siblings when they were that age. She loved having us at home in the summer holidays and disliked the first day back as much as we did! But it wasn't a 'ritual', just a 'Let's have a treat to soften the blow' kind of thing.

I take photos at the front door and sometimes as they are walking into school.
Kids are so used to it now, they expect it so don't get embarrassed.

We used celebrate by going for pizza the day before going back or doing an activity day out type of thing.

I make pancakes or something nice after school on the first day.

Don't really do social media and never head of balloon arches which look insane to me.

I do it because when I was growing up, nobody ever bothered doing anything like that for me and I want their memories to be very different to mine.

Photo by the fireplace and some new stationary!! Occasionally a McDonald's breakfast on day 1 because it's a rush to get out, but no. Nothing else special.

Was feeling pretty low today but just found myself laughing out loud in agreement. Thank you!

I take a photo of mine in front of the front door in the morning. Might take them to the shop on the way home. Never saw it a ritual. A balloon arch is overkill imo. Making a special breakfast sounds like it could be an unnecessary faff depending on what it is.

That’s the spirit! 👍

Jesus no! Balloon arches and gifts? All just seems like another thing to brag about on social media tbh.

We take a picture on the first and last days of the school year but that’s it.

My daughter doesn’t even have new uniform this year! Shocker! Her uniform from last year was massive, she’s only just grown in to it, it looks clean, no stains so no need to buy more! I did get some new polo shirts though because they were looking a bit manky. She neither has a balloon arch or new uniform so I must be failing at motherhood 😂

Why does everything have to be such a bloody occasion. Nope we do not do any rituals. Don’t need new uniform for youngest two so they are sorted. New uniform and stationary for eldest as he’s stating high school. He’s walking to school by himself then has football training as normal and then we will have dinner as normal. Why such a fuss. It’s just going back to school after another school holiday. It’s really not a big deal.

if people were doing it in the privacy of their own home, it wouldn't be an issue at all, but by going public and posting it all over social media, they invite opinion.

So yes, people roll their eye at the whole thing, and the need to constantly show off.

They don't hurt anyone, but they cheapen real celebrations which is a bit sad for their child, they also make a big fuss for themselves and end up stressing their kids in the process.

You can't judge the way I raise my kids or celebrate whatever we are celebrating, because I don't post it on social media. Simple.