I'm a mess about my PFB leaving primary school

[Crunchymum]

I didn't think I'd find it this emotional? I'm a bloody mess.

I'm under strict instructions not to embarrass him at any of his leaver's events but every time I think about it, I'm almost in tears.

What's this all about?

We're not even leaving the school as I have two more DC there (I'll be there for another 5 years!!!)

Anyone else? Urgh. Need to sort myself out.

I was you last year. I'd love to say that I can't believe how ridiculous I was, and how I look back and laugh now, but I'm still welling up just thinking about it 😭😭😭 (and yes, I also still have children in that same primary!)

It's a huge milestone, for you as well as your child. I was really worried that it signalled the start of him growing away from us, but I have to say, I've actually found the opposite. He has more freedom, he's (starting to) build more independence, I'm less involved in the minutiae of his day, and this actually means that we have more to chat about, and he's excited to tell me stuff (and even ask advice!)

I’m the same. I shed some tears at the Leaver’s assembly, but they did it so beautifully and sentimentally. You would have needed a heart of stone not to cry.
Its a transition for the children, but it’s also a transition for us. It’s going into that final chapter before they fly the nest and maybe go off to Uni.
I said to my DC it’s like when they do the (rare) happy goodbyes for characters in Eastenders where they play the tinkly theme tune instead of the regular one, I keep hearing that tinkly theme tune in my head every time I’m at the school 😂.

My youngest left primary during covid. It was sad. No events, no residential, no party, they just walked down the school path one by one to some applause from the teachers.
We had to put it into perspective though.

‘One more step along the way we go ……’ - tears every time 😢

Yes it's definitely a happy ending and I'm only feeling so emotional as DC has had such a lovely experience in primary. And I know I'm very lucky to be able to say this.

I actually thought the last day of primary school was far sadder than the first! First day, I was skipping away from the gates! Last day of primary really felt like the end of an era.

I can’t wait for primary school to be over and mines only in reception. Looking forward to the days where I don’t have to do school gate chats or go to school for random stuff or class whatsapp, playdates etc. I am really really looking forward to those days when I don’t have to be as involved.

However I am a sucker for a soppy song and am fairly sure I’ll be crying like a giant baby. Leavers do’s are designed to destroy you emotionally.

I am another with first DC who left during COVID. Still in lockdown so just a zoom with a recorded message from the Head Teacher and the Priest and some photos shown to music. It was fecking awful and just made me angry not emotional. My DC never go to go back to primary and see his friends.

He has been quite resentful and upset this year watching his little sister experience residentials, leavers parties, leavers Mass, leavers everything. We have had to downplay it all. She has had a lovely experience.

When I was 18 mum and dad took me to settle into hall on my first day at uni. I have a burned in memory of dad driving off and mum sobbing in the front seat.

Nine years later, after she was widowed and we moved me in to my first bought flat - the same thing happened as she headed home.

I'm afraid it doesn't get easier with each transition. Let yourself be That Mum.

I was in floods when each of mine left....the worst year was when dd1 left junior school and ds left infant school which marked the end of seven years at that school for me! I had so many leavers events to attend I was broken!

I've not felt so emotional about them leaving secondary to be honest but then there haven't been so many /any events involving parents. I do feel generally sad about children growing up though. Empty nest is going hit me very hard in a few years 😭

End of primary is a big one. Secondary is a completely different ball game and heading into the tricky teenage years. So I see end of primary as the end of real childhood.

my oldest left during covid. That was strange. Just left one day and never went back.

Then we moved house, and actually you basically do the same leave one day and never go back it’s not a big event and then my second left primary and it was like yeah cool. Then my youngest left the infants.

I think all these leavers things are what cause the issues tbh. If it wasn’t made a huge deal it wouldn’t feel a huge deal.

My DCs children thoughtfully put a small pack of tissues on every chair for the leavers assembly.

It can be a bit emotional when you see your child up on the stage or whatever they do for leavers assembly, but a mess? No. Other mums were though and I admit I thought they looked a bit ridiculous.

Although I didn’t cry at school leavers assemblies I did when I waved off my eldest at Uni and I’m going to when my younger goes this year. 😭

cold and judgy - your child’s struck lucky, haven’t they?

Ah bless. It is normal! We were all in pieces every Leaver's Assembly even when it was not our own children leaving. Tiny school where everyone knew everyone.

Just wait till your PYB leaves (Precious Youngest Born) and you have no more little kids at primary at all.

I remember walking with my youngest across the fields to school on a breezy summer's day on the last day of year 6. It hit me that I would never ever do this lovely walk again. Floods!

And I felt very old.

It was pretty OTT. I can understand feeling a bit emotional seeing your beloved child up there but the ‘bawling’ by adults I admit I found odd. I’m quite an emotional person as it happens but I just don’t get the emotion of leaving primary. I was glad primary school was over 🤷‍♀️

She’s hardly leading the child around by their uncut umbilical cord, and clinging to them at the school gate in sack cloth and ashes is she.

Everyone gets a bit emotional at some point or another, and it’s ok to express those emotions.

I can’t wait for primary school to be over and mines only in reception. Looking forward to the days where I don’t have to do school gate chats or go to school for random stuff or class whatsapp, playdates etc. I am really really looking forward to those days when I don’t have to be as involved.

It's a shame your child's primary school days will be remembered in this way.

The worst for me was dropping DS1 at uni. Dropped him off, drove up the road and pulled over for a good old sob.

I'm quite stoic about them growing up - next stage and all that.
Uni felt like a giant step to independence.

Oh god... Mine are going into year 4 and year 2 and this thread is already making me cry (in my defence - time of the month!).

I have literally never been one who says things like "Time slow down!" (I couldn't get out of the baby and toddler years fast enough!), but I am actually dreading it.

I think it's what it all represents, plus we're in a village, so the school is a huge part of the community.

It’s tough. We are in this period. I have decided to be grateful I’m sad as it means they have had a good time at primary. It’s bittersweet raising kids!!

I was really sad and at the leavers’ assembly they named all the families who were leaving (ie only or last child leaving) and that set me off. But kids didn’t really notice the parents because we were sat behind them. It is a big change for most kids and for most the teenage years are more complicated and high
stakes , so I guess it was thinking about them moving into that phase away from childhood that also felt emotional. I consoled myself with thinking of all the great times my children had had there, and also all the wonderful friends we made ,DC and us adults still close with many 8 years later. And also the many wonderful PTA and school events, I carried on helping with events for a bit and also went in to help with reading so weaned myself off the place gradually!

Lots of mums cry when their DC leave our primary. In fact most of us find it emotional even if our child isn't leaving.

Just take it as a sign you've had a really lovely primary experience

I was overjoyed when my youngest left primary. Never again would I have to put up with self-important parents.

Jeez, the PTA and class rep mums at primary.