to feel sad about the end of primary school years for my dd..

[icelolly99]

She's had a wonderful time and now will be off to 'big' school and I feel sad that's those years are over for her.....anyone else?

Me too icelolly! We moved cities this time last year and DD1 was really upset then to be leaving her friends on her last day, so I was expecting plenty of tears this afternoon and went armed with tissues... But she was as cool as a cucumber! She said her goodbyes as girls and boys sobbed all around her and didn't shed a single tear - I can't say the same for me though (which earned me an eye roll and a withering look from DD1)!

It really does feel like such a mighty transition from Primary to Secondary, doesn't it? When I think of Primary children, images of 5 and 6 year olds pop into my brain, but when I think of Secondary pupils, I picture young adults, aged about 15 or 16. It doesn't feel right that my (only just) 11 year old fits into that category!

Primary school has been a wonderful experience for her, and I wonder how she'll find going from being a big fish in a little pond to a tiddler in the ocean. Her new school seems fantastic and she's hugely excited about going, but the whole 'next step' seems to me to be a huge mountain to climb, all in one go.

I think it's just one of those things where it's harder for us as parents than it is for the children.

Happily, I have another DD who has just finished Yr 4, so I have another 2 years till my 'baby' follows in DD1's footsteps - feeling slightly 'sad' about DD1 leaving Primary school may help me to appreciate the next couple of years a little more!

You're definitely not being unreasonable - it's the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one too!

Well it’s the end of an era which understandably makes you feel sentimental but it’s the beginning of a new and exciting one too.

In the next 6 years she’s going to turn into the person she’s going to be as an adult. That’s pretty exciting and something wonderful to look forward to.

If she enjoyed primary school then she’ll likely enjoy secondary too, probably even more so.

Thanks for your replies; i didn't get notifications of them so sorry I'm only just responding. It's the realisation that those 7 years are 'suddenly' gone and you hope she remembers it and how great it was as she goes on to the next chapter. I have an older and younger child so I'm not sure why this has affected me so much, i don't remember feeling like this the first time round. It's going to be much tougher emotionally for me when youngest reaches the same milestone.

I couldn’t wait for the primary days to be over. Do you refer to it as ‘big school’ to your 11yo?

DD is so ready. Despite her primary school making lessons interesting she thrives with structure and independence, both better done at secondary school.

The only concern I have is that she goes from a school with 60 per year to one with 240 per year and May get lost aft first trying to find the right room in the right building as it is a mismatch of various outbuildings and ways to go from A to B.

She stopped her heart out last Friday though as she had lovely teachers and her best friend is going to another school. Not sure why parents cried though.

Yeap me too. My DD has just finished at our village primary which is only small .My eldest DC went there too and i still have one DC there .The head and the teachers are brillant they know all the children individually. She is going to a fantastic academy in the next town to us and her best friends are going to be in her form and she is sad to be leaving aswell .We do worry as mum's specially as she is going from a school less than a 150 pupils to one with over a 1,000,as it serves the town and surrounding villages. I will worry specially as she now will have to catch a bus .They will be fine it will be us sat at home worrying .

theycouldhavechoseneve no we don't call it big school! She's ready to move on really it's just dealing with the transition and change for both of us. She's mature for her age, top marks in reports and going from a 4 class intake to a 9 class intake so it's a leap but not as big as many others. As there is much less interaction with senior school; no walking there and back with them and helping out on trips etc it's also about how I need to adjust with the change aswell.

icelolly you sound like a fab mum. But maybe there’s now some time for you to pursue things for you x