Dear School Mum,
As you enter another new school year OR a whole new world, as your child starts school for the first time, I want you to know a few things, they don’t tell you in the school handbook.
Whilst the dress code for your little one is important, you will come across your own dress code challenges. The procedure for when your child is late is essential to know, however they won’t tell you not to beat yourself up over being late AGAIN because Mr 5 couldn’t find the socks you laid out last night for him and the toddler had to do a poo right as you were walking out the door. Oh and then you got into the car to discover the petrol light on….
So in light of all of this, I will share some of the important stuff for us mums. The stuff that will help you enjoy what you can and endure what you must for the next 12 or so years!
#1 HELPING.
You don’t need to help with everything or anything. If you have the time and you WANT to, then volunteer to help. Forget what OTHER mums are doing and do what feels right for you. Each ‘job’ has its benefits and you will learn a lot. I have to be honest here & say what you will learn most, will be about yourself and other mums.
PLEASE don’t be the mum who helps with reading only so she can gauge where HER little one is at, against the rest of the class. I have worked with her and it is sad. Sad for you, our kids and mostly her, because she is already setting a standard for herself as a mother and her child that completely ignores the fact that every child learns differently. Furthermore, it is just plain nasty when you comment on other parents commitment to home readers. WORRY about what you do and leave the parenting of THEIR child to them.
Oh and if you choose canteen, prepare to have THE MOST FUN EVER, helping the Kindy’s. Prepare to buy for your child’s circle of friends which, on canteen day, is likely to expand to the WHOLE class. So take plenty of money because working in canteen COSTS you, however the return on your investment is PRICELESS!
#2 DRESS CODE.
It’s ok to wear whatever YOU want to drop off and pick up. Please don’t label the mums as the ‘Lorna Jane Set’ or the ‘K-Mart Crew’ as I have heard and seen. We are ALL mothers wanting the best for our children and it is JUST clothes. Be more concerned with the thoughts you select each day than your outfit. Sometimes you’ll dress up and other days you’ll forget your bra & undies. As long as they are not on your head, it really doesn’t matter {and I really don’t care if you wear your underwear on your outerwear however trust me, your child WILL}.
#3 THE INEVITABLE…
There are a few things that are inevitable. You WILL be late some days. You WILL forget to take bread out the freezer. You WILL send your child to mufti day in school uniform or vice versa. You will forget that GOLD coin and you WILL worry if they will make friends. Don’t worry about ANY of this because they WILL make friends, you WILL have it together ‘most’ of the time and YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Every mother is going to experience similar, just on a different day and whilst you may feel like you qualify for ‘worst mother of the year’ on those occasions, your child won’t remember them {unless of course you try to convince your son to go to ‘P’ day as a pumpkin rather than a pirate because you know there will be lots of pirates and a pumpkin is WAY different. Then your child WILL remember & he won’t let you forget it either. PS If you need a pumpkin costume, complete with a ‘patch top’ hat, I AM YOUR WOMAN!}
#4 Lunches.
Please don’t stress over them. There is no doubt your Kindy will be happy with whatever you give them and IT IS OK to give them then same thing every day. They like that. Enjoy this period while it lasts because the time comes soon enough when you will be told in the middle of Coles that your lunch making skills leave a lot to be desired and you are a slack mum for not putting maltesers in your child’s lunchbox. You will silently curse the mum who does that & wonder if she has read the handbook about ‘healthy lunch boxes’ and after one too may incidents in Coles, you will give in just once AND that will be the day the teacher does a spot check, your child will have the maltesers confiscated and once again you will feel like ‘worst mother of the year’. Resist the urge to call the teacher and say “but Sally’s mum did it” and just eat the maltesers yourself. This will make you feel MUCH better, trust me. PS My number one lunchbox tip, DO NOT get one of the lunch boxes you have to wipe out and not WASH. They suck. Even if you THINK you are being clever by putting all the food into separate containers INTO the nice lined lunchbox, your child will prefer to put the leftover sandwhich and half eaten yoghurt back into that lucnhbox and you my friend will spend night after night wiping out that thing, wishing it could go in the dishwasher 
#5 THE MOST IMPORTANT!
