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MNHQ

Share your memories of your DCs and your own first day of school with F&F – £200 voucher prize draw NOW CLOSED

108 replies

MichelleMumsnet · 04/08/2014 10:15

F&F has asked us to find out what Mumsnetters remember from their DCs first day of school as well as what you remember from your own first day of school.

Here's what F&F say, "Back to School couldn't be easier as F&F offers a one stop destination for the new school season. F&F continues to raise the bar with expert product benefits and style led designs. Whether uniforms, outerwear, sportswear, shoes or accessories F&F ensures outstanding value for money and quality."

"Guaranteeing more value and longevity, all products; including Teflon® coated stain resistant options, secure bonded sealed hems for extra durability and reinforced knees are resilient against wear and tear.This year sees items at fantastic affordable prices with a 2pk of unisex t-shirts available from just £2. The Back to School range is available at over 700 stores, with free returns. The collection is available to buy online at F-F.com or by using the convenience of Click n' Collect service click online and then pop in store to collect."

"We know that Back to School can be a stressful and emotional time for parents and our aim is to make the transition from holidays to school as easy as possible. We?re really looking forward to hearing your memories and stories about starting school!"

So, what do you remember from your DCs first day of school? Did their excitement turn into a bundle of nerves as you left them at the school gate? If your DC is going off to school for the first time this September, how do you feel about it? Are you thrilled for their next step or nervous about how they will cope with the change? Can you take yourself back to your own first day of school? What do you remember?

Everyone who comments on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 F&F e-voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

OP posts:
lorka · 09/08/2014 01:28

My son was so excited at first and he has a huge grin in all the pictures we took of him. However, it was a different story once we got to school. He started crying and holding on to me and this went on for a few months when I dropped him off at school. I know he was fine once he was in school and said he enjoyed it. All the same it was heart wrenching. He is starting high school after the holidays. Oh how things have changed!! :)

CheeryCherry · 09/08/2014 07:45

I cried going into class on my own first day at school, and didn't want to go back the next day either! My strongest memory of my DS's first day was his response on coming out at the end of the day - hopping mad as I'd put cucumber in his sandwich and it had gone soggy, so he hasn't eaten it - he was raging with hunger!! On the way to take my DD on her first day, my brakes failed on the journey so I had to glide to a halt with my handbrake, appearing calm but stressing somewhat!!

Dolallytats · 09/08/2014 08:35

Not her very first day at school, but on her first day at a new school after moving mid year, my (now 21 year old) daughter said 'I'll be ok mum, I will tell them my name, they will tell me their names and then we'll be friends'. It was simple 6 year old logic....and it worked!! I was so proud of her.

I just remember going to school in uniform that was too big and everything around me seeming huge. I thought I would never find my way around.

Nottheshrinkingcapgrandpa · 09/08/2014 10:10

Dc1 is very shy and had to be coaxed in to his reception classroom! He was ok, but dropped his dinner tray at lunchtime and cried his eyes out. He still remembers this.

Vole3 · 09/08/2014 19:00

My mum had made me a plimsoll bag from scrap material in her sewing drawer. It was dark blue with a plum coloured velvet cat so I could recognise it before I could read. I practiced 'walking to school' around our garden, feeling very grown up.

When it was DS's turn to start school, I made him a bag from scraps from my sewing drawer - a sky blue bag with a yacht made from purple fleece with a rainbow striped satin sail.

Purplehonesty · 09/08/2014 19:33

Ds starts school next week and he is so excited. Buying his uniform was emotional and he tried it all on last week which was a tear jerker too!
I don't know if I will cry when I leave him for the first time, I suspect I will as I cried at his settling in day!

For my own first day I don't remember much other than my mum asking if I'd had a good day and was I looking forward to tomorrow. I couldn't believe I had to go again!
I loved my first teacher she was so nice, I remember the desks, how the classroom looked and the little pink workbooks we had.
It was a really small school and we had those little bottles of mill delivered - the birds would peck the tops before we had chance to drink them!

