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Original poster

Feeling the back to school blues

28 replies

Itstheblues · 31/08/2023 20:43

DD is back at school tomorrow and I am feeling so down tonight!

I'm not sure why as it's not like we've had much of a summer holiday, I've worked 90% of it and she's been at holiday club.

Maybe that's what makes it worse, as we've basically not had a break yet it's over. We've also not gone away so have experienced about 2 days of sunshine.

I feel like all we have ahead now is cold, darkness, work, notices about headlice, impetigo and other germs. Urgh, I feel so crap.

Am I weird?

OP posts:

WimpoleHat · 31/08/2023 20:44

No. I am so sad - feel worse than I ever did going back to school myself. Love the summer holidays and hate that they’re now over…..

ConnieTucker · 31/08/2023 20:46

We have barely had any good weather days. And we have all had covid this week. I feel cheated.

Original poster

Itstheblues · 31/08/2023 20:47

@WimpoleHat so sorry you feel the same. I'm so sad too, it makes me realise even more how fast she is growing. I could just cry 😭

Luckily she is excited as if she was miserable as well it would be more than I can take!

OP posts:

timberho · 31/08/2023 20:58

Not alone - back to school always hard IMO:

Had a great time - sad it's over
Had a bad / sense of wasted time - why wasn't it as good as I anticipated
Argh why is life going so quickly

Are there any positives you can identify? I'm (making myself!) look forward to better eating habits (been lazy), resolving to help the kids more with their homework, any decent weather September may offer. Though this is forcing myself to find the positives!!

Original poster

Itstheblues · 31/08/2023 21:05

@ConnieTucker oh no such crap timing! I hope you all feel a bit better. I've had my only time off this week and this weather has just really ruined it for me. I just needed it to feel like a proper summer holiday for a few days 😥

@timberho so well summarised. Thank you I feel like my feelings are validated! DD is starting Year 1 so this was my first experience of summer holidays. I didn't realise back to school would feel like this!

I genuinely can't think of any positives right now but I think I'm just wallowing. I'll keep thinking! 😅

OP posts:

dshaztim · 31/08/2023 22:05

DC1 is back on Wednesday and part of me is ready to hand her back to school, and part of me is sad that a lovely summer is over. She is starting Year 1 so it's our first summer holiday. I've been off work with her and our 1yo and we've honestly had the best time - not all of it was big days out but we had time to explore some big parks and other places to visit, and it was just lovely having that time together. The weather has been rubbish some days but we managed a seaside trip and lots of paddling pools and splash parks.

There's definitely a melancholic feeling that her childhood is passing quickly and before I know it she'll be too cool to hang out with her mum.

purpleme12 · 31/08/2023 22:08

I don't want mine to go back to school

Notsuredontknow · 31/08/2023 22:10

Mine are only pre-school age but I can already imagine feeling very much like this. Sending hugs!

Mixu · 31/08/2023 22:15

I think it’s probably added to by the fact we all had that feeling at the end of the holidays as a child too. Could you book anything to look forward to? I just booked a few things at the weekend, one Halloween thing and a Christmas thing to take the kids to. I find if I have one day per month or so with a day out type event booked then it gets me from month to month

GloomySkies · 31/08/2023 22:18

I don't want mine to go back. DD is 9, next summer there's a fair chance she won't want to hang around with me any more. DS is so chilled and happy in the holidays, he's not a big fan of school. And there are loads of things I wanted to do that we didn't get round to doing.

timberho · 31/08/2023 22:18

Also I can't work out if it's better or worse that the weather is set to be nice next week as school goes back.... cruel joke?

Seashellies · 31/08/2023 22:18

The weather has been really bad for the summer holidays, I think that's had a big impact as less being able to spend days in tbe paddling pool or playing in the garden! I'm quite excited to be honest not for my sake but DS thrives on routine and I find our evenings and weekends bloody lovely during term time. Can you plan something for say a few weekends time to look forward to? On the first day back arrange something to refill your cup?

Original poster

Itstheblues · 31/08/2023 22:48

So sorry so many of you feel the same. I think booking things to look forward to is a great idea.

I feel guilty as I worked most days and feel like summer passed us by but I was just nostalgically looking through pics on my phone and realised we did actually do quite a lot at the weekends this summer so at least that's positive.

@GloomySkies I know what you mean I had a few days off with DD this week and even though she's only 5 it was already completely different to last year, she's so much more grown up. I don't know how I'll cope when she'll want nothing to do with me!