Those mums, in that group. They’re just like you. They have the same fears at one time or another. There will always be various ‘groups’ and mums/dads on their own. Don’t stare at the mum rushing in AFTER the bell at assembly or the one with the toddler screaming. Throw her a life jacket, a smile. Walk over to her OR you walk over to THEM. Say hi, these are your daily peeps for a LONG time. You can hang out with them or not. There will be a mum who prides herself on knowing it ALL about everything and there will be a mum suffering depression thinking she is not good enough and everyone is talking about HER. You might be one of those mums or you might be blissfully unaware of the playground politics that has nothing to do with our children. At the core of all of this is, my message is rather simple and ONLY you are responsible for being the change you want to see in the playground. Your car compared to hers, her clothes compared to yours, her smile or lack thereof….ALL OF IT comes down to YOUR perception. Your perspective of that mum and your place in the playground. NONE of us got a ‘how to manual’ and we are ALL winging it!
You might love Lorna Jane , loathe her OR wonder who the hell this LJ woman is? {personally, I couldn’t have cared less until I discovered those flash pants of hers and this LJ woman is now a friend of my wardrobe}. We might be single or married. We might drive a BMW or a CRV. We might be totally uninterested in making friends or silently crying out for SOMEONE to talk to us. Whilst there is no doubt we are all vastly different, where we are ONE and the same, is that we all want the best for our kids!
So walk in, walk over and say HI.
She is not doing a better job than you, she is doing a different one. She is not judging you, or maybe she is, that’s her issue to work through.
It doesn’t matter.
What matters is that YOU know you are doing the best you can and thats all any of us can do.
I am not perfect, she is not perfect and YOU are not perfect and THAT, is PERFECT!
“We may have all come in different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
BE the change you want to see in motherhood!
Have a great school year Mama, only 10 weeks til holidays 
PS Contacting books SUCKS unless you are a GUN at it and if that is the case, can you do my kids books too please?
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Oh my, you’re giving me a talking to, aren’t you. Thank you. Want to send this to the school we are starting at to pass onto all the mothers. I had a terrible year at four year old Kindy. I was the one with depression, standing alone, wondering what was so wrong with me, why no one talked to me. Then with just a few weeks to go, I decided I no longer cared and suddenly everyone was making eye contact with me and smiling at me!? Think had I not spent the year worrying I may have fit in. The letter will be a great reminder for me not to worry when we start at Prep.
Oh, and I LOVE the flashpants too!
It’s always the way Kate, when we let go of our expectations of others, suddenly the world is a nicer place x
LOVE your points about the lunchboxes – my kids ask for the same thing every day!
Glad I am not alone Melissa x
Thanks for making me cry!
No, really.. it’s a good thing.
I’m the parent with depression, who wants to fit in with the other mums and talk to them and get to know them, but I’m far too shy to attempt it.
I’m the parent who has a second child, a toddler – so helping out in the classroom is not an option.
I’m the parent who would love to be more involved with the school, but due to my anxiety issues I’m unable to ask how I can help (although I’ve recently discovered that I’m quite good at emailing my ideas and speaking to the school via email).
My child always has the same lunch – it’s a comfort to her to know what’s going to be in her lunchbox.
At the start of the year, I copped a lot of glares for parking in the school carpark for pickup and drop-off. I KNOW that it’s restricted to teachers, and that parents aren’t meant to park there. What the people glaring at me and giving me dirty looks didn’t understand was that I nearly died giving birth in the previous August and had a lot of complications due to that, and I was unable to walk very far without massive pain. I also had PERMISSION from the school to park there!
It’s amazing how judgmental the other parents can be. So I try very hard not to judge the other parents… although I AM guilty of giving dirty looks to the mums who block the footpath and smoke up a storm while waiting for their kids to come out of school.
LOVE your honesty Jenna, thanks for sharing!
That is the best, best, most bestest thing you have ever written. I am sharing it with the world. Schools should print it in their newsletter…. Thank you x
Maybe my favoutrite blog yet- I am sitting in bawling trying to pull myself together before I walkback out to the kiddies (who will ask “are you sad or happy crying again?” lol). My eldest son, Billy is heading off to Kindy this year and I am FREAKING OUT! I feel like I am loosing him to the big wide world, I’m going to miss him so so much
BUT he is ever so excited and I am happy for him to starting this new chapter in his life (but how will he cope is someone says something nasty to him, or the kids don’t want to play with him? So scary!). I’m praying that I can hold it together next Tuesday, and not cry until I make it back to the car haha.
