Back to school

[Simonjt]

Lots of schools in England start back today, for those going into the next academic year this week I hope all goes okay for everyone and any worries are overcome.

Mine happily went into school today, I’m sure there will be other wobbles this week.

Mine have been back for a few weeks now - my DD is enjoying the drama of P7 and a new teacher, my DS has all his friends in his class this year so is in 7th heaven. Long may it last!

Hope all goes well for those returning this week.

Thanks for the thread Simon, mine has gone into reception this week. Uniform too big but it's sweet to see him being a big boy.

Day 3 (7 to go) of settling in for 2 hours, he seems OK - no word from the teacher. He has his biter, he is dry on pick up and wants to go back.

Waiting to hear about funding and support but teacher on the case and chasing everyone.

Slowly exhaling but always vigilant 😎

DS 6 seems ok so far but he's usually quite chilled really. Poor DD 7 though, it's her new teaches first term so she doesn't know him at all. My heart sank when we found out, moving up a year and a new class room would have already been too much for her to cope with. Mini meltdown Monday morning and although she went in fine yesterday and today, we've definitely paid for it once she got home ☹️

We have a home visit today which we're looking forward to, then DS starts Reception next week.
@DeegeeDee is the 2 hours a day just for your LO or all Reception?
Our school is doing part-time for all of Reception next week but full time after that. My DS has option to do part-time a bit longer if needed. I'm worried about how he will cope with 6 hours a day as he has a lot of separation anxiety!
Love the 'slowly exhaling but always vigilant' phrase! Hoping that's me next week!!

Poor DD 7 though, it's her new teaches first term so she doesn't know him at all.

Its my DD teachers first year too and while he doesn’t know her he’s clearly been briefed about her needs, and that I’m “that parent” - my DD says he’s “on it” in terms of what she needs in class and he certainly seems aware of her when we speak. I honestly don’t mind having a reputation as “that parent” if it stops my child being “that child”

That's it in a nutshell Jellycat. Don't want my child to have the label so I will take it if needed with pride.

Misstabitha, its a 2 week settling in period for all reception here. Personally I like it, professionally I hate it.

Another day over, the drop off was longer this morning as he was crankier waking up and slower to do anything and wanted many hugs before I could leave; the shine is wearing off already but he had a good day so we are content.

‘Slowly exhaling, always vigilant’ should be turned into a crest for all adopters. I’ll have a go at translating it into Latin (Classics degree but back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the land so very rusty). I’m glad that folks have had an apparently good start to the new school year.

My DD1 is already feeling the pressure of the start of her GCSE courses (Y10) and it’s only been three days in school for her. Pressure translates into volcanic behaviours at home so DD2 and I are ‘slowly exhaling’ this weekend while DD1 is off canoeing across Lake Windermere (no mean feat for a kid who is blind).

DD2, a totally different kettle of fish, is happy to be back at school, mainly for the lunches. And she can now dine out for life on the fact that she lost her first tooth which then got stuck in a meatball on her first day of term!

Well after a first great day the rest of the week was a disaster, so I don’t have high hopes for tomorrow!

Sorry for being nosy but what does unsettled or meltdowns look like for your kids? My son (primary school age) has been at school a few weeks and after the most difficult summer, it was a very difficult start to the term (lots of violence and self harm) but last week has been ok. My son has very significant trauma and attachment issues.

hope today goes well everyone and that @EmmatheStageRat, your big daughter enjoyed canoeing and little daughter enjoyed time with mum.

Really tough here. 😩 Placemarking to come back and say more when I have more energy!

All strength to everyone this week!

@121Sarah121 , in answer to your question: for DD1 (just shy of 15), it involves lots of aggression, violence, the foulest swearing, self-harming, binge eating and uncontrollable screaming like she’s being murdered ( the neighbours especially love this 🙄).

For DD2, who is six, it involves furious Rumpelstiltskin-style jumping up and down on the floor (the neighbours are not too keen on this either) throwing things, shouting ‘I hate you!’ on loop, dramatic sobbing, extra clinginess, bed wetting, following me around the house like I have a new shadow, talking (garbage) AT me incessantly, needling me very subtly and cleverly until I want to explode like Mount Etna and - most annoying of all - talking in a baby voice.

Thanks for your good wishes; DD1 successfully canoed across Lake Windermere and back again and had great fun with her Rangers pack but was so physically exhausted today that she couldn’t type on her specially adapted laptop in school because her arm muscles had seized up. On the upside, she managed to get out of PE for the first time ever because her arms would not work to play tennis! DD2 and I hung out and relaxed - and I actually managed an afternoon nap on Saturday while DD2 watched a movie on the iPad (feel free to shoot me now for my laissez-faire parenting!)

Hoping this week is better for you both.

@Rainallnight thinking of you. Hope you are ok.

@EmmatheStageRat thank you for sharing. My son displays all the behaviour you explained. Some days it’s violence and aggression, others it’s repetitive singing. And oh my I hate the baby talk. Babies don’t add “ee” to the end of every word!!!

your weekend sounds perfect. Snuggles on the sofa are key to a successful day

I hear you @Rainallnight sending solidarity. Hope things have improved or stayed okay for everyone else too. Last week was okay, yesterday was hideous, today was definitely an ‘exhaling but vigilant’ kind of day (love that expression). I started a new job too cos September wasn’t quite stressful enough 🤦‍♀️

My LO did his first full day today. He went in happily, after a bit of reassurance and came out beaming after a "great day".

I, however, have been so tearful today! I've been fine all week with the half days he's been going in for and the emotion has suddenly hit me. I've loved these preschool years and I'm really going to miss the special time we've had being each other's world. It's been so intense at times and I'm also looking forward to a bit of a break during the school day but this evening I'm just wishing I could push the school years a bit further down the road!

Hope things have improved for those of you who had a tricky start to the week.

@EmmatheStageRat thanks also for sharing what the unsettled behaviour looks like in your house. LO decided he needed to let piercing screams out this evening (my ears are still ringing!) and was completely unable to say why but just that they needed to come out.

@EmmatheStageRat the behaviours you tell of perfectly sum up my two! The baby voice is driving me mad! Mind you I think I prefer that to the VERY loud swearing and screeching! The range of animal noises we are getting is like living in a zoo! Schools have reported both have settled well, it's like they are totally different children at home!

Thank you for sharing. I will look out for more of the subtle behaviours that my son displays. Wi am so used to the anger that sometimes I overlook the anxiety.

@Misstabithabean going to school is a big transition for you too. Evenings together become extra special when they are busy playing with their friends all day. Hope your little one continues to be so happy at school. That’s all we want for our kids. To be happy

@121Sarah121 thank you for your good wishes. School is definitely a big transition for me too! I gave up (paid) work when LO arrived and have been a stay-at-home parent since then. I've got to work out my new weekly routine!
That's a lovely thought about the special evenings and I'm looking forward to reconnecting with DS when he comes home.
I completely agree that feeling happy and secure is the most important thing for our children at school.