Sadness that ds1 will be starting school...

[Phoebe]

Am I seriously the only one who is brought to tears over this?? It really busts me up thinking of his first day and how he won't be a part of our mornings anymore. It's only 1/2 day but it's a new stage and I get really misty/gushy over it. Other moms I have spoken to seem to take it all in stride. I worry that I may be the only mom bawling at the first day drop off. The only thing that I can think of is that the moms that I have talked to have been through this long ago with either daycare or preschool. This is the first of it's kind for our family.
Ds is totally excited btw.

Am I going to be the only fool choking back tears on Sept. 3rd??

[NYMama27]

My DH and I are in the same boat as you so don't worry. I do really fear that we will look like total luantics b/c she is only going to school for 2.5 hours per day!

[Ceili]

I'm freaking out a little bit. Mostly last week as we sitting eating lunch together and talking, I realized we won't doing that everyday anymore. If I wasn't also feeling overwhelmed from being 9 months pregnant and trying to get everything done before the baby gets here, then I'd probably dwell on it a bit a more. I'll definitely be crying after I drop him off on the first day of school.

[mom2ponygirl]

LOL, If it will make you feel any better, I'm totally freaking out about sending my 'baby' to school in a few weeks for 1/2 days. She's about to turn 11. We've been hs'ing so even part-time school is new for us.

[Cujobunny]

Oh no, I figure I'll be a mess for about the first week or so! I was in a store the other day and saw some school supplies and teared up

[karne]

Count me in with the tears! And my kids are older too!

I was just talking about this with dh-our family is really happy together, and connected, as well. I feel like it's a bit of a thin bubble-dd is just starting into those 'tween" years, so I see the push out into the world a bit more, and I imagine it will be more so next year. I want to freeze this moment in time when we're all here and happy together.

[sunanthem]

I have to say no, I am not tearful in the slightest. I am so so so glad he will be gone for the whole day, though at first it will only be half days. He is exteamely energetic and we have had a great attached bond, I've been a stay home mom and homeschooler for 6 years, and I am exhausted, ready for a break, and I'm so happy he will be going to school and loving it. But, that's just me and my kiddo. (I think he is super glad to be getting time away from me as well.)

[greenmom4]

It's bittersweet for me. On the one hand, I know he'll love school. He needs to be busy, and to be around kids his own age and I really think he'll thrive. On the other hand, I just can't believe that we're at this point already and I'm a little sad that my little boy is growing up so fast. It's crazy.

[Alyantavid]

I've worked ft since my oldest was 3, so he's been in daycare/preschool since then. I sobbed on the first day of kindergarten. It wasn't because he wouldn't be around during the day since he wasn't anyways, it was just the thought of him being that big and around all these kids and teachers he didn't know.

The first day was rough. After that, we were both fine with it. He's going into second grade this year and that's got me a little emotional. Plus my 3 year old is starting preschool (at his normal daycare even).

[georgia]

I definitely experienced an adjustment period when my "baby" went to school! So bittersweet for me. IME, it was really important not to show my personal sadness b/c I didn't want my child to feel like something was wrong or scary about school I just said mama was so happy I had happy tears or something. I was scared to death that he would hate it, miss me, etc. Good luck and bring some tissues....you will not be the only one who has tears, I'm sure!

[bellflower]

i was SO sad! i didn't make it out the front door without crying. ugh. it still makes me sad to think of it. in fact it never quite right to have her gone so much even though she mostly had a great time. as a result, we h.s. ed a year in 2nd but honestly it began to feel like too much togetherness at that point, like she needed more branching out. just started 3rd grade in a new school and i wasn't sad this time. she seems so happy and i think we now get along better with a bit of a break every day (intense kid, intense relationship). but yes!!! it's sad, esp. when they're just 5. at least it's just half days! we only have full-time here, which broke my heart!

[Phoebe]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. It's good to hear how others handle this. There is a part of me that is kind of excited...I am looking forward to getting to know my 2.5 year old a little better and in a new way. He'll be the big boy at home for a part of the day and it will be nice to see him relate to me and the baby as the biggest brother.

I shudder to think of what it will feel like when my last child leaves the nest for the first time...

[Porcelain Interior]

You will do ok, but it is totally normal to get teary.

For me it was more of a loss of what was (babyhood, and toddler years) and having my little one with me all the time. I didn't want to share her, or watch the inevitable changes to her personality as she became hardened to the realities of life. May sound slightly melodramatic, but once they start school they grow up so fast.

I still each year internally lament the loss of whatever age they've departed from. Losing all the chiclet baby teeth, the weird little way they'd say certain words.

It's all a part of life, and I do try to celebrate the future more than dwelling in the past, but darn it it is sad!

It does get better though.

I do wish time went slower.

[jillmamma]

Last year was tough...both my babies were having big transitions. DS from preschool a few days a week to all day kindergarten, and DD started preschool 2 days a week. DS going was not too bad as he knew a few friends and had done preschool, so he was excited about it. DD was hard though, when she is screaming "MOMMY!" and reaching out to me as I was dropping her off. I think this year will go MUCH easier for both as he is already used to all day school, and she after the first couple of weeks started really liking preschool.

[JenBuckyfan]

Just a quick note, I caught the title and peeked in purely due to curiosity. I vividly remember my first day of school. I remember waiting for the bus with the boy from across the street. My mom was smiling and telling me to have fun and that she'd be waiting for me when I got off the bus in the afternoon. My friend's mom was crying but saying similar things. At the time I couldn't figure out why his mom would be so sad since we were going to meet new people, learn new things, etc. Talking to my mom years later about the story, she recalls being happy that I was excited to go and that I was going to get to experience something new.

I'm absolutely positive that I'll be on the verge of tears (hopefully nothing by happy for my child tears!) when my (future) child does anything, much less go onto school without me for a portion of the day. From my experience above, I am sure that I will put my mommy smile on and wait until after the bus goes around the corner or until my child has walked into the classroom/school before letting it flow! Definitely sad for you as your 'baby' is moving into the next stage of life, but how exciting for your DS! I would be trying to pull some of his energy and excitement and look through the experience through his eyes and see if that would help lessen the blow of him going to school. As you mentioned, I'd also look forward to spending some great quality time with your younger child! You'll make it!!