Parents, Celebrate the Return to School. But Also Grieve It.

"In my community, kids returned to school last week (we start later in the Pacific Northwest compared to the rest of the U.S.). During these first days and weeks of school, parents' social media posts triumphantly celebrating the return to school dominate my feed. There are the countless pictures of "first day of school" signs, with varying levels of enthusiasm displayed on kids' faces for this parental ritual."

"As a quick but relevant aside, did you know that the lengthy summer break in the U.S. is atypical around the world? For instance, in South Korea, one month is the norm (Korean kids' jaws drop with envy when they find out that their American counterparts enjoy a three-month break)."

"Underlying the memes and posts created in a half-joking manner, is a real message that the parents have labored during the long summer months, and now it is time for some kind of a respite from that labor. Liberation for parents, some might call it."

"All that is to say, as a parent of two teenagers, I resonate with the positive emotions that are associated with my children returning to school. But I also wish to bring up as another normal response during this season."

Parents frequently post triumphant first-day photos and humorous memes celebrating children's return to school, signaling relief after intensive summer caregiving. Many parents feel joy at regained routines and a respite from constant supervision, while schools and communities echo that celebratory tone. The lengthy American summer break—often three months—is atypical internationally, with some countries offering far shorter breaks, which helps explain heightened parental elation in the U.S. Alongside relief and celebration, some parents also experience complex emotions, including grief about changing family rhythms as children grow and return to structured school life.

Read at Psychology Today