Not to have a back to school ritual?

[Finemjen]

Does anyone else not do anything special to mark the first day back to school? Or do you have an end of summer/back to school ritual? Recently learned some give their kids a special breakfast, balloon arch, gift etc. I like to take a photo before kids head off on first day but should I be making it more of an event so they don’t feel left out?

Never heard of a back to school ritual. It sounds like something an influencer would do. If you want to do something then go ahead but not just because you think you should be doing it. The gift is the fortune I've just spent on uniform!

Never heard of a back to school ritual before. My youngest starts reception next month and my oldest will be going into year 2. Nothing special planned.

We don't do anything. I just take a photo of them stood by the front door.

We often did a special breakfast, just so they didn't dread the day as much and we got off to a good start I suppose. We usually took a photo when they were younger, but they didn’t really want that as they got older so we didn’t. That was about it. As our son told us when he was about 9, ‘it’s a bad day mum and dad, the worst day of the year, you can’t make it good’. That was us told. 😂

Youngest has just finished year 11 so we’re done with school. 🥳

I do a photo but that's it. I save our ritual for end of school - sushi buffet for lunch!

A balloon arch.. really? My ritual would be get them off to school as quick as possible and enjoy the day having some time to myself!!!

Best not to make a big fuss.
Photo for when joining or leaving school.
Poor kids have enough to worry about without parents making a grand performance (and expecting child to appreciate it).
Another thing for Instagram etc??

No, but I tend to do something nice on the first weekend after they’ve been back. Breakfast out or something.

In some ways I prepare and have a ritual. We see school friends, collect new shoes and stationary. Discuss new routines and how we will timetable everything. I used to offer a small gift, card etc but I found it made their nerves even worse, and the best thing for them was to keep everything very low key. A photo, a hug and their favourite dinner when they arrived home.

My children have mostly enjoyed school, but it’s still sad to say goodbye to a lovely long summer holiday together.

I have a back to school ritual.

I wake up, gets the kids ready for their transport, pack the little darlings off, then I enjoy a poo in peace, a bath in peace, not dealing with anyone hungry or moody. Take a nap and enjoy the quiet, eat something yummy, and celebrate the fact I survived with my sanity mostly intact

A fucking balloon arch??? Don't compare your life to Stacey fucking Solomon (sort of shit she would do just for the insta)

We try to find the grey socks in the sock drawer.

I take the day off work and enjoy the silence. Does that count?

We certainly don’t. Sounds like something that had just been invented for social media content. I might try to take a normal photo if I remember but usually DD won’t cooperate anyway.

no, not unless they are starting a new school. They need to learn to toughen up and geton with it.

Balloon arch??? 😧

Oh more 'look at me' attention seeking sm crap. Ballon arch, ffs 😂

This is the problem with doing this stuff. Every year you have to try do better than last year, and better than Nicola next door.

For about the first week I would be uber organized and then after that week, we just fell back into the usual routine.

Balloon arch? Wtaf. The ritual for me was Sunday night bath bag packed, shoes cleaned, uniform hung up? hair plaited and bed early. Did not really have to get back into going to bed at a reasonable time as we weren't allowed to stop up mega late anyway. Am mid 60s. Times have changed i suppose- not necessarily for the better.

I heaved a sigh of relief and threw them back through the school doors.

does that count?

lol. I was always a bit sad when the summer holidays were over.

Our ritual is everyone gets out the house on time, matching socks and teeth brushed. I have 3 under 6 so it's all about survival. You will not find a ballon arch in my house it's too manic in the mornings!
Although I do try to keep the kids out the day before to keep the house somewhat tidy so there's less to do once the kids are in bed.

My ritual is body popping in celebration once the front gate swings closed after they leave. 😉

should I be making it more of an event so they don’t feel left out? Making a huge fuss of things that are normal life is pretty bad for mental health.

Just be a supportive and helpful parent.

Have you ever made a balloon arch...they take bloody ages to blow up and attach all the balloons. I know because dd desperately wanted one for a birthday party.

You'd be better off spending the time preparing a nutritious breakfast and keeping things calm and low key. Imagine the anticlimax learning will be for kids being treated to a breakfast party....no wonder kids won't engage with school!

The night before back to school my ritual is cursing that I am back to making packed lunches and who ate the last insert whatever I am out of.

I took photos of both for their first day of reception and dd1s last day of primary
I will do photos of her first day of big school but that's pretty much it