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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be thrilled and excited that my only child is starting school in September?

27 replies

toptramp · 02/08/2012 08:29

And not heratbroken and devastated like everyone expects me to be?

What's not to love? She is more than ready; I am more than ready. She is bored at pre school and wants to read and write, she can meet new people, learn some life skills, make a mess and do lots of art (so I don't have to) and lets face it; it's free child care which I can barely afford at the moment. Plus as a single mum it will enable me to concentrate on my career more.
She will be the youngest in her year but is right on target and I wouldn't want to delay her schooling.
I went to the Disney store and got chatting to the shop assistant who asked me wasn't I heart broken that dd was starting school in September? Er-no. A bit emotional but not nearly as emotional as some of the mums I know. Am I wierd?

OP posts:

Original poster

toptramp · 02/08/2012 08:30

heartbroken I mean.

OP posts:

gordyslovesheep · 02/08/2012 08:31

No - yanbu - I never got the near hysteria over starting school! I am heartless

LindyHemming · 02/08/2012 08:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cabrinha · 02/08/2012 08:40

Well, my daughter will have been at nursery 4 days a week 07:30-18:00 for 3.5 years before starting school... So it doesn't seem like a big deal! I'm sure I'll have an emotional /proud moment as she moves to a new stage in life. But heartbroken? Nah.

Gumby · 02/08/2012 08:40

Yanbu

I felt very excited about them starting a new chapter in their lives too

Babylon1 · 02/08/2012 08:42

I was really excited for dd1 when she started. I admit I got a bit of a lump as I walked away from the school without her, but she was so ready for it and I was (still am) very proud if her even though she looked all tiny and diddy in her school uniform!!!

MrFunnytheEasterBunny · 02/08/2012 08:42

I feel sad for me that my baby is growing up, but certainly not heartbroken, and for my DS he has been desperate to go to school since LAST summer!
He will love it, and I will get over the fact that he is growing up.

I teach in secondary, so I know schools are not unpleasant places, and my DS will love it. He can write a few words and recognise lots of letter sounds from paper, as well as count to 30 and do simple addition and subtraction, so he needs someone with the skills to develop him further and I frankly have no clue where to take him next

Plus it will save me about £500 a month ;-)

MrFunnytheEasterBunny · 02/08/2012 08:44

Maybe it makes a difference because my DS has been at nursery full time since he was 1.

My friend has just told me I am a hard woman!!! It's not like I see him in the day anyway, I'm at work! ;)

AnnaFender · 02/08/2012 08:45

I didn't get all emotional at starting reception last year but I swear I feel all emotional now that DD will be starting year 1

I think it's because Reception is like nursery and kind of learning through play whereas I see Year 1 as starting 'proper' school/education. But that is probably just me

YANBU because it is great and she will love it and it is exciting to watch them grow not sad in theory.

bumblebeader · 02/08/2012 09:17

YANBU. My DD starts senior school in September. She's excited and I'm excited for her. It's the next chapter in her life and she's ready for it. I love seeing her flourish and ready to take on new challenges and experiences. I want to see her embrace life.

ElephantsCanRemember · 02/08/2012 09:26

YANBU/YABU I was excited for my DC starting reception and sad at how quickly the years were passing, all at the same time.
Same when DS started secondary school, I looked back and wondered how could it be that my son who I had held as a babe in my arms only a few months earlier (or at least it seemed like it) could suddenly be approaching his teen years.
But I never sobbed or did that whole "where has my baby gone" in front of him. I just told him to go, go and enjoy the new challenges and do the best he can, oh and if he could pick up some good hygeine habits from his new friends I would be most grateful

Sunnydelight · 02/08/2012 09:29

YANBU looking forward to her starting school as it sounds like she is ready for it, but I'm sure someone will be along to make a catsbum face about you referring to it as "free childcare"

Musomathsci · 02/08/2012 09:30

YANBU. This "heartbreak" nonsense is self-indulgent and unhelpful for all concerned. They are only going school for a few hours, not setting out on a solo trip to he Himalayas. Can't understand why people make such a fuss. Cheer her on and enjoy the freedom!

Mrsjay · 02/08/2012 09:38

your child is growing up nothing to be sad or hysterical about I never got the oh my baby wailing thing either, I looked forward to them starting school , although I was slightly depressed when my eldest 'baby' left school 2 years ago

plutocrap · 02/08/2012 09:40

God, I wish my son were as ready and happy. He doesn't want to go at all, and I have no idea how I'm going to get him into his uniform or inside the school gates without crying his head off for the first month.

letseatgrandma · 02/08/2012 09:41

Surely most people aren't heartbroken when their children start school!?

My youngest starts in September and can't wait!

Trills · 02/08/2012 09:42

YANBU at all

Mrsjay · 02/08/2012 09:43

There is parents who do get upset when their 'babies' go to school lets

Mrsjay · 02/08/2012 09:44

I know a mum who is distraught her child is going to preschool poor woman will need therapy when he goes to full time school

ElephantsCanRemember · 02/08/2012 09:48

Oh i can't wait for DC3 to start school (2years and 1 month and counting) but I will still get a lump in my throat purely because time whizzes by so fast and I will look at him and think "wow", suddenly his life has opened up and it is amazing for him. So i won't be shedding a sad tear, more a tear of wonderment. But then I am a soppy old cow

letseatgrandma · 02/08/2012 11:08

I'm aware that there are some parents who are upset, MrsJay; when I taught YR, we used to chuckle at the ones who sobbed on the first day as they sloped back down the path. My point was that surely most people don't feel like this-I wouldn't say this would be the expected reaction.

valiumredhead · 02/08/2012 13:08

Easy to be smug before the actual even OP

LucieMay · 02/08/2012 13:49

I was exactly the same. Ds had been full time at nursery since the age of two so it made little difference. He's a confident and non clingy child so I've never had any trouble leaving him anywhere.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 02/08/2012 13:53

YANBU - I skipped all the way to work when my one and only started school..nowt wrong in that!! Actually, I went back to work when he was 20 weeks old and I was fine about leaving him with the CM on the first day...I think people were expecting tears etc but no, I was glad to be getting back out there.

RabbitsMakeBrownEggs · 02/08/2012 13:54

Been counting the days almost since she was born and it became apparent that she was going to spend eternity being the most difficult, irritable, annoyed, anti child possible.

Small doses for me. School does her plenty of good. Both winners!

The curse of being a parent is that you have the child just like you. Hopefully she'll enjoy school as much as I did too and at least then I don't have to feel any guilt.

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