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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not emotional that my DD is leaving Primary?

83 replies

PollyBlue6 · 20/07/2021 18:57

All of the moms I've spoke to are saying how upset and emotional they are due to their children leaving Primary school.
Saying they are dreading the day etc.

I think I'm broken because I'm just, not.
There's been numerous problems with the last year, not actually covid related, and DD has took a dislike to school.
Shes SO looking forward to High school and most of her friends are moving to the same school.

Any other parents felt like this? I'm not sure if it's because I have another DD there and pregnant with DC3 or what.

It just makes me feel abit odd when we are talking about it. I seem like the only one that feels the way I do!

OP posts:
Manista · 20/07/2021 20:12

I'm glad to read this. There's the stupid thing going the rounds on FB talking about going on the last walk to school with the children and other stuff that sounds as if they are about to be deported or worse. They are just changing schools.

Silversun83 · 20/07/2021 20:18

@IncludeWomenInThePrequel

I've never been that parent who always looks back and wishes her kids were younger again. Nope, give me kids who wipe their own arses, do homework without intervention, and put their own washing away please.

I will not be sad when DD goes to secondary next year.

Totally relate to this. Have never understood those who caption photos with things like #dontgrowup and who sob over milestones like getting rid of nappies.

Though saying that, my eldest has just finished reception and I am very sad about that! It feels like the end of an era in a way, much more than when she finished nursery. Maybe because her teacher has been so amazing and it's not been the normal first year of school.. Who knows 🤷‍♀️

zoemum2006 · 20/07/2021 20:18

DD2 is leaving on Friday. The end of 10 years at that school (her older sister left 3 years ago).

I feel mixed emotions: happy she’s moving on but nostalgic for the end of a long era.

Everyone feels how they feel: there’s no right or wrong.

hellywelly3 · 20/07/2021 20:20

I never felt sad with my eldest 2 but I’m feeling it more with my youngest who is finishing this week. I just think it’s the whole primary school chapter over. I know how there is a lot less involvement with high school

JaninaDuszejko · 20/07/2021 20:21

I didn't feel emotional about DD1 leaving primary, all the events (this was preCovid) were designed to make you cry so I was too busy not rolling my eyes. But she had a settling in day at secondary for all the children and they did a concert at the end of the day and I got emotional because they were all looking so grown up and the concert was really good. Poor DD2 never makes me emotional about anything, she's the poor neglected middle child. We'll see what happens when DS leaves primary since he's my baby. Generally though children growing up is exciting and the end of something is only because the next stage is beginning. It's only as you get older that ending become sad.

Cattitudes · 20/07/2021 20:22

Last one leaving and we can't wait. Last year has been fairly dire with bullying. Going to a great secondary school, really ready for new challenges. Plus no school run (secondary is closer). Only tears will be ones of joy.

x2boys · 20/07/2021 20:22

@Manista

I'm glad to read this. There's the stupid thing going the rounds on FB talking about going on the last walk to school with the children and other stuff that sounds as if they are about to be deported or worse. They are just changing schools.
Tbf I see this kind of shit every year on Facebook
TheLovelinessOfDemons · 20/07/2021 20:24

I got emotional during the leavers' assembly when they showed photos of the children in nursery and year 6. They looked so cute! Apart from that, no.

Enough4me · 20/07/2021 20:26

Last one leaving primary for me and I'm happy about it. No more trying to avoid pushchairs everywhere. Plus secondary helps them to gain independence and they can start to think areas that really interest them.

WeatherForecast · 20/07/2021 20:29

@Blackopal

No you're not broken. I did not feel emotional about my daughter leaving primary.

Probably more healthy for your child to see you looking forward to her future rather than performing sadness at losing her past iyswim.

This!

You’re a great role model for your child OP.

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 20/07/2021 20:32

Mixed emotions here.
Ds is leaving primary this time. I'll miss the walk to school together, it's been a brilliant school, I'll miss the community. But he's my 3rd and final one, it's an end for me of being needed so much. I'll miss that.
However I'm excited for him, he's ready for high school.

I was not sad when both younger children left so I think the sadness is for me not him. Iyswim.

