Eldest DC starting Secondary next month.

[mumutd]

My eldest starts is starting grammar school in September but all his friends from primary are going to the local comp, which means he's basically starting all over again. He had such a wonderful set of friends from primary and whilst he will miss them he doesn't seem too phased about going to a different school to them. I on the other hand can't quite describe how I feel about it, I know we he chose the right school and he is quick to make new friends but I'm really nervous about it (not that I'm letting on to him). Is it natural for a parent to feel apprehensive about their child starting secondary school even when their child doesn't seem that bothered?

It's not just about going alone, but everything else. He's growing up so quickly and I keep hearing that this is the beginning of the end and that he'll soon grow distant and grumpy etc etc. Any words of wisdom from Mums who have already gone through this?

Yes, it's very normal for parents to worry before the eldest goes off to secondary. There's a lot of us on here who have been there, done that and got the T-shirt . I think part of it is the feeling that you can't 'do anything about it' like you can when you take them off to Reception, where you are there to pick them up and drop them off and send them back in to pick up whatever they've left behind, or have a quick word with the teacher if you aren't sure about anything, etc.
What surprised me, was just how welcoming to parents ds's secondary school were / are.

See, that's going to be the biggest shock. I've got 4 children, 3 already at school and 1 starting in reception next month. I have a great relationship with the school, it's such a lovely primary school. I'm going to have to learn very quickly to hand over control to my son, I've no idea how he's I'm going to manage

I am a head of year in a middle school and a massive part of my job is settling primary school children into a secondary environment. I deal with many anxious parents who are nervous and worried and spend a lot of my time on the phone in the first couple of days just allaying any worries the parents may have. I would recommend giving the school a ring and just asking the head of year to keep an eye on your little boy in the first couple of days. You are by no means alone in your worries, but I can promise you that you have got so much good stuff to come. Your boy is about to have a world of opportunities open up to him and will begin to develop into a young man. Trust me, not all teenagers are miserable - I work with some brilliant ones!

What a lovely reply, I can tell this is an underlying issue for me as your words brought tears to my eyes. Thank you!