To find the overly nostalgic social media posts about school and parenting in general quite toxic?

[NeedMyDress]

I have noticed a growing trend now where every parent is almost expected to lament their children starting school, or starting a new school year. Complete with doorstep photos and a post about how quickly time goes etc etc.

Since when did we all have to publicly break down over our children growing up and the passing of time?

I am a parent and I do have nostalgic moments but also try to celebrate the milestones, I feel like now it's the accepted norm for parents to publicly weep over each passing year. Does anyone else find it a bit much?

I remember feeling the opposite when my youngest started school- really happy to have the school days to myself and finally have some time to myself! Like properly excited for it

Same. I was ecstatic when both mine were finally in primary school.

Agree with the above.

You don't do it- fine
You don't approve of other people doing it- not fine

It's not drink driving or sleeping with your husband's brother. It's taking pictures and uploading them to your own Facebook page (or whatever). I didn't do it when DD started school and I didn't break down when she started university. But I don't have a problem with other people doing either of those things.

Some people are very nostalgic. You may not be but everyone's different. I personally found it hard when my daughter finished primary school because it was the end of an era. I felt emotional for a couple of weeks. I realise loads of parents would think that's ridiculous but I can't help how I feel. However, I didn't have a big emotional outpouring on social media but I know others who did.
I don't think this is new thing - obviously there wasn't social media before but I'm sure some people still felt emotional about these things - they just wouldn't express their feelings so publicly.

I remember a stranger striking up a conversation with me and DH as we were out walking with our DD, asking how I felt about her starting school, and answering, 'over the bloody moon, mate!'

He cracked up and said how refreshingly healthy that sounded. . .

The bigger issue with these photos is the security issue tbh

Advertising where you child goes to school is unsafe Internet usage

‘Advertising where you child goes to school is unsafe Internet usage’
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

There are photos of my brother and I on the doorstep in the 70's, proud in our uniforms on first day of school.
Many of my friends and family posted similar on social media now, because it exists. No public wailing, just a lovely memory to look back on.

I love seeing everyone’s photos. But maybe it’s helped because my social media I only have people I actually like and I’m interested in their lives!

I posted a photo of DS this morning because for him each new step is a massive step so yes I want to celebrate that!

‘Toxic’ is a weird word to use. OP, You really find pics of your friends kids starting school ‘toxic’??

Laugh all you want but it is

If not for them being stalked now, common security questions are "what was your first school?"

You're not entirely wrong but I think the chances of someone saving a first day of school picture from a FB post to save and use in 10+ years time to fraudulently answer an Internet security question is so slim it can probably not be worried about.

‘If not for them being stalked now, common security questions are "what was your first school?"’

alright grandma. Weird ‘ what was your first pet’s name’ Etc security questions are becoming obsolete… facial recognition, password keychains, and other much more secure methods are taking over and will have completely before your child is old enough to independently put that kind of info about pets, schools, maiden names in.

Oh, and BTW, if YOU do get asked that still by a company stuck in the 90s - you should lie. Make the answers up and use the same made up one over and over. It’s actually more secure that being dim enough to give away the real name of your childhood best friend, or 1st street address.

You also better hope then that your child achieves absolutely zero at school - no awards, doesn’t win a poetry competition, isn’t in a sports team that makes the local paper or media, does nothing of note that means their name may be linked in a newsletter or anywhere else that also mentions the school.

I mean its not new is it ? Its been happening every August/September since Facebook began its a week or so of kids going back to school its not a .massive deal is it what so you think social media is for ?

Live and let live! Toxic is a strong word, it's just how some people feel about kids growing up and moving on.

Nothing wrong or toxic about it.

I have never been asked or answered that on a security question why would you?

I love it. Its the one day of the year you can publicly gush about your children and every other parent (generally) feels the same. I posted a pic of mine, not because I was sad at how they were older but because they looked so blinking cute and excited with their new, shiny uniform and haircuts. Its the posts that go on about how proud a parent is that their child has moved up a reading level or got star of the day (its done on rotation fyi) that make me roll my eyes....

I can’t stand it and not just on social media but in real life too.

I’ve got a friend who’s spent all summer holiday making such a big deal of the fact her DC is moving schools. It’s made him really anxious as she’s made it into such a big thing, he’s even said he’s hated this summer as he knows when it’s over he’s moving schools.

When my DS1 moved up we spoke about it in an excited way and then only a few times. He was fine with the move, whilst today I’ve seen my friend posting photos of her and her son trying at the school gates as he goes in!

Do you maybe think you should be behaving a certain way ? I never cried when mine started school tbh most parents didn't and were just happy the kids were going.

If you say so. Mine were off with a hug and a "good luck"

This. Not everyone is a high expressed emotion sobbing all the time. Calm and cheerful 😊

My sister is a teacher and she often groans about the big increase in (her words, not mine) 'caterwauling parents' at the school gate on the first day of Autumn term. And she claims that the worst offenders are the ones whose DC is going BACK to school after the summer break, not turning up for their first day!

One Mum broke down in tears over her (and the child) and said she couldn't bear the thought that in 2 years' time her DC would be old enough to walk her/himself to school and she was having a hard time coming to terms with that. 2 years FFS?!

I think that's OTT by anyone's standards, but otherwise, I love to see the doorstep pics of friends' DCs at the start of a new term and the excitement on their faces!

It's crazy...are these parents genuinely upset or have they worked themselves into a tizz because social media makes us think we should feel like this?

As an aside I find those with the most family support get the most upset. Those, like me, who don't have much family support so barely get a break are usually the ones happy to see their kids start school!

It's pathetic. So dramatic.

A woman I know got balloons made for each of her five children with their names and years on. So tacky and OTT. All for social media.

I don't like them but I did post them myself so I am a hypocrite. The reason I don't like them is because I wish people wouldn't share children pics on SM. It's up to them though. I regret doing it and I've deleted all pics of my children from the internet and cross my fingers that they weren't ever captured.