Doubtfuldaphne · 10/08/2014 09:42

My first day of school was daunting but as we'd gone in for half days already it could've been worse. I remember all the children in my class and still see them now, 29 years later! I remember wanting to do my own hair (which was long and thick) so my mum had let me. I realised half an hour in that it looked ridiculous and felt really awkward all day. I never did it myself again until I was about 12!
I remember the enormous queues in the shoe shop in town just before school started. We had to wait hours. How things have changed with online shopping and supermarkets stocking everything we need for school now at much better prices! I loved my princess magic steps shoes with the little key and book that came with them. I'd love them to make a come back.

ILoveMyCaravan · 10/08/2014 14:57

After being in nursery, starting school didn't seem like such a big deal to my DS. The school days were shorter than nursery so he really didn't mind the transition.

Although he did refuse to do his first PE lesson, telling the teacher that he wouldn't take part but would run around the garden a bit when he got home instead Smile

Groovee · 10/08/2014 18:02

My mum didn't realise the time we were to go in for school on my first day, so I was over an hour early. I got to choose my Plasticine (which was blue and kept in a stork tub) and waited on my other classmates coming in. I'm still in touch with the first girl I met that day. Then my mum and granny picked me up and we had chips in a cafe along the road for lunch.

My dd's first day was a beautiful day and she was very happy. It felt odd standing at the door waiting on her to come out. We took her out for lunch with her brother and went to visit her granny to show her off.

My ds's first day had dd with a broken heel and the staff were showing her more attention. He was very happy but he looked so tiny.

Both are in high school from Wednesday. If anyone sees a blue bag wandering down the road with little legs, it's probably ds as his bag is huge.

WowOoo · 10/08/2014 23:06

I can't really remember my first day but I have been told that I didn't want to go and cried at the gates. All I have is very happy memories of primary school.

I can remember being quite anxious for ds1 to settle into school as I was starting a new job. School were flexible and said if they don't settle we can take them home in the afternoons - I prayed that ds would settle and not notice other children were leaving at lunchtime. He was fine thankfully.

Babycarmen · 11/08/2014 12:11

I remember my first day of school was loads of fun, we got to play games etc. Then I got home and my mother was explaining I would probably do the same all that week - I didn't realise I had to go back again!!

My DDs first day of school I cried like a baby dropping her off, as did a lot of the other mums and dads. She loved it though!

milliemoon · 11/08/2014 13:49

I remember discovering a cupboard in the classroom and climbing in!

NannyPlumForPM · 11/08/2014 15:52

Ooh gosh,my dd's first day of preschool was scary! For me...... Haha

She loved it- was ready early and had an amazing time. I must admit that being prepared was very good- sturdy clothes, school bag, snacks and a juice bottle etc made things easier. And the ability to text the pre school and pick up early!

My early experiences of school was that everything was very.... BIG!! Big people, big school, big teachers, big uniform- I know they fit better now :) and shopping for new stationery being my favourite part!

DifferentNow · 11/08/2014 16:24

I don't remember my own first day at school so it can't have been too bad!

I have 5 DC and DC 4 starts school next week. DC 1 - I felt a huge swell of pride mixed with worry for her as she was one of only two children who hadn't attended the school nursery - she'd attended private nursery because I worked full-time. I cried but then I'm quite an emotional person.

DC 2 - I knew she'd be fine with her sister already there and she'd been able to go to the school nursery this time. She was very excited because she wanted to be grown up like her sister. I still cried though.

DC 3 - This felt totally different. He is a very shy, quiet and sensitive boy and I worried he'd find it all too much. He looked so handsome and small. I didn't feel ready to give him to school. Cried lots.

DC 4 - He's completely different from his brother and will be one of the 'big boys' in the class. He's ready for it and I know he'll be fine. I will miss him SO much.

DC 5 - She is MINE for four more years!

Quivering · 11/08/2014 17:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

unadulterateddad · 11/08/2014 20:32

My main memory of my own first day was that it was really fun to meet new children. I was distraught though when I realised I had to go back the next day...

