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Quick top tips on how to cope when your child starts school for the first time

58 replies

carriemumsnet · 22/09/2008 16:44

Does anyone have any top tips to pass on to parents who found the whole child starting school for the first time a bit traumatic and sad?

The Evening Standard are doing an article on how parents, and particularly mums, cope with this parenting milestone and have asked for Mumsnetters' views and top tips.

As usual the deadline's pretty tight so if you could post your quick tips here, that would be grand.

If you're one of the mums who were whooping and cheering as your child toddled off to school for the first time, do feel free to share as well

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plus3 · 22/09/2008 16:50

Smile at everyone, act cheerful as they head into to school and sob (if the need is felt once they are out of sight

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stroppyknickers · 22/09/2008 16:51

arrange to meet some other mums in Starucks/ Costas/ Morrisssons caff. Decide to enjoy the freedom and not be sad. Eat a muffin without sharing!

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stroppyknickers · 22/09/2008 16:51

Starbucks obviously.

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PuppyMonkey · 22/09/2008 16:52

What happened to the first thread?????

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Carmenere · 22/09/2008 16:53

Well I was one of the 'wayhey' school of mums and fortunately dd loved it from day 1. But I had good advice from here about not trying to do too much after school for the first couple of weeks. They get tres tired, what with information overload and for the first week at least, lying on the sofa watching tv is as much as they can manage after school.

Also the first day that they had school dinners, their teacher told them that it was just like going to a party which dd was very happy about.

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JackieNo · 22/09/2008 16:55

Is this information to help the kids cope with school, or the parents cope with the sadness?

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PuppyMonkey · 22/09/2008 16:55

Was it the thing I said about the Standard being three weeks too late???

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Mercy · 22/09/2008 16:59

Take a photo of them outside school/classroom

Make your dc favourite meal that night

Erm, can't think of anything else really. I was a whooping and cheering type parent, and will be again next week when ds starts full-time!

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Flier · 22/09/2008 17:01

well I expected to be really upset and tearful but wasn't wasn't exactly skipping out the school gates, mind, but it wasn;t as bad as I expected, mainly because he was so well prepared for it by the school nursery

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Nemoandthefishes · 22/09/2008 17:04

DS started reception last week and did his first full day today and while I felt a bit frazzled and sad about the whole experience he couldnt give two hoots

However would like advice on how to deal with the little so n so who bit him for no reason

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PuppyMonkey · 22/09/2008 17:06

Don't post here - this thread is an imposter. MNHQ - you know what I'm talking about.

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Mercy · 22/09/2008 17:09

What do you mean?

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PuppyMonkey · 22/09/2008 17:11

.... there was a version of this thread that MNHQ started before, then it disappeared and was replaced by this inferior version.... I demand to know why.

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Flier · 22/09/2008 17:14

what did you do to it puppymonkey?

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PuppyMonkey · 22/09/2008 17:15

I broke it I think.... don't know how or why.

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psychomum5 · 22/09/2008 17:16

DD1 started school, and I was all 'wow, proud mum'.....lots of grins and made friends on our first day!

DD2 started school.....she was the original velcro baby, and she sobbed and clung while I tried to prise myself off and run.

DD3 started, and she was very shy, I was a pro....

DS1 started, my boy, he had just had his tonsils out 2wks before and boy did I cry.....

DS2 started, and I was prepared (we had had many tears from nursery, and he was the second biggest velcro baby in the world). I made sure I had money and I planned to go to my fave place in all the world, the local bookstore, and buy a new book and sit and have coffee....all alone and in peace.

and so I did

so, my tip......make a plan to do something you love to do the most without the kiddies, and go and enjoy.

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Flier · 22/09/2008 17:19

what makes you think it was YOU that broke it though?

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PuppyMonkey · 22/09/2008 17:23

Well, generally things are my fault . It all happened straight after I posted something.

It was just a jokey comment about the Standard being three weeks too late with their story. Nothing controversial....

I need a witness, there were others on the first thread. Can't bleddy remember who though. Lotsa regulars, from what I recall...

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Flier · 22/09/2008 17:35

i think you've imagined it all, puppymonkey !

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jurahasfoundthehiggsboson · 22/09/2008 17:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lemontart · 22/09/2008 17:59

My tip would be to be organised the night before.
(Uniform laid out ready, shoes cleaned and by the door, bag packed with everything needed, early bed so child is up early and able to eat a good unhurried breakfast etc etc)

Happy relaxed parent makes a happy relaxed child.
Has only taken me 4 years of school runs to work that one out....

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NappiesGalore · 22/09/2008 18:09

make sure you get a big wet fish and keep it in the fridge for slapping yourself around the face with while you chant 'Get a Grip!' and grin maniacally into the mirror.

will take your mind off it.

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Pinions · 22/09/2008 18:09

Traumatic and sad ????

I have waited for this day for a loooooooooong time .

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Pinions · 22/09/2008 18:13

Also ds1 who has been the worst ever eater from day 1 - told me that for lunch he ate : bacon, sausage, mash potato, carrots, pudding, crackers, grapes and a drink. ?

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carriemumsnet · 22/09/2008 19:52

No big mystery on missing thread except that I was supposed to ask how folks felt AND for your tips and in my rush to go and collect one of my many children I just asked how folks felt.. realised as soon as I'd done it and deleted but some of youse were waaaay too fast for me.

So apologies for that.

Oh and I was very late for pick up too... ah well

Thanks for the tips so far, please keep them coming.

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