How to help 8yo with Sunday night blues

[LoyalGreenHam]

One of my memories of childhood is the Sunday night blues, just feeling a mild gnawing sadness and anxiety about going back to school. The Antiques Roadshow theme could probably still set it off! I grew out of it in my teens and had more or less forgotten about it, but I have an 8yo DD and it's now happening to her. I don't know what to do to help. She's essentially happy at school (although on Sundays says she hates it), has plenty of friends, is academically fine etc. I know she dislikes being away from me and isn't a fan of the structures and discipline (quite a free spirit) but I don't want the looming threat of the week ahead to spoil nearly a quarter of her weekend, since this tends to kick in after lunch on Sunday. She's such a happy child in general.

Any tips? Has anyone found an angle or approach that really worked? I've tried reason, sympathy and briskness but none have really made any difference.

My sister and I were saying the same thing recently. We still get that feeling on a Sunday afternoon, around 3pm onwards which stems from childhood (although now it's about work!) My DS10 is also showing these signs and I am hoping I haven't unconsciously rubbed it off on him. Not sure if it will work for you but you have the advantage like mine has of having a relatively good school life with friends, doing well academically etc...I spoke to him about why he felt this way and he said because he likes being at home with the family so I think it's just that break of routine from the weekend. I remind him that he'll see his friends and have fun. We went a bit deeper where I said he if enjoys school and sees the fun in it then he'll do well and that will help him find out what he would like to do when he's older and when he does he won't be sad on a Sunday as he'll be doing something he enjoys. Not sure if he's bought it totally but I'll keep trying!!

As an adult, I went through a phase of meeting friends on a Sunday evening. It helped avoid the Sunday blues as it was very much still the weekend. Could you try making plans some weeks? Seeing other people, going out somewhere fun later on? Not so easy in winter but postpones the end of the weekend feeling.

I would say do nothing other than tell them it's completely normal. They are experiencing normal, human feelings and emotions and will continue to do so throughout life.

Thanks all. Seems like I'm not the only one although I'm sure I never told anyone as a child - would have been so much better if I had! Sunday afternoons do tend to become very "get ready for the week" which probably makes it more ominous for her so I will try and flip things around so they are more weekend-y and keep spreading the reassurance and gratitude that she doesn't actually have too much to worry about.

My 10 year old DS is the same. His Sunday blues kick in as soon as he wakes up on Sunday. We have tried planning something nice for after school on Monday and that seems to have helped a bit.