Ridiculous sentimental upset about child finishing primary school. Smack some sense into me please?!

[SuperMonkeys]

Just that really. Oldest child is finishing primary school next week, and I've come over all sad about it. It is such a lovely school, very much a family that she has thrived within.

She's being separated from all her class bar one for high school for various annoying reasons, and has never been to the high school she'll be attending. She's been best friends with a lovely girl since reception and they're both devastated, but putting a very brave face on it.

I've been really pragmatic up until today, and now I've come over all sad about it. Not just the end of the era for her, but the separation from her friendship group, all the stuff they've missed out on due to covid (all residentials, trips etc) .

Now I have to adjust to being the parent of a high schooler and the massive step backwards from her that that involves, and try to get to know a school I know very little about bar the fact it gets worse results than the school she 'should' be going to with all her friends.

I'll grunt up and not let her see any of this of course, but it's a bit overwhelming. Anyone else having any mixed feelings about this stage?

Gosh yes it was hard. 9 years at a school when my youngest left.

I have now realised that both mine will be leaving secondary at the same time as youngest won't go to sixth form there. It seems scarily close and only seems five minutes since they left primary

High school is scary for a week or two when they walk/ bus there on their own. And walk/bus home. Then when the clocks change and they come home in the dark....

Mine are at university and I've felt stupidly sad at every finishing - totally get it x

I felt sad when my youngest finished primary school she had been separated from her friends too :( Its taken a while for her to settle in and make some new friends but I think we have almost got there now. Start arranging play dates and things with others who you know are going to the same secondary?

I'm already getting emotional and mine still has one year left at primary!! It's a real milestone, completely understand your angst. I bet you won't be the only one hiding the tears on the last day.

I'm the same. Mine is going to a school where he only knows about 3 other kids and the transition days have been cancelled. Fortunately, my son doesn't seem bothered and he's excited about starting high school so I'm very secretly anxious!
As much as I moan about the school run, I can't imagine not doing it in a year when my youngest also leaves primary.

She is really excited which helps, and has been amazing about needing to go somewhere different. I think she and her friend will stay close, the mum and I are good friends as are our other siblings so it'll be different but ok I think.

I'm not convinced by the travel she'll be doing, she'll only just be 11 and a double bus trip in the dark of winter doesn't appeal to me. But between us and my parents we can manage.

See?! I'm being very pragmatic. But... sob...from a school where everyone knows and gets her, to an unknown with lots of unknown peers 😬

It's a good sign that you are sad she's leaving there. I was relieved when dd1 left primary because it hadn't been a great experience! High school has been a lot better for her. Any chance your dd might get in to the other school late in the day? Even if not if she's been happy at primary she'll probably get on well at secondary too.

:) You're welcome.

''I know very little about bar the fact it gets worse results than the school she 'should' be going to with all her friends.''

Why isn't she going to the same one as all her friends? Or have you said and i'm being dim?

Oh - do you mean the primary is the one she 'should' be going to?

It's an unusual perfect storm of circumstances tbh, the school all her friends bar one are going to is the normal school her primary feeds into. But this year they have reduced their PAN and have a huge number of siblings so very few spaces. She and other friend are about .2 of a mile too far out. Next year it wouldn't be a problem 🤷 Unfortunately she is our oldest and lots of her friends have siblings already there.

Council approved the reduction as there are spaces at the lower achieving schools in nearby town that need filling, so that's where she'd going.

It has been quite a battle tbh and I'm trying to make peace with it being unsuccessful. We haven't told DD any of it because we wanted to make sure she didn't feel she was getting second best.