40 years of school ends today.

[RapunzelsSplitEnds]

Our first child began school in 1985 and our youngest has his final day at school today.
There are huge age gaps between each of our three dcs and for the first time in forty years, there will be no child to start school after the holidays.
It must sound really silly but I’m finding it difficult to process or finding positive answers.
I have a lot of work planned in order to keep really busy over the next few months and aim to squash the inner voice saying “Is that it?”

Sorry if this isn’t making sense but I feel quite lost right now. I would really appreciate any helpful advice especially how others have coped.

OMG OP what do you mean? You’re FREE! Now you can enjoy other things - your garden, your hobbies! The kids still exist and you’re relationship with them as adults will continue but no more being confined to school holiday trips, no more uniforms, no more bloody parents evening

Wow that’s amazing! Not just the sheer number of years, but that you’ve had babies at such a range of ages.

I bet they ALL had to read A Bloody Inspector Calls, though OP.

At least you'll never have to 'test' them on that again.

I'm being glib, but honestly, you've reached the end of an era, but not the end of being a Mum - this feeling will pass.

(Unlike An Inspector Calls, which I fear will be part of the curriculum until the sky falls).

I started school in 1987 and my sister finished in 2008, DM had 21 years of it and that felt like a big gap to me, 40 is pretty good going!

DS moves up to secondary school in the summer, I think I'll miss his primary more than he will.

Well done, that has got to be worth celebrating.

I have done 22 years so far and I will have done 35 years when my youngest finishes! He’s only in reception now so a few years to go.
There is 21 years between my oldest and youngest child!

I did a Dutch course aged 50, and even the basic level I have gets me a long way in the Netherlands or Flemish Belgium. Also gets some interesting responses as to where I am from- usual guess is a French speaking Belgian.

Hope you enjoy it should you choose to learn the language.

Wow this blows my mind slightly! Your oldest is essentially the same age as me (couple of years younger) and school feels like a very very distant memory.

I'm interested in your experiences of being a young verses older mum - I'd guess with your first child you were one of the youngest and with your last one of the oldest? Did you have doubts around having a child in your mid 40s?

If I were you I'd book an amazing term time holiday and revel in how cheap it is 😂

No need to grieve too much perhaps - I felt like you but I now take my grandkids to and from school on a frequent basis. So, it's all started again - the circle of life!

I have finished 25 years last week with the end of A levels
a real sense of freedom can’t wait for a term time holiday
what’s hard is the empty nest coming soon not the end of school drudgery

My sI’m n just read that Year 9. How funny…

We had our kids close together so our school journey was shorter than most. I was absolutely delighted when it finished. I found it a chore, even though they loved their school. They’re at university now and I still have a skip in my step when I realise I never have to do a school run or go to school for an event ever again!

Onwards and upwards for us. Hope you adapt soon OP.

Do you live near the older ones?

There is always the possibility of DGC school runs...

One of my DGC too!

Did you not have a job during this 40 year period op?

Oh wow just wanted to say I was born in 82 and my ds in 2007. What a shift you've put in, amazing 😍

I still do keep up roughly with when the school holidays are even though I have no school aged children anymore.

I do it purely so that we can ensure to book our holidays in school term time rather than at any of the peaks of the season. 😃🤣

People work while kids are in school. She didn't say she was a SAHP.
I did 40 years of school runs as a nurse. I worked for private companies and finished in time for school pick up. Then did after school care for other kids and my boss's son meaning I always made it out in time.

Of course people work when they have kids. But most usually go back when the kids start nursery. If op hasn’t had a job during this time then it’s understandable to feel out of sorts as this is all she’s done. But it’s rare to be a SAHP when kids are in school.

This gives me hope as I’m 46 and desperate for my rainbow baby after baby loss. My own DS just finished GCSEs and I feel heartbroken

I’m just glad I do t have to iron uniform anymore, last batch done last Sunday hurray I won’t miss the Sunday 7pm diabolical chore

An Inspector Calls.....absolutely the only play in the English language, ever.

Blimey! I have 3 kids but had mine all within four years which was hectic but wonderful watching them grow up as a little team.

hats off to you OP though I can’t imagine anything worse than 40 years of kids in school…. It must be almost like bringing a child up from new born to teenager and then starting all over again. And then again! 😬

There were 4 of us with quite a big gap from eldest to youngest and all went to Uni.

My mum was very happy and celebrating when the youngest did his final Uni exam!

The lady asking if the op had a job. 🙄

I've always managed to work around my kids and made it work, I was working from home happily long before it became the norm! 🙂

Maybe op was a sahp , maybe not but either way when you do "school life" for such a long period of time it is a big change when it ends!

Hi op, I was pondering this situation myself yesterday. My first child started school in 2000 and my youngest is in year 5. When she finishes school, I will have had a child in school for 31-33 years depending on her staying on till 18. It will be a massive change, no more uniform to buy or iron on a Sunday. No more chasing up homework or planning holidays around term times. I can't imagine it but I hope it's a positive change.