Thanks for extra posts, all. Gutted to say it's not going well.
Friday, I stayed for an hour along with several other mums, and eased myself away from DS just about holding himself together - he was clinging like a limpet. This morning, I stayed for a bit, then left to pop home for a wee as I was bursting and he had to be prised off me (something I've never done) and I could still hear him screaming for me as I walked up the drive.
This is just awful. He is rarely this unhappy.
DS, who is quite a sensitive child, is off his food, has a permanent nervous tummy, is clinging to me, and said to me that he wants me to cancel school and that it is wrong ("horrible") how the teachers take the children from their mummies.
Crikey.
I can't do this every morning for the forseeable future, and I don't think it's what DS needs at the moment. He has seemed clingy and insecure over the summer, mirroring family difficulties, and I feel that he needs more hugs and comfort and family time than usual on account of this, not separation. Argh.
onwardandupward, I'm mindful of the law side of things: he doesn't have to be in school at all at the moment, legally, although may need to be at least part-time in the New Year so I can work. But until it is an all-round necessity, it doesn't seem worth putting DS through this level of distress.
BTW, we did the toy bribe, hearts in pockets, promise of playdates, talking up seeing friends, etc, but when it comes to the crunch, nothing seems to fill the missing-Mum void.
Oh dear. Just venting, really. No need to fix. Just wish it were easier than this. Rather surprised, in fact, by the relative lack of my-LO's-finding-it-tough-adjusting-to-Reception threads. Oh well.
Thanks for support.