DS starting school - am I heartless?

[Bellabelloo]

My son is starting reception tomorrow. He's excited. I'm excited for him. But I see so many posts by people in floods of tears lamenting their child starting school. Am I heartless for not feeling that way?

I want him to be happy and confident and independent and see school as the start of this.

Maybe I'll break down at drop off tomorrow, but I doubt it.

P.S I Silently cried when my youngest tried her school uniform on recently. I think it was because the reality of her being our last and obviously how much she's grown. I don't have SM so that wasn't posted any where but nothing wrong with a good cry.

@ActonSquirrel

I don't get it. One friend posted so proud of you...you got this.

Proud baffled me as I don't see any achievement he reached the required age to start.

Makes more sense than the SM posts congratulating them on getting into the local primary school....

I can’t even remember mine starting school. I do remember nursery insisting I stayed with him the first morning. After 30 minutes of watching him having a wonderful time and completely ignoring me, I went and told him I was going. He didn’t even look up as he said “Bye Mummy, see you later”.

Also four here- and again it was the last day of primary and this year is last one at secondary - no tears but a real sense life is changing. I did shed a few tears (surprised myself) when I dropped DC1 at uni but it was more relief he had made it after such a difficult school life ( AEN and bullying).

I cried after dropping my eldest off in reception class as she screamed, clung on to me and all I could hear was wails of 'Mummy.....' as I walked down the corridor. It was horrendous all round.

My youngest had his first day today (only 2 hours due to settling in). He was fine, he walked in with the teacher and I was happy as he was happy.

I did get emotional when he left preschool as we'd used that nursery for 6 years so knew the staff very well.

It's fine to get emotional if that's who you are. It's also fine to not get emotional.

DS3 who has never been away from me other than babysat by family on the rare occasion started nursery today. There were no tears from either of us!

Whereas when my DD8 started reception, I was crying on her stay and play hour because when they did the register, she didn't say 'here'! I kept crying and the teacher actually pulled me aside to check i was okay. Turns out I was pregnant and didn't know yet so clearly just over emotional haha.