Thanks Stacey and good luck to all those Mums in the same boat: I hope youa re braver than me
xx
You are brave Brooke and let the tears flow, its your birthright
Funny how this all went on in my Mum’s time (and that was a long long time ago – lol!) too but she fortunately didn’t get involved in of the antics and got to know some amazing woman. The amazing woman I might add weren’t the ones judging and labelling! And I’ll never forget entering the cake competition at school and made the cake all by myself! And guess – it looked like I’d made it all by myself too!!!! Two girls entered together and one of their mother’s who was a professional cake decorator guided (mmmm well think she was the third member of the team!) them every step of the way!!! Their cake was amazing and considering she’d helped them it would want to have looked amazing. As the cakes were being judged my cake was gradually looking more like the leaning Tower of Pisa. My mum was so proud of me and reminded me that I did it – all by myself! And yes they won! I think I got something! Can’t really remember – I was just seriously more relieved that mine didn’t look like my Mum had made it!
Thanks for sharing Niki!
thankyou for this great article. i laughed out loud and i also had a few tears. Love it! maryanne x
Thanks Maryanne, I do love a good mix of tears & laughter!
Can I please just ask parents to wear shoes when dropping off and picking up the kids. It’s my pet hate and so many diseases are spread through people not wearing shoes. Thanks
Louise, that one made me laugh out loud. As long as you’re wearing shoes, it won’t matter
“As long as they are not on your head, it really doesn’t matter”….. Ba ha ha ha ha ha.
What a gorgeous post Stace – my little guy is only 1 1/2 so I’ve got a little way to go before I’m wrangling with some of these challenges, but I can’t wait!….. Actually, ask me again in a few years, I’m sure my answer will be completely the opposite
Oh, and contacting books? LOVE IT! I think this was why I had kids… Just for school stationery time….
Oh Michelle and Stacey I cracked up at that too! I had this instant vision of myself with knickers on my head and Mr 5 yr old cringing in mortification lol. We definitely have those sort of mornings regularly, maybe I should laugh at myself more often…..and find those good knickers
Oh Jen i want to hug you so hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and i’ll forward this to the school secretary too.
*HUGS!!!!!*
Thanks for a fab post Stace, LJ made it into my wardrobe recently too, but only because i found some shorts at Vinnies, and the DFO was having a massive clearance (it was like kmart prices… i nearly peed my pants!). But i’m pretty sure i’m captain of the Kmart crew
I am going to make it a goal to talk to as many mums as i can this year, just because i can
xxx
Well said. My kids both started in new schools last year (Nugget in Yr 4 now and Chicken in Yr 8 starting next week) and it was harder in a new place than when they started in Kindy as the mums already know each other. Luckily I’ve come to not really care what others think of me (OK well maybe a little) but I’m still a little shy and the first approach was hard. Fortunately my son is great at making friends and half his soccer team is in his school. Nothing like cheering on the sidelines to bond with other mums.
My biggest school headaches is that I can’t always be there to help out as I work full time and I hate making lunches. If I could afford them to have a lunch order everyday I would let them, at least it wouldn’t come back uneaten every afternoon!
love-love-loooooove this post…. after five years at our school, i feel that i have finally found my place. it’s sad that it’s taken so long, but at least i now know exactly what i want to be doing and joining at the school, and who and where i want to put my time and effort in with!
have a great ‘first day’ all you mummies and bubs out there!
xoxo, buf
Although my youngest is well past the Kindy stage, having started a new school part way through last year we had the problems of ‘first day’ all over again (minus lunchbox and toddler issues). Parents can be tricky things at times, and when you arrive ‘late’ it can be worse. I’ve given up the worry, those that will be my friend will find me soon enough. I just go about my business as usual. Great post, figuring out how to follow you now.
Contacting books only sucks if you care about what it looks like afterward
I love doing it for my son as he loves playing with the bubbles – others may think I’m crap at it but he loves it!
