To not understand parents crying at the end of infant school

[SEsofty]

So today my eldest left infant school, and will be continuing onto the junior school along with ninety percent of the year.

I was surrounded by parents crying their eyes out, incredibly upset. I simply don't understand.

So could someone please explain to me why lots of people are crying simply because their child is going onto the next year of school.

Aibu to not understand?

I think the point of this thread, for me anyway and sorry OP if I've misunderstood, is the fact that it is from infants to juniors. I barely registered that change. If your child is in a school that goes from Reception to Year 6, as most do, then it's no big step. Getting emotional when they leave primary, when classes are usually split up and children leave friends behind, is understandable, getting emotional when they graduate is understandable. Moving from Year 2 to Year 3 - hardly a tearjerking milestone.

BishopBrennansArse
Education is a luxury?!?!? confused

Yes it kinda is a luxury on the scale of the rest of the planet.

Randomer's post of 10.08
In this country it's not a luxury, it's compulsory.

At DD's last day of school nursery today a couple of mums were in tears. All the children will be going to Reception at the same school - the classroom is next door. So I imagine copious tissues will be required by the time they leave Year 6!

I am great in a crisis but sob at a sad song, Christmas carols etc.

Ah yes, Gary Barlow's "Sing" is a leaver's assembly tear-jerker, "Believe" too.

I cried a little at leaver's assembly. Absolutely ridiculous to think it means I can't cope in a crisis as some people have commented. I've first-aided an injured man having a heart attack, trapped inside a crushed car, which was on fire. And did it all in a non-native language. I've also carried on chairing a meeting whilst locked in a building next to an ongoing terrorist attack.

I cry when the pressure is released, not during the crisis.

My friend's DD ( who has since left school) did a solo of 'sing' -
she was so confident. its a nice song.

I don't really understand it either. Worse than that, is someone in my.family who posts crying face emojis when her child grows a year older because she's so sad.

I feel very privileged that my children are in a position to grow up and move on. No sadness here, just excitement for them and a gratefulness that we are in this fortunate position of seeing our children thrive.

I feel very privileged that my children are in a position to grow up and move on. No sadness here, just excitement for them and a gratefulness that we are in this fortunate position of seeing our children thrive

^ THIS WITH BELLS ON

I went to a 9yos funeral a few months ago. Cried my eyes out. Because it was truly sad and unfair and horrible.

Your kid progressing a year in school is really none of those things.

I had a tear in my eye today at school. It's my second daughter's last ever day in nursery and she was upset because she will miss her lovely teachers. That and the slideshow they made of pictures of the children over the last 18 months, it had a tear jerking soundtrack on it! The teachers were crying too so that didn't help, they really have been lovely and my daughter will miss them massively!

"I went to a 9yos funeral a few months ago. Cried my eyes out. Because it was truly sad and unfair and horrible."
^ Terrible, and that is crying through grief, loss. sadness.

Crying when your DC move on a phase is crying because you are touched by it. Because some tear ducts react to all emotions.

Some people are just more lachrymose than others.

Some people even cry when they're happy Trinity. It's not just about being sad.

My son finished nursery today after 2 years there and will be starting reception in September. I cried for many reasons, one because it's the only time I've had away from him, he's changed immensely and all of the staff there have contributed to that. They've also supported us through various different things happening. It's a big change and I'm scared of him going to school and potentially being subjected to all sorts. They've care for him, cleaned his bum, wiped his tears and given him cuddles aplenty. I don't care if I looked silly, leaving nursery was/is a big thing for us.

By the time my youngest leaves primary school, our family will have been involved with that community for 14 years. I imagine I will shed a tear. It's a lovely local school (big, energetic, 3-form entry London primary) where we've really mucked in and made good friends.

My youngest has just finished junior school, due to the high school we chose there transition is a lot better than the rest of the schools near us. Instead of going for one or 2 days they go for the full last 2 week of term. My son chose not to go to the leavers assembly or any of the leavers rewards, for he was enjoying himself in his new school. I have spent the last 13yrs at that junior school and not one tear have I shed if anything I'm glad to see the back of it. ( and will have pleasure in burning all the old uniform later with a nice jd &a coke)

Some people even cry when they're happy Trinity. It's not just about being sad.

I totally felt the same, until I had children. Now I get emotional at all these events. It's the end of an era.

I live adjacent to a infants and junior school and the scenes outside on the first day of term in reception (and to a lesser extent, the end of Year 6) would be worthy of a Palestinian funeral, without the renting in twain of clothes (and sometimes with...), such is the hollering and wailing

Infants to junior I have never seen before, however.

That's like being sad that the sun rises or that trees lose their leaves. It's the inevitable passing of time.

Inevitability doesn't prevent something being sad, though. The reality is that we are all going to have our marriages end via death or divorce - neither cheerful. I don't think it's odd when people grieve either ending, and I am sure you don't, either.

I appreciate a child growing up also has lots of positives. But if we do our jobs properly, our kids will care a lot less for us when they grow up and leave home than they do their spouses and friends, let alone their own children. If we're lucky, we may have grandchildren to love and cherish, but the truth is that nobody in the world will ever be as loving and full of promise and potential as our kids. And as they age, we lose the central role in their lives. It's positive and as it should be... and it's sad.

A child is a great love affair where you know it will end up onesided, and with you being left behind, and that's the best and most prayed-for outcome. If you have a child who may never do that, it has its own scary aspects, obviously. But the ageing process with kids is very bitter sweet I think. That total intimacy and mutual devotion has a timestamp, and I think that is why people find it emotional. They know their very little child is now gone forever. And nobody knows what the future will hold as they enter the scarier and less parent-sheltered years ahead.

Sorry, shouldn't make the assumption everyone marries (I don't have the assumption, in fact, so even stupider to type it) I mean very serious relationship(s).

Ds2 started Primary School with very little speech and spent large parts of each day sitting under the table and refusing to speak to anyone. When he sang the solo at the P7 leavers assembly I have to say I felt quite emotional.

Ds3 only has one year left at the same school his eldest sibling started in August 2000. I will have 18 consecutive years of volunteering, helping on trips, serving on the PTA, sports days, Christmas concerts etc. Whilst, in some ways, I will be glad to see the back of it happy to move on I'm sure I will have a few sad moments.

You just never know what people's circumstances really are.

I cry at literally anything so I can get it. It's a transition, for some parents it is a reminder that their baby is growing up. I have just had my DD leaving primary today and I have been on the brink of tears about it for the past 2 weeks. Ok I might be a bit wet but it's something coming to an end. I guess those parents crying about the end of infants feel the same

My 22 year old son graduated yesterday and I cried, with pride. How well he's done and moving on to the next phase

He's doing a PHD now so I suspect I will be the same when he's 26 and doing it all again!

There's no age limit

I was trying to say we are lucky in the UK to have education for children. Many people don't have this opportunity. Never been to a Palestinian funeral but to compare teary mums post assembly to grief at dead children seems odd.

I found it upsetting to see my daughter so emotional over it. No one likes to see their child cry. She isn't going to the same school as probably over half of her year. So it was sad to think that many of her friendships might not last. However I'm excited for her going to secondary school. I think it will be great for her and she'll make loads of new friends and have some great experiences.
So I think yabu a little but maybe not completely. I welled up a bit but part of me did think that it was a little uncomfortable seeing a couple of parents full on crying!