OP posts:

Original poster

Itstheblues · 31/08/2023 22:51

@Seashellies I have an awful day at work looming tomorrow which is compounding things. I wish i could drop her off and have a bit of me time to regroup and do something nice 😥
We do have lovely weekend plans though, so just need to get through the one day!

OP posts:

Seashellies · 31/08/2023 23:19

Itstheblues · 31/08/2023 22:51

Deffo plan a nice (and easy and quick!) dinner for tomorrow:) at least the one day might help ease back into it a bit, better than dreading a whole week! Hope it goes okay, I'm sure you'll get back into the routine soon and find your groove.

reblev92 · 31/08/2023 23:20

I must admit I'm so ready for the girls going back age 10 and 13. But my son I'm not ready 😫

reblev92 · 31/08/2023 23:26

My son is autistic so I've been mentioning it since the beginning of the week to prepare him for the change and all he does is cover his ears and walk away. 😫 we went shopping for his new school bag the other day and he sobbed in the shop and I mean uncontrollably, the reality hit him rhat he was going back and wouldn't have a bag he chucked them all on the floor, very rare he has a meltdown in public, but he was really upset😫 the fact he can't tell me why as well tears me apart that I'll never know if anything happens to him. It destroys me completely, and he starts full time so that's 6 hours away from me, I'll be a mess

Maddy70 · 31/08/2023 23:27

I'm a teacher. I actually feel sick. I haven't slept for a week

stayflufft · 31/08/2023 23:36

I feel the same OP. Eldest back at school on Monday and now only a year to go until my youngest starts. I could cry! I’ll be an absolute mess this time next year. Time is going so fast. We’ve all had our moments but by and large have had a lovely time all together over the holiday.

Ilmecourtsurleharicot · 31/08/2023 23:39

YANBU

CrapBucket · 31/08/2023 23:40

I’ve been there. My tips are

Allow yourself to feel pissed off that you didn’t have the dream summer you wanted.

Take pride that you have juggled work and parenting, it’s difficult and you have done it!

Make a photo book (a basic easy quick one using an app) of the nicest things from this summer.

Book something to look forward to.

theysaiditgetseasier · 31/08/2023 23:40

Yes you are weird 🤣 I can't wait for mine to go back, it's costing me a fortune, I've used most of my annual leave to cover the six weeks, they are fighting with each other constantly the past week, I'm sick of hearing "I'm bored", I want my routine back and a normal bedtime.

I'm not looking forward to sorting uniform, missing "hurry up I'm going to be late" packed lunches, signing reading records, school gate drop offs, homework the never ending requests for contributions

Softtowel · 31/08/2023 23:42

I bet if you printed off all the photographs of what you’ve done together over the summer weekends and made a little scrapbook you’ve done a lot more than what you think.

Loads to look forward to now as well, seasons changing, Halloween, bonfire night, build up to Xmas. Our culture seems to get hung up on the whole summer thing with kids (“you only get 18 summers blah blah”) but I don’t think they actually care about the weather, or what they’re doing, they just want you to be present when you’re with them. You also get 18 autumns, winters and springs. Each season brings different pleasures for young kids.

I found it hard when they finished reception though and i get where you’re coming from, they’re such different children by the end of that first year and it’s pretty heartbreaking. I try my best (not always successfully) to focus on the things we can look forward to, rather than mourning what has been.

TheUsualChaos · 31/08/2023 23:48

I'm feeling down too OP. This was DD last primary school summer holidays and I feel every day off we had as a family it's rained and all the lovely days that we could have done the things we enjoy we were stuck in work and kids spent it with the GPs instead. And I know we are luckily to have some help with childcare over the holidays but I spent literally months looking forward to my two weeks off to both spend time with family but also a break from long shifts and lack of sunshine and vitamin D and it was an absolute wash out. I'm trying to make peace with it now as we're all in the same boat. Booked a mini break for half-term just to have something to look forward to. Sadly can only afford UK atm so it will probably piss down then as well 🤦‍♀️🤣

Original poster

Itstheblues · 31/08/2023 23:59

I'm so sorry to hear everyone's struggles. Good luck @Maddy70 I hope the reality of going back won't be as bad as the anticipation. @reblev92 I hope your son's first day goes well, they are such a worry, take care of yourself too.

Thank you for all the tips. The photo book idea is brilliant I am excited to do this!

Luckily DD2 has another 2 years before starting school, I will definitely be a mess on that day @stayflufft.

I don't think I was emotionally ready to be a parent! I love their littlness so much, I want to keep it forever.

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