To hate the ‘end of an era’ feeling?

[Bellini12]

DD2 is leaving our village primary tomorrow. We’ve had a (on the whole) really positive experience.
She doesn’t reach well to change, neither do I!
She’s the youngest in the class and always felt like we were one year behind (although academically she has caught up over time).
She’s made some wonderful friends who are all going to the local huge, secondary, but DD will be going to a different school in a different village (joining her sister). I know this will be right for her in the future.
I’m feeling a mixture of sadness, guilt, almost grief, anxiety all rolled into one (obviously keep all these feelings from DD but she is feeling them too, in buckets).
I’ve helped out so much in the school, I also feel like I’m leaving a P/T job!
Not to mention the sadness that my DD’s are growing up.
So many mixed emotions to deal with on top of every day life!

Someone come and talk some sense into me!

My DS has just left secondary school and (hopefully) will be off to uni, I am just thrilled for him for moving on to the next stage of his life & 100% delighted for myself that the school years are over . I sincerely hope I won’t have to be doing anymore nagging about homework.... it’s surely up to him now. And now complete freedom for myself to do what I want.

There's not much point in hating change, life changes constantly.

Oldest has just graduated and will start ft "adult" job in September, exact same week as youngest leaves for uni on other side of country.

Good or bad, nothing lasts forever.

I do have regrets. Not massive ones, but if I had my time over again with a newborn onwards I would have done some stuff differently. That's what makes me a bit melancholy. But on the whole everything has moved on bringing fresh and interesting challenges and happiness.

I hate last days too, and that “end of an era” feeling. It’s just a reminder of how their childhood is whizzing by. DS1 is nearly 14, and I can see that our family holidays won’t last much longer.

DS2 has one more year of primary, by which time I’ll have been doing that school run for 11 years. I know I’ll be really emotional about it. But another part of me is counting the days when I can say goodbye to the relentless fundraising and constant worry about the finances that is common to small schools. The role of the PTA has grown exponentially in the last few years, due to funding cuts, and its nearly broken me this year.

I do have regrets. Not massive ones, but if I had my time over again with a newborn onwards I would have done some stuff differently. That's what makes me a bit melancholy.

This is exactly how I feel. Absolutely.

I find endings hard to deal with, so tend to shy away from them if I can. On the last day of Infant School with both DC we went out and celebrated with friends at an ice cream parlour rather than standing in the playground chatting to lots of other families; most people were there for a good hour or so after school finished and I just wouldn't have coped.

Haha don't worry about family holidays Mintychoc. Ours still come with us at 18 and 22. They both go holidays with their peers and partners but can't resist Old mum and dad paying for everything just like the old days 😁. I'm not complaining, worth every penny.

Yes, it’s the fact that I’m pulling her out of a strong friendship group. Big mum guilt there. Plus if I’m honest, I’m doing what my parents did to me and sent me to a different school. I did well academically but defo missed out on the parties and social life. It was ok, just different.
My worry is that although I know she’ll stay in touch with her best friends, will she be seen as ‘different’ and ‘not cool’. FWIW she’s going to an independent school and her friends are going to the local, huge secondary. But her sister has got on well there and confidence has grown and opportunities abound.

She was nearly in tears this morning as it’s her last full day at school.

I try and say all the positive things and I know in a week’s time things will have settled down immensely and we will be looking to the future.

But tomorrow will be tough.

It's hard to know what the right decision is sometimes. The school you have chosen sounds a lot nicer than a large impersonal secondary school with 200 odd per year but leaving friends is hard.

Totally get what you are feeling OP. I've got 17 year old twins and have hated every single last day, I do feel excited about the next stage but the overwhelming feelings are definitely of sadness. It is a huge reflection on your life speeding past too.

I'm about to go and do my last school run to collect ds from junior school. I've done 10 years of them and mostly really enjoyed them, the chats with them (have dd 14), the meeting other parents, knowing who their friends are and a 20 minute walk twice a day with the dog - we'll both miss that!
He's excited and actually doesn't need me there today at all as he's off to the park with his mates I just wanted to go so I said I'd meet him and get his bag 💼

Ah that’s lovely he is so confident!

I think the leavers’ assembly is going to be the emotional one. There will be tears again in the playground at pick up tomorrow (half day) then they are off for a picnic!

I think it’s going to be so hot they will be ready to go home afterwards!

I do have regrets. Not massive ones, but if I had my time over again with a newborn onwards I would have done some stuff differently. That's what makes me a bit melancholy. But on the whole everything has moved on bringing fresh and interesting challenges and happiness.

Out of interest- What would you have done differently?

I sent shy, summer born DS1 to a tiny village school of 50 children (YR-Y4). His was a very big year, and many schools were oversubscribed so I thought that would be perfect.
Turns out he didn't really flourish there, the teachers (class of 15) didn't seem overly bothered, and then the mixed classes started and he ended up in YR for YR1 effectively. So that was a bad decision.

I spent the best part of two months trying to make BF work, and it ruined what was meant to be a lovely bonding time. I also bought a lot of unnecessary stuff!

I quite like the feeling of successfully making it though another stage.

Both mine left school this time, one at 16 for a good L3/4 apprenticeship and the other at 18 to pursue something he's worked really hard for and been determined to do for several years. Both struggled through school, I'm feeling very happy.

After an emotionally charged day, I’m relieved it is finally over!

A few tears from me and A LOT from her but am confident that in a few days it will be time to look to the future.