Lurleene · 12/08/2014 01:13

To my eternal shame DD still had a secret dummy when her first day at school came around. (She had just had her fourth birthday).

I had prepared her that school children could not possibly have dummies so when the big day came we had a ceremonial dumping of the dummy in the wheelie bin. Oh the relief!That is my over riding memory of that day and unbelievably she gets her A-level results on Thursday. Where does the time go? No lasting effects from long-term dummy usage thankfully.

Oddly I have very little memory of DS's first day which was much more recent. I think I was still traumatised by his big boy haircut earlier in the week, when he went from long flowing curls to short back and sides in preparation for the classroom!

Melonbelle · 12/08/2014 10:51

I can still remember on my first day of school meeting a girl who immediately snatched off me a little toy doll I was playing with. I go home and tell my mother and would you believe my mum had a similar experience with this girls mum when she was at school, just goes to show apple did not fall far from the tree!

I myself have yet to send my babies off to school, it will happen for the first time this September. I will be an absolute wreck, my daughter however can't wait.

Tanfastic · 12/08/2014 16:48

I don't remember my first day at school but I remember my ds 's as it was only two years' ago. The thing that sticks in my mind is him coming home with massively scuffed new shoes as I bought cheap ones (stupidly). Never made that mistake again Grin

thewomaninwhite · 12/08/2014 20:31

My middle daughter is starting in a few weeks so can't comment about that yet. I don't remember much about my first day other than the classroom being hhuuggee and my peg with my name on it. Also the weird (clearly against all health and safety guidelines now) dodgy yellow climbing frame in the playground. I was in awe!

RhinosAreFatUnicorns · 12/08/2014 20:37

I get weepy just thinking about DD starting school next September. The thought of her in uniform makes me very emotional about how fast time is going, but I know she'll enjoy every second.

I remember loving my days at school. First day finding my peg, the toilets, and sitting on the carpet for story time. I loved my reception teacher - I still see her around lots :)

SurfBoredCat · 13/08/2014 00:12

The only thing I remember about my first day at school was my Mr Happy school bag!
There is a photo of me looking very proud indeed and raring to go.
DD started reception last September and she was very excited to go. She'd been talking about her teacher ever since she came for the home visit and had made her a picture.
What she doesn't know (yet) is that I plaited her hair in the same way my mum did mine and took a similar picture. I know she'll love that when I tell her about it when she's a little bit older as she loves to look at all the old photos of me.

NotCitrus · 13/08/2014 10:49

I don't remember my first day except for my mum taking a photo of me in my uniform next to the living room door and I clonked my head on the handle. I do remember getting shown round the school and a big girl age about 7 read me a story. The whole place smelled of crayons.

Ds started the same day as his best friend from nurseryand was very excited, and then the appt to get a plaster cast was moved to the same day. So I left for a couple hours then returned to take him for the cast and lunch - he was having so much fun he refused to leave so the very competent teacher carried him in a firemans lift out of the room!

prettybird · 13/08/2014 16:57

My first day at school was in 1966 so I can't really remember it Blush

I have a vague recollection of the classroom we went into, but that's about it.

I took the day off work when ds started school (dh was working from home so was flexible anyway). We both walked him down to school and then took photos and gave him a big hug before taking him in to the school. Day 1 they started a little bit later and then finished at lunch time, so that they weren't overwhelmed with the other kids. He's a happy soul, so skipped in - and we were both confident he would be fine so weren't worried about him.

We then went off and treated ourselves to nice coffee and cake in a local coffee shop before picking him up :)

ElsiePartridge · 13/08/2014 22:34

I was late! Remember leaving home with mum and making her take me back for a wee, and then having to shamefully hang my coat on the peg with my photo on it, shuffling in and finding abit of carpet to sit cross legged on! :-)

DD starts nursery and I'm excited for her, but not looking forward to losing my little baby a bit. I enjoy our days playing silly games!! SmileSmileSmile