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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate all the gleeful revelling in back to school posts

132 replies

Chocolatelollyforbreakfast · 04/09/2025 10:15

Instagram posters etc actively rejoicing in getting in the kids back to school, jokes about chucking them through the door and so on
I get it, it’s hard with kids off, you have no peace and so on, but these posts just make me feel uncomfortable and the videos just aren’t that funny

OP posts:
Nostylequeen · 04/09/2025 13:54

I’m a sahm who celebrated with a group of mum friends with a long breakfast after drop off. It was a long 8 weeks for us, and having my time again was just the best thing. We didn’t post it anywhere but there are MANY parents happy that school is back.

TheEllisGreyMethod · 04/09/2025 14:12

Chocolatelollyforbreakfast · 04/09/2025 13:44

Why insensitive

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Well obviously the alternative to growing older is death which is brutal and unimaginable and nothing anyone would want for their child. So yeah they're stupid posts.

TheEllisGreyMethod · 04/09/2025 14:13

I also think you're being massively unreasonable. People have different senses of humour. It's just a JOKE.

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 04/09/2025 14:15

TheNightingalesStarling · 04/09/2025 11:16

I love having my children home.
it was also exhausting trying to WFH while having them home

So yes I'm very happy they are back at school and will enjoy the exhaustion of the evening taxi service and homework assistance instead.

I’m the same!! I love having my little boy off!! Long lazy lie ins, cuddles on the sofa, later movie nights, complete downtime! Though I think I’m biased as I’m a term time worker. So when he goes back, so do I lol!!!!

thatsgotit · 04/09/2025 14:21

TheEllisGreyMethod · 04/09/2025 14:13

I also think you're being massively unreasonable. People have different senses of humour. It's just a JOKE.

But for the joke to exist in the first place it has to be rooted in some degree of truth.

TheChosenTwo · 04/09/2025 14:25

I’m gutted about the summer holidays ending.
Because my commute to work doubles.
Kids are now adults and one teen, the summer has been lovely not having to organise things while I’m working.
Whether the teen is at school or not is kind of neither here nor there for the most part as he’s able to suit himself on days dh and I are working and his adult siblings are busy, he organises his own days out etc.
I’ll miss leisurely starts to my days and the more relaxed evenings when I get home and not having to issue reminders about homework. Not looking forward to all the extra pickups that various sports clubs require.

Zov · 04/09/2025 14:31

I think people are just messing about - just chill. 🙂 And to be fair, some (not all) children can be exhausting and draining, and it can be a relief for them to go back to school.

This made me laugh though.

To hate all the gleeful revelling in back to school posts
PigletSanders · 04/09/2025 14:31

Chocolatelollyforbreakfast · 04/09/2025 13:44

Why insensitive

Show quote history

Because for some people their child has died, or is unwell and dying, and won’t get older.

PigletSanders · 04/09/2025 14:32

thatsgotit · 04/09/2025 14:21

But for the joke to exist in the first place it has to be rooted in some degree of truth.

Show quote history

Sure. I was delighted to send my children back to school. It’s been a very long nearly-ten weeks. 😆

DolphinOnASkateboard · 04/09/2025 14:41

The whole "slummy mummy, ooh where's the gin" thing is now massively overdone, but I had kind of hoped that it had a least finished off the idea that you're a shit human being and a failure as a parent if you're not HAPPY and having FUN and EMBRACING THE MOMENT all the time. This thread has disabused me of the notion.

notacooldad · 04/09/2025 14:49

But for the joke to exist in the first place it has to be rooted in some degree of truth.
I joked that I couldn't wait until mine left home. To be fair there was more than an element of truth with that! 😆 🤣

They finally both left at around 22 and joked with 'Happy now mother!' I was! It didn't mean I didn't live them miss them or wanted to stop seeing them it was a joke!

Its a good job we all knew i wasn't serious and they could have stayed as long as they liked ( well within reason)

thisfilmisboring123 · 04/09/2025 14:55

Seem to be in the minority but yes I agree with you.

Wouldn’t say it makes me feel uncomfortable, but it’s just so overdone and I really don’t find it funny.

SleeplessInWherever · 04/09/2025 14:58

I think parents who pretend their children are angelic 100% of the time and never ever make them feel like putting their head in the oven, are the ones doing us the real disservice.