I kind of disagree with helping. I am one of those mums that helps with everything and it is sad that we have 300 families at school and about 30 of those help out. Your school P&C NEEDS parents to help. P&C run the canteen, uniform shop and other necessities to making schools run smoothly. the parents that help run these things are as busy as other families, with multiple kids and jobs and after school commitments. The more parents that help the easier it is for everybody. It is hard to make the first offer or to attend that first meeting but please give it a go. At least try to support fundraising committees and other school events and remember these are just other parents trying to raise money to buy things to help every family at school. If you choose not to be involved please don’t complain about the job that is getting done by people that are involved.
Hi Marg, I completely agree we should all help if & where we can. However I don’t believe we should feel guilty or pressured into helping if we are not in a position to. Many hands do indeed make light work but there is no denying that whilst there are helpers who are most certainly getting the job done, they are also bringing negativity to the role whilst easing the workload, which is completely unnecessary. It was my intention to highlight that it is not ok to comment on other peoples parenting when helping, rather than to complain about the people who do help. Our schools need every bit of help they can get
As an avid volunteer over the years, I can agree with both you and Marg. Sadly I have heard too many comments around me that are negative. I just figure those mums don’t genuinely want to be there. Then a mum with a sunny outlook pops in with a smile. It all balances out.
We had an increase in the number of helpers when I breaking down the tasks for a fundraiser. 10 – 30 minute one off jobs – the list was filled quickly and the responsibility shared. Many mums don’t want to offer as they are sometimes given overwhelming tasks.
If you don’t have time to be there in person or sell the highest number of whatever on a fundraiser – just showing up to the Christmas Concert or special assembly is terrific too – even if you can’t make those, getting your kids to school and teaching them to be a wonderful person is a big enough effort. Though if you do want the smart boards, air conditioning, new stove & cheaper cost for camps – raffle ticket anybody???
Such a timely post for me, we’re starting a new school on Wednesday, and I’m the one who is terrified!!! Bell is beside herself with excitement about the opportunities that are on the way, and I’m trying to be brave for her LOL!
I’m sitting here nodding at all of these points…..all very true. I’ll try very hard to remember not to wear my undies on my head, must leave myself a note.
Thanks lovely for reminding us that we’re all the same and sometimes the person who looks like they want to be by themselves is really lonely, maybe a smile is what they need
Lis xx
I’m sorry if I offended anyone. It wasn’t my intention. To those mums struggling to fit in, sometimes great friends can be found when stepping out of your comfort zone ( or drag a friend along with you) and kids love it when mum or dad helps out. Just give it a go and if there is too much politics involved then at least you gave it a shot, and leave those bitchy parents to their clique
HI Marg, please don’t be sorry, no offence whatsoever, you highlighted a great point and thank YOU for being one of the busy parents willing to lend a hand!
Hi!
I love the letter and think that there is some excellent advice. My son is off to University in a couple of weeks and it doesn’t seem all that long ago he was of to Prep. You are right that too many people worry about the right outfits instead of how their kids go about being a good human being. I would like to point out though that you letter refers to Mum’s and there are a lot of Fathers who also take on the role of dropping the little ones at school. I was one and I was appalled to see how some people treated new people without knowing anything about them. I agree, we should all go out of our way to give someone a smile,even for no reason. It’s amazing how it can impact on someone else’s life as well as your own! Children are a mirror of what they see in grown ups and if we do not respect one another then what hope for our children. As for the lady who makes the comment about shoes, how did we ever survive as humans until we got shoes!!!
Hi Stephen, ooh I am squealing with excitement to have a Dad not only stop by, but take the time to comment! YES you are right, I did address the letter to mums mainly because our site mostly has female readers however you have just proven otherwise & I will be more mindful of that in future. AS for the shoes comment, Louise gave me a good giggle, if she wears shoes, it won’t matter anyway
WOW that is the BEST back to school post EVER WRITTEN!!!!!!!!!! Thank you and I think you should email it to ALL SCHOOLS and tell them to put it in the newsletter!!!! Well done and thank you!!!!!!!
The schoolyard politics! I’m on the third child and well into high school. But the memories linger of school assemblies!
Just let me check that I’ve got this right? As long as I’m wearing shoes I can wear my undies on my head if I like? I think you’ll find that there’s more germs in your nose than on your feet. And as for the undies…………just imagine trying to decide what type the ‘in crowd’ would be wearing! Too much pressure for me.