Whirlywooo · 20/07/2021 20:33

I cannot wait till my youngest leaves primary school next year...Been doing the school run there for almost 25 years (eldest is 28). Can't wait to never have to do it again! No doubt DD will be in tears. But I won't. A new phase in our lives will begin.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 20/07/2021 20:40

I work in a nearby secondary so think this is probably why I'm not emotional about Dd finishing Primary. Parents online are going on about how scary it's going to be as they haven't had a transition day and how sad it's going to be when they leave. 56/60 of the year 6s are literally going across the road to the Secondary opposite the Primary school, their journey to school has increased by about 20 s and its a high school they've been in and out of using their facilities since about year 2.

I'm proud of Dd and what she has achieved but certainly not sobbing... Unless someone puts that ABBA song from Mamma Mia about time slipping through her fingers as that always gets me.

Nat6999 · 20/07/2021 20:42

I wasn't emotional the day ds left primary, the whole experience had been a nightmare with bitchy mums who were up each other's backsides, it was nice knowing I would never have to see any of them again as most pupils were going to a different school.

Daphnise · 20/07/2021 20:45

All this emotion and much of it is just for the form.

You are taking a balanced view- she is leaving, and hopefully, on the whole enjoyed her time there, but that's it. She's ready to go, so no need for pointless emotion.

GalacticDragonfly · 20/07/2021 20:48

I’m not feeling particularly emotional about mine leaving. It feels like she’s ready. I’ll always be grateful for everything they’ve done for her, but I can’t be sad that it’s time for her to move on.
She’s not been emotional about it at all either, despite a Covid closure that’s wiped out her last few days. She’s excited about what comes next.

HPLikecraft · 20/07/2021 20:56

Seriously couldn't give a stuff.
My 5th DC finished Year 6 on Friday. I've had 25 consecutive years of primary school... glad to see the back of it. It was a lovely, friendly, caring school, but a bit academically lax; DD is looking forward to some challenging maths at comp! And I love to see children growing up and moving on to new things.

HuckedF · 20/07/2021 21:01

@DisorganisedOrganiser

I will be devastated next year when my child leaves primary. The primary school has been incredible and just all you could wish for. She has an amazing group of friends and teachers. She will go to secondary which is very strict, in isolation if she as much as looks the wrong way and will be intentionally split up from all her lovely friends. I will be the one trying not to openly sob on the last day. Secondary will be such a hideous shock.

This 👆 with bells on .

Am in the same boat and I will be beyond devastated.

D.C. are in a superb primary school with an amazing SLT

Hankunamatata · 20/07/2021 21:04

Because she isn't your last in primary

DisorganisedOrganiser · 20/07/2021 21:06

HuckedF Flowers. It is just horrid knowing it’s going to come to an end isn’t it Sad. If I knew they kept friends together in secondary I would be absolutely fine. They have already told us that their policy is to split friends up as much as possible and the school is huge so they achieve that. So these kids grow up together, share their whole lives and then are deliberately split up. WTF Angry?

Greyingmumto3 · 20/07/2021 21:08

No tears on the last day for any of my children but I sob at leavers assembly. I can’t deal with the songs - no idea why as I’m usually quite tough Blush

ConstanceGracy · 20/07/2021 21:08

Maybe it would be different if your dd wasn’t lucky enough to be going to school with friends?
I am dreading it already and dd hours into year 6 in September. They just seem so young for all the shit and drama of high school

MrsMariaReynolds · 20/07/2021 21:15

My DS had some pretty miserable years at primary---undiagnosed special needs, friendship problems, unresolved bullying issues, etc. I pretty much cracked open a bottle of champagne the day he left.

Hm2020 · 20/07/2021 21:19

My ds not old enough yet but I remember leaving primary in 2005 we signed each others shirts and then arranged between our selves a water fight in the local park I don’t think most parents had set foot in the school for a while and certainly no leavers assembly with parents how things have changed Grin

MsAwesomeDragon · 20/07/2021 21:19

My dd left primary school on Friday. Neither of us were emotional about it in the slightest. She's been pretty happy there, but she's looking forward to secondary school and having a wider choice of friends.

Lots of the year 6 parents went to the school to collect them on Friday afternoon, having let them walk home by themselves for at least a year. Lots of them were making a big fuss. DD walked home with her close friends as usual, and looked on bemusedly at all the adults crying, as none of the kids were emotional at all. I was too busy stressing about my own work to be emotional about the end of primary.