AIBU to be ecstatic that DS is starting school in September

[aliceland]

DS is early autumn born so over 4.5 already and so ready for school. He's always been a difficult child and I also have DS2 at home with a small gap. Their favourite activity is fighting.

All my friends are crying and upset about their little ones starting school this year but I CANT FUCKING WAIT! I don't know anyone else who has publicly expressed this view...

Is there something wrong with me? Am I a cold heartless bitch?
I might shed a tear at him looking cute in his uniform but I am excited for him (he will love it) and excited for myself.

I feel exactly the same. It's really hard keeping my DD occupied lately. She seems to want my attention constantly and I wont miss the 'watch me watch me!' every two seconds. Love her though (standard disclaimer all parents use when moaning) and will probably miss her a bit after the novelty has worn off.

Well if you are unreasonable, so am I. Mine is starting 2 hours a day of school aged 3 (Welsh system) and I can't wait.

I'm really looking forward to it - a similarly energetic autumn-born. He's my DC3 (and final) and I'm beginning to glimpse a life for myself again after ten years.

I can't help but roll my eyes when people weep and wail and say their children are "growing up too fast" or that they want them to stay little forever. It's literally your job to guide them towards adulthood, whatever that means, and the alternative is heartbreakingly sad.

So HURRAH when he puts on his own shoes and recognises his first initial and draws a person with identifiable features and counts apple slices on a plate and offers to share with someone else because that means he's firmly on the way to being the kind of person anybody would want in their life.

I was just the same. Don't understand those who feel sad - I think it's an exciting new beginning, for both of you!

I loved it when my ds started school. Never understood the dramatics.

Then when my youngest started, I was overjoyed at the thought of six hours a day to myself! Bliss.

I can beat that! I loved it when my son started last September, but I also still had my daughter in the morning till she went to afternoon nursery, so had to plan work around her. Come September she is off to reception too!! Both kids.... drop off same time, pick up same time! No kids during the day!! I'll be the parent skipping in through the school gates and shoving them in the door ha ha x

YANBU. I was thrilled when the DC started school and I got a whole day until 3 to myself.

The only sadness I felt at DC1 starting school was that there was an entire year left before DC2 started school.

YANBU I have a Spring born and she was itching to go by the time September came round. I was so excited for her. Now she’s there, she’s absolutely thriving and seeing how happy she is when she comes home makes my heart so happy! I had 4 months of no children at home until DD2 cane along. I hope she’ll be the same....

Everybody I know feels like you OP. We are deferring

I felt exactly the same way with my mid-August born DD!! Could’ve technically deferred, did not want to. She was so ready to go, she walked in on the first day and didn’t look back at me.

I have an August born child and after debating holding him back a year I am now really glad he’ll be starting school in September. He seems ready and has come on leaps and bounds in the Nursery class of the school, made friends (who he’ll be in reception with) and is confident and happy. I couldn’t imagine him not starting for another year yet. Also DC2 due in July so I’m looking forward to the routine of school run and time with the baby in the day. DC2 will of course be another summer baby but I’ll make a decision on holding back based on the child. For DS1 I’m confident it was the right decision for him to go this year.

Yanbu. My ds is 2.8 and starting preschool 5 days a week in September. The 'days' here are only 8-1 but still, it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. I love the bones of him but he needs constant activities or turns into the devil. I'm knackered and cannot wait for my 25 hours of freedom a week 🎉🎉🎉🎉

My youngest (of four DC) starts full time school this September, everyone is asking how I'm going to feel 'losing' my last baby? I'll be skipping away from the school!

I was happy and excited for both of mine starting school. Would it be too much to tell you that I am also somewhat happy and excited that my youngest (13 next month) will be away at boarding school from September? I'm going to miss him, certainly, but he's going somewhere that looks like it is going to be absolutely perfect for him and suit him really really well.

We can be sad that our little boys are growing up (very literally in the case of my 12 yr old, fully expect him to be over 6 ft by end othe summer) and happy for them moving on to the next stage all at the same time.

I felt the same about mine. I don't get all the weeping either.

I’m really looking forward to it too. DD is also an autumn born, and although she isn’t much trouble at home she’s sooo ready for school.

I can’t wait either! DD will definitely be ready by the time September comes around. Her school does two weeks of half days though which I think is ridiculous. I think she’ll be most put out that she won’t be getting lunch for the first week!

Love the brutal honesty of this thread!
Their favourite activity is fighting

PYTHONESQUE my 2nd DS is starting boarding school in September, joining ds1! Can't wait.

I once saw a mum dramatically fall sobbing into her husband's arms after dropping off their child for their first day.

The first couple of weeks are only a short morning session so wasn't any different to dropping them off at nursery I thought.

I walked away planning how I would spend the next couple of child-free hours and counting down the days until they were in for the full day and I could properly enjoy my free time during the day.

I can’t wait until DD3 starts in September. She’s crazy. A total livewire. She literally does not stop! Her two older sisters were energetic, but she is honestly on another level. She goes to nursery in the mornings, but I think school will do her the world of good- she needs something to tire her out! She’s very social and incredibly talkative and I know she’s going to be in her element being surrounded by people to talk to all day- so I’m looking forward to getting a bit of quiet back, and to being able to enjoy the rest of my maternity leave with DD4 and give her my unbounded attention rather than spending the days chasing around after DD3.

Obviously I love her, and the house will undoubtedly feel very different once she starts school. But I’m glad I’m not alone in looking forward to it!

Oh my goodness I have found my people! So glad I am not alone

YAMDNBU
You are most definitely not being unreasonable!!!

My now 6yo was sooooo ready for school. My husband was a bit wobbly about it though.

Different story with DC2 - husband is already counting down the days (baby not even 2 yet!)

YANBU. I couldn’t wait for school to start and dread the holidays where I actually have to look after my own child

The wailing at children starting and the protestations of how much they’ll be missed make me want to tell the parent to get a life. They’re going to school not a six month tour of Syria