Oh my goodness!!! You had me laughing and balling all at the same time, and I’m not even at that stage yet!! My little guy is only 8mths old, so I was blissfully unaware of the school yard politics but I always love reading your stuff. I am so glows that I read this, it gives me plenty of time to work on the type of GROWN UP that I want to be and you’ve made me excited about things to try like tuckshop, uniform shop, etc.
Thank you sooo much for this article, I have forwarded it to my girlfriends who will farewell their kids this week on their first day of prep.
This post is fantastic. My son started highschool today and I needed a reminder of all these things. I definitely was the mum that was too shy to speak up and after a few years it was hard to break the habit, but I am determined not to make the same mistake. Thx again
This is the best letter ever written and I agree it should be handed out to every parent that starts at school. High Five to you girlfriend!!!
What a great blog Stacey….if only it had been here this morning before I took my youngest too school for the first day of Prep…lol
Until now, Im generally one of those mums who does the drop off and pick up, I really dont like getting out of the car, don’t like drawing attention to myself just not too comfy in school grounds. This morning though I did make the effort to be friendly not too just run in and drop off and scurry out with my tail between my legs. Although I was late too pick him up, boy did I get a big little boy frown for that. With my youngest at school now my days are not so full of anything….something Im sure I will adapt too in time
Hi Stace,
Just wondering if I could have permission to post this on our parents page for our school. Fantastically written, well done!
Omg absolutely love it bought tears to my eyes reading it my oldest started prep today and everything ran thru my mind today and last night to the point I was awake at 2am worrying LOL
Gorgeous post, Stacey, I’m thrilled to have discovered it, and can’t wait to share it with my friends. Thanks so much xx
Loved it! Thanks for that Stace. PS: I love contact…send them over
Hi Stacey
What a wonderful read. I wish this letter could be part of every back to school newsletter in the country! I’ve been the Mum who helped with everything NO MORE! After a very public humiliating ousting of our entire P & F by some mothers who have never left school themselves. In the past 12 months have had to put up with being shunned by certain members of our school community, had new members of the P & F publicly tear to shreds work I had done. I gave 2 years of my time and precious family time giving to our school community only to be shot down and put down by a very small minority. Our school is horrible when it comes to playground politics. I choose now to stay away from school run events to avoid these particular mothers. The ones that note when your child doesn’t attend a disco or doesn’t buy a gift from the mother/father’s day stall. I even had one mother pass comment when my children attended the end of school disco last year “It’s wonderful that you are finally allowing them to participate in activities”. This women knows nothing of my life, has never walked in my shoes but is very quick to find fault and make assumption. I have three sons. My eldest has spent the last year overcoming a severe anxiety. My second is quirky (on the spectrum) has issues that we’ve been dealing with privately and my youngest still has 12 months before he goes to school. I have a husband who like most husbands works very long hours. I don’t need to explain to them why. We all and doing the best for our families, I agree that no one is doing anything better or worse than me but we are all doing things differently. I now help when I want, I always welcome new mothers and families. I have learnt a lot this past year where school Mums are concerned. Sometimes you will meet some mums who are just like you have the same out look as you, you help each other through motherhood and enjoy it together and then meet some others who are still stuck in year 9 who will put you down, talk about you and your children behind your back, start rumours, talk about the car your drive and the clothes you wear (yes the LJ Flash pants are very comfortable) and enjoy it. Thanks again for another great read.
PS don’t know if you remember me Stacey we had a one on one session at the Coffee Club Castle Hill not long before you moved to QLD. Your such a wonderfully inspiring person.
Michelle x
Hey Stacey, I love this post and have managed to track it down via imperfect Mum. I am 6 months pregnant now with my first child and am so glad there are parenting resources like yours out there. I will certainly be a regular visitor. This letter is perfect for a weight loss coaching client of mine, and I will pass on the link to her.
just wondering why you don’t have share buttons on your blog posts? You’re in wordpress, there are lots of free sharing plugins that you can add to your site that are SUPER easy to set up. All the best! Kylie
Hey Stacey do you really have a pumpkin outfit? I know a 4 year old boy starting prep next week who would love a pumpkin costume.
Thank you Stace for the most insightful and entertaining pieces I have ever read. I only put my son into prep today and already I was worrying about what I was putting in his lunch for tomorrow and how he can’t have the same thing. You have eased my mind on a lot of things that just aren’t discussed even amongst close friends. I WILL go in tomorrow and make an effort to talk to that mum or dad that is standing in the corner after drop off looking a little lost.
