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Taking your kids to preschool for the first time is something most parents find hard. For months or years, you've been their sole caretaker from breakfast in the morning until stories at bedtime. Then suddenly, they're in the care of someone else, and it can bring all sorts of emotions, from sadness and grief to joy and relief.
Mary Mo Harper, a lifestyle blogger, captured the moment she dropped off her 3-year-old son for his first day at preschool. She and her husband are both sitting in the car in tears.
Although Harper was crying at first, she soon started laughing as she saw how much her husband was crying. Every time she looks at him, she laughs even harder.
"I thought I was going to be cool bruh," her husband says, as he wipes away tears. "It was the look on his face, I couldn't do it."
Commenters have pointed out how emotional it can be to send your children to child care for the first time.
"I was never blessed with kids, but this just blessed and broke my heart at the same time. I would have been a hot mess the first day of preschool," one said.
Another highlighted that their son was probably having a great time playing with other kids and toys. "Y'all crying and the baby is probably happy as hell right now, one added.
Someone else wrote: "Meanwhile the kid's playing with blocks done made like 3 friends in 4 minutes."
Harper confirmed that the preschool had actually sent her a photo of her toddler playing with blocks.
It's normal for parents to get choked up when dropping their kids off at preschool or school for the first time. Often, children can feel overwhelmed at being in a new environment, and parents might worry about their child settling in. It's also normal to feel sad that your child is growing up too fast.
According to a recent survey by the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, almost three-quarters (71 percent) of parents were anxious about their child starting school for the first time, with close to half of parents (48 percent) more anxious than their child about starting school. Rest assured, all parents experience these emotions. It's all part of the roller coaster that is parenthood.
If you have a parenting dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.
