How to not make a fool of myself on dd last day of primary school

[theSliceOfPie]

Anyone got any tips?

I'm already feeling emotional about it and dd doesn't leave for a couple of weeks.

Leaving primary feels like such a big thing.

For context, I've cried every time she's moved up a year, some people will think this is pathetic but it's just the way I am. I don't like change. Shes had had the same TA for 5 years too.

I just don't want to be the only parent at pick up, sobbing their heart out.

I sobbed my heart out last year in March when my year 11 son left his school due to lockdown. He wasn't going back because he was going to 6 form college. I'd had dealings with the school for 16 years as my eldest went there too.

It was such an end of an era and I was upset my youngest was going to miss out on all the leavers fun things they were going to do. My son wasn't in the slightest bit bothered and kept laughing & rolling his eyes asking why I was upset!

I also sobbed my heart out on the driveway when my eldest was driven off by his Dad to Uni for the time. It's 4 hours away and I've barely seen him since! Again eldest was laughing and rolling his eyes!!

So no advice really but I wouldn't worry about just letting it all out. It shows you care so nothing to be embarrassed about!

I think it’s fine to tear up and wipe a few tears away whilst smiling but I agree with previous posters when they say that it should be about the kids.

I am a primary school teacher and have watched some strange maudlin leavers assemblies. One particularly memorable one where the leavers stood in the middle of the gym hall, the whole school seated in front of them and their past teachers and SMT standing in a semi circle around them, while Chasing Cars played. Obviously lots of tears with absolutely no focus on how this is a happy occasion and should be a celebration.

This year, my own DD has finished with a teacher she had for 2 years. This teacher harped on about how sad it was she wouldn’t get to see them every day, how much she would miss them etc, until my DD went from being excited about her new class and teacher to sobbing about moving on. Honestly, I don’t believe the teacher actually feels like that at all and in doing this she is meeting her own need to feel loved and missed by the children by prompting them to respond in kind. Even if she does genuinely feel like this, she should emphasise that moving on and having new experiences is part of leading a happy and fulfilling life.

Adults making this time about them is a bug bear of mine.

Blimey! I didn't cry either I was happy when he left... it was a great school and he came home after a good leaving party! And we had a mini celebration at home that evening

The only reason I'll shed a tear when my youngest leaves yr6 is the impending doom of looming teenage years ahead 😂

You won't be the only one by a long shot. Just enjoy it and let the emotions flow. Everyone was crying at ours, even my best friend who I havent seen cry in decades!

@ShowOfHands

I am another one who lives in an alternate universe because at dd's leavers assembly we all laughed, smiled, cheered etc. One woman was crying. In fact she was howling and wailing and pissed off quite a few people but nobody else was.

I've not come across this outpouring of grief at leaving a school. I just don't get it. Did our parents cry when we had our last day at a school? I know mine didn't, neither did I see any other parents do so; most of us made our own way home at the end of school day anyway.

Thankfully there were no 'leavers assembly' at any school my children attended. If they were upset and worried I would have comforted them but they seemed to view it as a milestone and moved on, as did their friends.

My DS2 leaves as well in a few weeks. When DS1 left, he had had a bad year and on the whole I felt glad that he was leaving Primary School behind. I was surprised when both he and I were upset, although they do really big it up. This time round, despite feeling very detached from the school cause it has changed so much and because DS2 usually takes himself to and from school now, I expect to the the same. Even if you are prepared for the transition, its hard not to get caught up in the moment. That said, last time round everyone was upset, so I think it will be the same again.

So so relieved that mine staying until year 9. Won’t be any tears here thankfully

You will be so focused on what your child needs that you won't think about your feelings (until later). We went out for pizza immediately afterwards (Scotland, schools let out at lunchtime). Might something like that help?