Thanks once again. Your blog needs to be made into a manual that is handed out to all new school parents.
Can’t wait to find other posts from you
Stacey, another fantastic letter. I certainly ticked many boxes. With being a mum of 3 kids… As of today Prep, Yr 1 and Yr 2. Our first day today at a brand new school…. Running late doing the run on my own…. Carting all their book packs up the hill, the kids in uniforms too big for them (ordered late and they had run out of sizes). So used to walking in the gates to greet and be greeted by familiar faces… Today none. Just like I today told my children to introduce themselves and be friendly to their new class mates and eventually they will make some wonderful new friends…. I too have to practice this.
At our previous school, I met some fantastic women who I can now call my best friends. Though I some how had people who “disliked” me and though I was a snob!?!? Supposedly me running late some mornings and walking (sometimes running) iinto the school dressed up with heels on (ready to go to my fulltime job) placed me in this category!?
Thank you Stacey… This letter has really help as I’m sure it is helping many more mums and dads tonight.
Sorry for the long static post….. I too got caught up in the “Bubble War” with 30+
books and contact till 1:30am this morning
This truly is a fab starting school post! Thank you.
I learned most of these things last year, with my son going to a private school ELC. I was the shy one, who rocked up every Friday in a beaten up bomb (at least I got the new car the rest of the week), no makeup, in my yoga pants, while other mums drove Mercedes sportscars, always looked immaculate and all seemed to know each other. I was the shy one in the corner. Then slowly, I made contact. The kids made friends. We developed a fantastic group and I made some of the best friends I have ever had. The other mums (including those with fancy cars and perfect figures) were lovely too.
Now I have to do it all again. My son starts Prep this year at a local school. I know virtually no-one, while many of the others have been through kindy together. I will again be the shy one. But the hope that some new friendships lie ahead will remind me to smile and take the plunge. Hopefully, I’ll get to keep my old kindy mum friends too.
There really is nothing to lose by reaching out, and everything to gain. Oh, and volunteering for PMP was awesome. I got to know all the kids, learned so much about child development (including the fact that I can’t commando crawl) and had loads of fun.
What a wonderful ‘letter’ to read
I am now a great-grandmother but I had a real laugh remembering the days when your friends or your Mum was on canteen duty. Everyone was a friend that day
What an excellent post, thank you
My oldest is starting kindy this year and im so nervous about everything you mentioned above so was really a lovely post to read, thank you for posting, so honest & real. Yes i had a cry too haha. Thanks xx
I loved it. I know all those people you are talking about. What a wonderful post. Thankyou
Oh my, thank you so very much for this. My oldest is starting primary school in a couple of weeks and I’m terrified for him. I was severely bullied all through primary and secondary school and I am so worried that the same will happen to my babies. I also have 2 younger children so making it to the reading times will be mighty difficult, I also do a course myself 2 days a week so I won’t be able to be as involved as I would love to be. I had already thought that that would be frowned upon. I feel a lot calmer about the next big step now so thank you so very much
I was the mother with depression, I was also a young mother and most of the children’s mums were 10 years older than me. I never really fit in, I think because I thought they were judging me. I was on the P&F ,Fete and Safety house committee to help myself fit in ,I would stop and say Hi to other mothers, but if anyone really looked at what was going on, they would see that yes, I was bubbly and friendly ,but I never had a group of mum’s to sit with , do coffee ,or play dates with. My oldest boy is now in year 12 and putting him thru school has been a lonely experience. I would ask mum’s and dad’s have a look around you ,but I mean a real look, if you see that mum who is friendly but then sits by herself don’t just assume that she wants to be by herself ,because maybe she is so worried that she is being judged ,but all it takes is an invite out for coffee with a group of mum’s and dad’s to feel accepted ,not all of us are confident even if we appear to be .
This is an amazing article – so true!
I am the president of Parents Victoria, a not for profit volunteer group supporting parents and parent clubs in Victorian government schools. Your article would be so helpful to so many parents; great info for new to school parents and a reminder for continuing parents of what we should be modelling to our children.
Would you allow us to publish it in our newsletter and post it on our Facebook page? You should contact the parent club organisations in every state and territory and ask if they would like to reprint it in their newsletters – so many parents would benefit. Or if you are happy to have it republished I will send it to them.
