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Original poster

Has anyone ever cried at child's school?

112 replies

Nogodsnomasters · 04/12/2024 12:23

I cried at my child's school today in front of the principal and receptionist and I have never been so mortified in my entire life. Ds10 has autism and is really struggling with severe anxiety at the moment and had a new medical diagnosis this year also plus today is the 10yr anniversary of my sister's passing so it was already a hard day. My son is year 6 and I have never cried at his school before. Please someone tell me that they'll have seen it before from other parents and I'm not a dickhead!

OP posts:
blackheartsgirl · 04/12/2024 12:25

Yes I’ve done it both at primary and high school. Don’t beat yourself up about it, you are obviously struggling and perhaps it may be a good thing for the school to see that.

HTruffle · 04/12/2024 12:26

Yes also when my daughter was in reception and cried every morning. It’s hard. Don’t worry about it at all.

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 04/12/2024 12:26

blackheartsgirl · 04/12/2024 12:25

Yes I’ve done it both at primary and high school. Don’t beat yourself up about it, you are obviously struggling and perhaps it may be a good thing for the school to see that.

Thank you, so good to know I'm not the only one especially as it's the first time it's ever happened and I really don't like letting people outside my close circle see my emotions.

OP posts:

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wheretoyougonow · 04/12/2024 12:31

Don't beat yourself up about it. It sounds like it has been tough and I hope they were lovely to you.

I once burst into tears in the playground as I had left my child crying- not wanting to stay. The deputy head saw me and gave me a hug.

You honestly probably won't be the first this week Flowers

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 04/12/2024 12:37

I've cried in front of teachers, in both stressful and joyful situations. And like you, I'm normally good at keeping a lid on my emotions.

It's normal. Nobody working with children will find a parent crying to be odd or memorable, whatever the cause. I saw a teacher crying at a Christmas concert last night when one of her pupils got up and spoke about missing his dad because he's away with the military until next year.

TeenLifeMum · 04/12/2024 12:45

Oh god yes. Deputy head after a parent yelled at me because “my dd got her ds suspended”. I’m not great at confrontation and after holding it together and the mum walked away, I crumbled into a sobbing mess.

Her ds was in year 2 and dd was youngest in reception and small. He kicked her to the floor, was pulled off by deputy head but broke free and kicked dd some more. The reason? She told him he called her the wrong name. He didn’t realise she had an identical twin and dd (at 4) still didn’t really comprehend just how similar they looked and that that could be confusing.

MammaKel · 04/12/2024 12:46

I cried at my sons nursery when we were looking round!

We were waiting for a decision on his DLA and it had been a gruelling 6 months and I got a text saying he qualifies and I just started crying in front of the nursery practitioner.

chickensandbees · 04/12/2024 12:50

Yep, I'm sure it happens a lot! Mine was when we moved house and schools and DD was struggling to settle. The receptionist gave me a hug. I don't think anyone minds, it shows how much you care.

okydokethen · 04/12/2024 12:51

It's ok, they'll see a loving exhausted mum and understand.

user1474315215 · 04/12/2024 12:52

I've been on the other side of this situation. It's really not usual for stressed parents to cry in school and I was always touched that they trusted me enough to let down their guard.

Cheesymonster · 04/12/2024 12:53

Yes. When DD was in year 2, my dad had recently died after a long illness and at the school Christmas concert I bumped into someone who knew of his ill health so I had to explain he’d passed away, then watching DD and all the little ones on stage singing Somewhere only we know, I got very tearful.

It’s totally normal so please don’t feel bad.

lawlessland · 04/12/2024 12:54

@Nogodsnomasters lots and lots of parents and carers have cried at school. Parenting is fucking hard and they will have seen this endless times and I'm sure will understand. A good school team will work with you and think about what they can do to help,

bettybyebye · 04/12/2024 12:56

Not in school but literally just now on the phone to my son’s head of year. He is in y7 and struggling a bit at the moment. These lovely replies are also making me feel better!

RareMaker · 04/12/2024 12:56

Oh gosh, I've done it loads of times.

  • being sleep deprived
  • frustrated about unsolved bullying
  • a meeting in school about my DD after I tragically lost my nephew
  • parents eve with SEN child
rockingbird · 04/12/2024 12:57

I cried at parents evening once in front of the form tutor 🙈 my son also has autism and he was telling me all these wonderful things about him and I started balling my eyes out!! Sometimes our emotions just flow.. you're certainly not the first!

thirdfiddle · 04/12/2024 12:57

Um I tear up every time I see small children on a stage! Doesn't even have to be my own. Parenthood does weird things to your brain. They won't mind you being human.

Lobstercrisps · 04/12/2024 12:58

Hi OP, I cried when my DS who was 8 at the time, had anxiety going to school and leaving him was horrific.
Later diagnosed with ASC.

Lobstercrisps · 04/12/2024 12:58

Also now a very happy and secure teen. And goes to school happily.

HPandthelastwish · 04/12/2024 13:03

If you knew how often teachers cried in the toilets you wouldn't feel bad. When I was teaching I'd seen parents and my colleagues cry, it's fine it's more a sign of overwhelm then anything in staff may well take the issue whatever it is more seriously.

DazedAndConfused321 · 04/12/2024 13:10

You'd be more weird if you hadn't cried. You're having a tough day, in a tough situation. They've seen it all before, it's ok.
I hope your day gets easier 💐

Yousay55 · 04/12/2024 13:10

As a teacher, I have seen many, many mums cry-never dads. We have tissues in the meeting rooms for this. It’s completely understandable for you to be upset.

Aberentian · 04/12/2024 13:20

thirdfiddle · 04/12/2024 12:57

Um I tear up every time I see small children on a stage! Doesn't even have to be my own. Parenthood does weird things to your brain. They won't mind you being human.

Yep younger me would have laughed but I went to DS1's school show the other day and had tears in my eyes from the beginning to the end whether DS was on stage or not! They were just so heartbreakingly sweet and innocent. Motherhood has really done a number on me 😂

You're not a dickhead at all Op, you sound like a great mum and I'm sorry for all you're going through.

sickandfrustratedd · 04/12/2024 13:22

I've cried twice at school this week already. It's been a very overwhelming and emotional week for both me and DS.

While I was crying to one teacher another parent walked away with the headteacher also crying so I'd say they see it often.

jennylamb1 · 04/12/2024 13:27

It's weird not to have cried at some point!
More seriously, as a fellow autism mum, it's actually good for school staff to see how you're feeling, better than putting on a brave front and doing it at home. They may understand the pressure you're under better and look to support more.

Balloonhearts · 04/12/2024 13:29

They're teachers. Most of them probably cry at least once a week. No one is judging you.

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