It’s not true, and it’s not realistic. There’s no such thing as the perfect child, and we all get either exhausted or just plain “tapped out.”

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 04/09/2025 15:09

thatsgotit · 04/09/2025 14:21

But for the joke to exist in the first place it has to be rooted in some degree of truth.

Show quote history

I mean, so what?

Nobody is perfect. I love it when DH goes back to work after his Christmas break - doesn't mean I don't love him or want him around in general.

notacooldad · 04/09/2025 15:16

I think parents who pretend their children are angelic 100% of the time and never ever make them feel like putting their head in the oven, are the ones doing us the real disservice.
It’s not true, and it’s not realistic. There’s no such thing as the perfect child, and we all get either exhausted or just plain “tapped out.”

This is exactly right. Ds1 has been a royal pain in the ass at times and he still has his moments when he acts like a complete dick head and he is nearly 30!!!!

Chobby · 04/09/2025 15:16

thatsgotit · 04/09/2025 14:21

But for the joke to exist in the first place it has to be rooted in some degree of truth.

Show quote history

Well yes, of course it does. The ‘truth’ is that summer holidays are often a massive juggling act for working parents, and even for parents who aren’t at work over the summer it can be intense and exhausting entertaining/feeding/caring for children all day every day.

stayathomer · 04/09/2025 15:19

But it’s true!! The night before back to school ds15, who I’ve been arguing with all summer about bedtime, suddenly said, well I’d better get to bed now. At quater to ten! I stood there in shock as there was just me for the first time in about four weeks! I had the first day of back to school of work and it was an absolute revelation, again first time it was just me.

TorroFerney · 04/09/2025 15:51

Allswellthatendswelll · 04/09/2025 10:44

You can feel happy everyone is back in a routine and that you have a but of breathing space whilst still enjoying your children.

I think it's cringe when influencers do it but then I think everything parent influencers do is cringe!

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Completely agree with your first paragraph but no one needs to put that on social media. I’m pleased my child has gone back, for her though not for me as she was starting to get bored.

Justwanttobebythesea · 04/09/2025 16:00

I said at work I was counting down the days this week - people laughed as it was a joke! If I’d said that in July - not so funny. 8 weeks together, most of it fun but yes last few days they were bored, bickering and I was fed up with Mum’s all day diner being open.

just wait in a few weeks there will be the omg so tired when is half term posts 🤣

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 04/09/2025 16:25

TorroFerney · 04/09/2025 15:51

Completely agree with your first paragraph but no one needs to put that on social media. I’m pleased my child has gone back, for her though not for me as she was starting to get bored.

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I mean, nobody needs to put anything on social media.

People need to just learn to scroll on rather than get offended.

materialgworl · 04/09/2025 16:30

Not funny to you so we should all not do it?

youalright · 04/09/2025 16:30

Overtheatlantic · 04/09/2025 10:18

Who pee’d in your Wheaties?

🤣🤣🤣

soupyspoon · 04/09/2025 16:35

I dont have a view about whether people should or shouldnt or do or dont feel happy when their kids go back

But Im always intrigued as to why people who 'feel uncomfortable' about something need to share that they 'feel uncomfortable' and that they say it as if their discomfort is somehow significant and means something

So you're 'uncomfortable'

So what?

Chobby · 04/09/2025 17:15

TorroFerney · 04/09/2025 15:51

Completely agree with your first paragraph but no one needs to put that on social media. I’m pleased my child has gone back, for her though not for me as she was starting to get bored.

Show quote history

No one needs to put anything on social media, it’s all entirely optional.

blondebombsite13 · 04/09/2025 17:15

soupyspoon · 04/09/2025 16:35

I dont have a view about whether people should or shouldnt or do or dont feel happy when their kids go back

But Im always intrigued as to why people who 'feel uncomfortable' about something need to share that they 'feel uncomfortable' and that they say it as if their discomfort is somehow significant and means something

So you're 'uncomfortable'

So what?

Yeah, agree with this.

I also feel a bit Hmm when posters say they are “concerned” about things that have absolutely nothing to do with them and in reality they are most probably not concerned in the slightest.

Ditto when they describe things as “problematic”.

What an absolute cop out of a catch all word that is. So lazy.