Sad/anxious about daughter starting nursery

[blackbatt]

My 3 year old daughter starts nursery in September and I feel really sad about it. The thought of her being in that big room by herself with strangers really makes me feel anxious, I know she will be looked after but I just think about how overwhelmed she might feel. She can be a little shy too so I’m worried she won’t make friends or might get pushed out unintentionally in certain situations due to her just sitting back and letting things happen.
She’s also been going through a phase the last couple of weeks of only wanting me to take her to bed and getting upset if I leave to go out for the evening with friends. I don’t give in and hubby will still take her to bed when it’s his turn but she really breaks her heart crying and I worry she will be like this when I drop her off at nursery the first couple of weeks.
I don’t really know what I’m expecting from this, I think I am just getting my thoughts and feelings out because it’s really playing on my mind atm. I just hope she ends up loving it and makes lots of little friends and no one is mean to her :(

Aww I think many/most of us felt the same OP!

But it's honestly good independence for them in the long run - even the parts they don't enjoy so much e.g. feeling a bit lonely or not enjoying an activity or another kid being a bit of a pain. And a lot of it I'm sure she will enjoy. It's all valuable life experience for them.

Most of them absolutely love nursery and don't give their parents a second glance 😅

It's been over a decade since my DD went to nursery..... but she used to cry to stay there as she was having so much fun

Kids arnt mean at that age, they just don't know social rules and are still learning, I'm sure she will have a great time x

Nursery’s great though, they do so many different activities and social stuff. Way better than staying at home.

If she gets to a point where she runs in and doesn’t even look back at me when I drop her off, I will be absolutely elated! I’m hoping it’s harder for me than it is for her lol.

It is harder for mums, I don't think it gets any easier either lol. My DD is due to start high school in September, she's very excited and I'm an internal nervous wreck 😅

Aww I totally understand the feeling. Nursery can be great for shy kids. It's taken a while but my dc seems to love it now and has gradually become more social and confident. Great skills to have before starting school.

I was just the same op, with all three of mine. My youngest is the only one that went in with no worries and calmly said bye - the others both had to be very gradually settled with me going in with them at first - and just to warn you, after about 3 weeks she's now started the clinging and breaking her heart crying that she doesn't want to go. I think it's when the novelty wears off. The nursery are brilliant about ringing me and saying she's settled within 5 mins and happy as a clam but yes, it's so hard. I hate it a bit, the way you lose them a little when they start a setting like that without you and suddenly you're not in control of their whole world.