Cheers,
Sharron.
Hi Sharon, thank you so much for your kind words and the short answer is YES! We are having it made into a printable that would be ready to send out as an attachment on an email or newsletter, today. I will announce on FB when ready but in the meantime, share away! Thanks again x
I know this website is directed at mums and by and large mums are the ones doing this but in my case I’ll be dropping my son off to school (starting next week) 3 out of 5 days a week and I know a lot of these things apply to me too. I’ve already been doing the daycare drop offs for 3 years and I’ve been late, forgotten the donations and forgotten the PJ day. All before starting school. It’s not just mums that go through this!
Thanks for a great read.
Great Great post as a new parent to the city (after living remote for a long time) I am still suprised at the number of parents who dont say hi. But I adore the small number that always do they make my morning.
Hey Karen
I have just contacted all of my daughters books that was a feat and now have been told it was supossed to be animal patterened contact ! At least I tried………
Hi Stacey,
I found your post through my colleague Llana Hills and after reading I feel chuffed that I left my “L” plates behind years and graduated to “P” plates. I love this post and think every new school Mum should read which is why I’m going to share on my page.
Keep up the great work.
Kindest regards
Mel
That was really good to read and some fantastic advice, i have tears of happiness!!
As a mother of 3 who always seems to be late to occ care, 3yo and 4yo kinder (last years)…lol.
i now dont feel as nervous, first times suck a little bit, but yep we all have em, who cares. and All will work out in the end!!! Good luck to all the mumma’s and daddy’s, oh and of course the big boys and girls out there starting this new prep year and the road ahead. xxx
Thats absolutely correct and thanks for putting it so succinctly!
Loved the article!
My situations a little more interesting as we are a British family living in Southern Sweden … so yup, I have to wonder whether I’ve actually understood the other parents or not as well as the rest of your list, that and ‘Did I just say what I intended to say?’ LOL!
Just thought I’d add a tip for those who are struggling with ‘contacting books’ … at Teacher TRaining college we were taught ‘the sock method’ …
– peel a tiny margin of the paper off the sticky plastic and stick it to the desk
– carefully place the book under the roll of paper and plastic by this margin
– use a clean dry (odd!) sock to carefully rub the plastic onto the book whilst slowly pulling off the paper with your other hand, you can go as slowly as you like because the backing paper is still on the sticky plastic until you rub it onto the book, but saying that it’s still a quick method!
Enjoy!
Thankyou for this. As a mum of 3, who has suffered depression and loneliness for 8 years now, this really hit a nerve. It was as if you were talking about me. About my life. My middle child will be 5 in june and has been in full time school since September. We have also moved about quite a bit last year and since 2007, this is the first school where I have been accepted, where I have friends, where I am not judged for being unique, for not being able to drive. I feel like crying some days, because I have finally found a place that is good for both my children and myself. I have good friends and most people don’t know how that feels to me.
Thankyou xxxxx
ps, as im typing this, the tears are falling because its like im finally fitting in somewhere for the first time since childhood and this story has really put it all into words. xx
Great letter!
I am not there yet, I have a 14 month old and another on the way. But I have been a teacher for 10 years and had many mums actually break down to me in the classroom from isolated in the car park, gossiped about and had a performance review done in their child by mums who ‘help out’. I’ve watched my sister with 2 boys with autism rack herself with guilt over not doing reading in the classroom. Ridiculous! Not only was this an entertaining read it was hopefully a wakeup call for those mums with nothing better to do than ridicule and degrade others. You’re right…maybe we should all just cross tge playground and say hello to the mum on her own or give a hand to the one with the screaming toddler! Well written, well said!
Thats great advice. I’m the single mum with the bomb of a car but I appreciate the LJ mums cos they look fab and are very quiet. I go in early or late which does depend on Mr 5 and his socks. I say Hi to all the parents and if they dont thats fine if they do we gasp bag for ages. I have found great comrades to endure the school years with after initiating a wave or a Hi or even a hand. I guess the adults deal with our own personal issues when we go back to school with our kids. One thing is for sure when i do get a look up and down at my appearance i just think they like what they see. Thanks for the advice again.
Thanks…I feel much better about the whole kindy thing now!
(Must remember not to put undies on head.)