Meltdown at school pickup

[ggmom87]

My 4 year old just started full days of Reception this term. She loves school, and most days she comes home tired but happy. Sometimes a little grumpy, to be expected. She’s usually a very sweet little gal. But today at pickup, she was in a horrid mood. They had just returned from a forest school trip and she was very tried. She then saw that her little brother had a happy meal toy from earlier, and she asked if she could have McDonald’s too. I said no, but I had a snack for her in the car. But she was so upset and had a huge meltdown right there in front of all the parents and kids. She screamed at me and hit me and threw herself to the ground. I am so mortified I don’t know how I’ll recover. I seriously feel so embarrassed about even showing my face there again. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this when their child first started school full time?

Yes. Arrive early, have food on you, get them home asap, feed them a full hot meal by 4.30 and then get them to bed early.

With my August born, he'd have a pack up in the back seat of the buggy on the way to the car and then a large meal with seconds as soon as I could get it ready. His head was fried, poor lad.

My eldest definitely had some jealousy issues about his younger siblings being at home with me whilst he was at school. We were sensitive about making sure he didn't feel like he was missing out on any big exciting events for the first few weeks until he was more settled and confident at school.

Forget it! Yes, parents might have noticed it at the time, and turned to check no assistance was needed, but honestly, noone will remember by 9am tomorrow. (And frankly, probably noone will remember by 9pm tonight!).
Lots of food if she wants it and an early night, and lots of cuddles.

That's not a meltdown. It's a tantrum. She was tired and wanted McDonald's.

am so mortified I don’t know how I’ll recover. I seriously feel so embarrassed about even showing my face there again

In the nicest possible way you really do need to get a grip. Nobody needs to 'recover' from a 4 hear old having a tantrum. Nobody else will care.

Ah, this is me everyday, I’m about ten minutes from school and I can’t wait. The other parents will soon forget, nothing to be embarrassed about.

It will be someone else's turn tomorrow! I agree with people above. Greet her with a snack in hand, and try not to make the fun your preschooler had too obvious!

Her stamina will build come the spring.

She isn't the first and she won't be the last!

Every parent in that playground has been you ! Very few will judge

You don’t know how you’ll recover??

Honestly everyone will have the same thing at least once!

They are exhausted and hungry and everything gets a bit much.

Always take something to the school gate - something else in the car unless you have a very short journey. It can still be healthy if that bothers you - piece of fruit, cheese cubes etc.

Early dinner and early night.

No one will be judging you.

They'll all be pleased it wasn't their child this time

Agree food at door. If you know she's tired cold and hungry from forest school a nice hot bacon roll in foil is great.

Also explain when she wasn't at school and brother wasn't around/ a baby she had things he didn't. That's a conversation for when she's calm and not tired though!

School trips in reception will do this, as will special parent assemblies and any other activity that makes them excited and tires them out.

Greet them with food, a quiet even tone and then get them settled at home with a peaceful activity like a film till bed time.

It happens, no one will judge, they were probably all thinking 'thank god it wasn't mine this time'.

The MacDonald's obviously pushed her over the edge!

Don't worry about it, it's completely normal behaviour and no one will care.

Seriously, it happens all the time.

When you have an 8 year old (autistic) doing it then that's embarrassing but that's it, you forget it and move on.

Tbh could you not see that coming?

If my mum went to McDonalds with my sibling without me then wouldn't go with me I'd have a tantrum.

🤣

am so mortified I don’t know how I’ll recover. I seriously feel so embarrassed about even showing my face there again don't be daft! Every single parent, teachers who are parents included, have had their fair share of tantrums and carry-ons. No-one will even remember this time next week. Seriously.

Oh Bless You

Don't worry OP , it happens, and 4 is still so young . (Sometimes wish my youngest two were still little but that ship sailed long ago).

You'll recover! I don't think there is a mother who hasn't experienced their child have a meltdown outside school. Maybe in hindsight you could have hidden the McDonalds toy

The McDonald’s toy is always one you just ‘found’ on the street, unless the younger child can talk then you hide the toy and never speak a word of going to McDonald’s. Amateur

You can't be the only one so far who's had to wrestle a melting down 4 year old into the car. I used to walk home which was even worse actually because all my neighbours would see. We had quite a few incidents where a child would explode out of the class room already in full tantrum before their parent had even seen them!

Thanks to all those who have left kind messages. I do feel better now that we are home and rested.

The only reason to have been embarrassed would be if you'd responded to the tantrum by taking her to MacDonalds.

My ds is like this a lot. He's tired, he works hard all day and they tell me he is very friendly and pleasant and never stops! When he sees me it's like it all gets too much. Have a look at 'after school restraint collapse'.

I would always hide the toy, get the little one to always be carrying a snack for the big one (distracts from the jealousy I find) and get away from the playground as fast as possible. Honestly none of the other parents will have judged, other than 'thank god it's not me today'.

Early bed and start again tomorrow!

Every other parent was just secretly glad it wasn't their child!!
If it makes you feel any better OP my dd who is reception but 5 already had a huge tantrum as I arrived at after school club right in front of the head of early years and she was tantruming for effect because the issue had supposedly been actually dealt with 10 mins earlier.
Tomorrow is another day!