Anyone else's Reception DC found this week tough?

[InelegantlyWasted]

DS started Reception on Tuesday and he is struggling to find his feet. Yesterday and today he cried when I left him and one of the TAs said there had been some tears on Wednesday too.
He says he doesn't want to go to school and wants to stay with me although when we talk about what he does while he is there he seems to enjoy the activities.
We had the same problem when he started nursery and it took him most of the first half term to settle in. I am confident that in a few weeks he will be happy going to school and these first few weeks will be a distant memory. It's just very hard watching all the other kids happily skip into the classroom while I am physically unpeeling a tearful little boy from me.

Totally empathise, have just come home from the 4th teary drop off of the week and sitting here wondering what we have done wrong/ whether we chose the right school etc etc . I was about to start a thread myself when I saw yours!
My DS has said all the same things, he wants to stay with me all day etc. The school is taking them all on a trip to the beach in 2 weeks and when I told him and said how exciting that would be he said "I don't want to go to the beach without you mummy"

I really hope like you say IW that this will all be a distant memory in a few weeks, but I fear not! Like you it took most of the first term to settle into his nursery and to be honest even after 2.5 years there he still had some days he did not want to go in and clung to me even though he loved it there. I guess I need to accept that this is just who he is? I really hope it does not affect him making friends etc though?

Also agree how hard it is to watch all the other's skip in merrily waving goodbye with smiles on their faces. Not that I would wish this on other parents but I would feel a lot better if a few more had the same issue!
The only thing I am clinging onto is that he comes out everyday happy and full of enthusiasm for what they have been doing all day and the teachers say he is fine after a while (or has been so far).
Just wish we could get past the tears.

He will get past the tears. Mine did and he's now Y5.

He still has days when he says that he doesn't want to go but why shouldn't he? I have days when I really don't want to go to work.

If they're coming out happy, it's only a matter of time before they settle. Teachers are used to it and it in no way affects their ability to make friends.

It's a long day for a 4 year old and they miss you. Cut them some slack.

Hang in there. Loads of children will have problems settling in and this may not be obvious if it isn't at drop off. YR is still foundation and is all about getting them ready and settled. There are big changes, some upset may be inevitable?

DS's friend from nursery school found it really hard to settle and was quite upset. She is totally fine this year (Y1) and DS is finding it more difficult. You/TA may be able to come up with a plan together.

DS hated nursery and sobbed quietly every day for months. I know how awful you can feel.

Hijacking slightly here, how is 1/2 with the Competitive Key Stage One Mums, Eggrules??

DD cried today after going in fine the other three days :( I am pregnant and admit to sobbing all the way back to the car (about a 10 minute walk!!!)

I spent the morning wondering whether I ought to HE and how I could manage that with work, and whether she is in the right class for her - the other reception teacher seems much "nicer"

I decided that the irrational one is likely to be me and I ought to give it at least a month before I start asking questions of the school in how they can help her.

What keeps me going is the fact she comes out happy, tells me she has had a lovely lovely day when she stopped crying, and has already made friends.

We talked about her crying, how I have no choice, she has to go to school, and how nice her day was after she calmed down, but I am still tearful when I think about how she had to be peeled from me today :(

windmillpond . She is probably fine after 5 mins. Don't torture yourself with grass is greener thinking. This is all part of settling in. If you are worried, speak to the teaching staff.

Hi Iamnotminterested.
Competitive nonsense lasted through the Summer hols. The tales I could tell. There was a minor blip - DS was upset on his first day. I asked the person on the door if I could take him in (no prior guidance about this). She said 'sure no problem'; I showed him his peg, left him to it and ran back out. There was an irate coven when I came back out demanding to know how I made it through the barrier. School are enforcing a strict parents stay outside and make appointments policy. Long over due and stops the madness of last year.

I did a huge sigh of relief that DD went in without tears, it was touch and go and only sheer luck she didn't end up hanging off my leg screeching.

It does get easier, DD is my 3rd and they all had some time when they didn't want to go. I'm still thinking give her next week as a full day week and she will decide she doesn't want to go and have a melt down at the gate.

egg ignore the coven, every playground has one or such like including the alpha mum. Smile and say good morning they really arent worth a second thought!

for us all I think. We labelled all the uniform and sent them all in looking smart and super sweet even if they came out looking like they rolled to school through a field.

Cheer Sharp . DS looks like he rubs his plate onto his jumper

I think they show upset in different ways. DS has been angry, rude, grumpy and sad. The worst has to be trying to be brave but sobbing quietly and trying to push tears back in whilst saying 'I'm not being naughty and I'm trying hard not to be sad'. I know for a fact he will be fine though.

You are right about the coven; they are off my radar. New policy from Y1 means adults are NOT welcome in school at drop off. I look forward to dropping off at parties and then I will never see them to engage. Most are absolutely lovely.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think a lot of the tears are down to tiredness. I found going into the school playground on the first day a bit daunting and overwhelming so heaven only knows how the little ones are feeling!
I hope you and your DC have a nice relaxing weekend before we all climb back on the school run conveyor belt again on Monday!

A latecomer here. My DD has had to cope with her Dad leaving over the summer (amicably). School is just "too much", and although they've been brilliant, she doesn't want to go anymore.

She has a new childminder to go to 2 mornings a week, and all full days from now... The one thing we have changed is that she's supposed to be on the bus each day. STBXH and I have agreed to drive her for a fortnight until school is more familiar; then we can introduce the bus. She's been so anxious and upset I worry she'll make herself sick (lovely party trick she has).

God I just want to get through these next few weeks

oh looksmart :( It is so hard isn't it :( DH reassures me that his best friend sobbed and cried every single day for about 3 years after his mum left, but that once he'd calmed down (5-10 mins) he had a lovely time playing.

It doesnt make it any easier when it's your child though does it :(

We have had a fair bit of change here too. my dad died earlier on in the year, and dd was very close to him and my mum (who is obviously still struggling with it all) and now our cat is on his last legs. I am literally dosing the cat up with pain killers and begging the poor thing to wait another week so that it is not all too much change at once, as dd is a real internal worrier.

Rescue remedy is my saviour. I hope drop off today went easier, for all of you.