6 Things You Don’t Expect When Your Child Starts Primary School

Cheryl Barry - 9 Oct 15

My eldest daughter started primary school a month ago and already it feels like we’ve been on a complete journey. I knew it was going to be a big change, but I wasn’t prepared for perhaps just how much. Here are 6 things I didn’t expect:

1. Tiredness – Alice was 4 at the end of August so she is the youngest in her class. I thought she might suffer from tiredness, but it has been epic to the point that I am meeting a teacher to discuss how to cope with it. Almost daily we have a complete melt down. What starts with a bit of whinging, quickly escalates to a full on tantrum followed by face down on the carpet howling and screaming. I have been putting her into bed earlier as she obviously needs it. Someone advised me that the trick is to move everything including dinner and bed earlier. So I seem to now start dinner as soon as we get home especially if I dare attempt to get her in the bath!

2.  Reality Dawns – The first few days of starting school were a definite novelty. They were short days, there was lots of new and exciting things to do and see. Now reality has hit that school is happening EVERY DAY! I get asked the same questions every morning “Do I have to go AGAIN?” “When is it the weekend?” and the incessant “But I don’t want to go.” Despite the protests she does thankfully seem to enjoy it once she’s there.

3.  Missing Her! – It seems silly, but I really miss having Alice around. My youngest     daughter also regularly asks where she is. She used to go to pre-school but somehow this seems to be a leap up from that. I was used to having her around for a couple of days with me, so it’s bizarre and a little sad now. I’m sure we will get used to it, but at the moment, it feels strange and I find myself constantly wondering what she’s up to.

4.  New Routine – All of us have had to adapt to a new routine and this is still something we are getting used to. We need to leave the house earlier and this results in a regimental routine with me shouting “Breakfast!” “Get Dressed!” “Teeth!” “Toilet!” and finally “Car!” at varying intervals between 7am and 8am. I feel like a sergeant major, but with little room for error in the morning, it can, and has already gone horribly wrong, like the day when Alice refused to put her shoes on or our youngest daughter wouldn’t get off the potty. Mornings suddenly feel a lot more stressful.

5.  Odd Behaviour – Along with many other new mums, we are seeing some “challenging” behaviour when Alice gets home from school as she seems to suddenly transform into a stroppy teenager. Shouting and door slamming are becoming the norm especially when I ask her to do something. Another mum said she thinks this is because they are having to be “good” all day that they let rip when they get home!

6.  No Idea What Goes On – Despite asking on a regular basis “What did you do at school today?” I always seem to get a similar response “Not sure” or “Can’t remember.” Little bits of information gradually drip through to me but they might involve the most random things like what colour coat another girl was wearing. It’s infuriating as I long to be a fly on the wall and find out what on earth is going on, but I guess I will just have to be patient and wait for her to tell me. I have found that vague questions often provoke a response such as “What did you enjoy doing?” or “What did your teacher say today?”

Starting primary school is a huge event for any child. There’s a big change to the daily routine as well as being in a new environment every day and meeting new people. It’s bound to be overwhelming and this can translate into odd behaviour. It can be a bit of a shock to the system for the parents as well as the kids! I suppose the key is to keep going and (hopefully) things will soon settle down for everyone. Roll on half term!

Cheryl Barry

Cheryl Barry is mum to Alice, 6 and Eva 4. She is trying to grow her working life as a freelance marketing copywriter whilst juggling motherhood. She blogs mostly about these two different worlds and how they often collide at www.teaorwine.com and at Huff Post. Cheryl lives in Chelmsford, Essex. Follow her on Twitter at @cherylebarry

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