My Kid Cried at Preschool (And So Did I): A Survival Story in Snacks and Snot

Let’s get one thing straight — when my kid started preschool, I thought I was ready.

I had the bag packed. The water bottle labelled.

The cute little lunch box with matching cutlery.

I was that Pinterest mom... for about three minutes.

Then Day 1 happened.

Screaming. Clinging. Snot. So much snot.

From her. And honestly?

A little from me too.

Every morning she'd wake up and say:“I DON’T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL!”

Like she was being sent to an underground dungeon, not a cozy class full of Legos and storybooks.

So, yeah. It was a whole thing.

But here’s the twist:It got better.(And I didn’t even have to bribe the teachers with cake.)

🧸 Operation Preschool: The Drama Days

Day 1: She cried.

Day 2: She cried louder.

Day 3: She woke up, looked me dead in the eyes, and said,“I am not going. I will stay home forever.”(Dramatic. Clearly my child.)

Meanwhile, I’m outside pretending to be calm while texting my husband things like,“She hates me. Should I just homeschool her with YouTube videos and a pack of crayons?”

Then I tried a few things that actually helped:

• We flipped the script on “I don’t want to go”Every time she said it, I didn’t say “But you have to!”I said, “Aww, school will miss you!”Or, “Oh no! Your friends will be so sad not to see your happy face.”Slowly, “I don’t want to go” became, “Can I show my teacher my sticker today?”

• Made school sound like Disneyland“Omg! You get to paint, play with friends AND have story time! I’m jealous!”

• Created a “Boom-Boom Bye” goodbye ritualSilly high-five + forehead kiss + air twirl = one confident kid walking in.

• Sent her with my hair tie for luckIt's now her “Mama Bracelet.” Basically a superhero charm.

And guess what?She started walking in with a smile.One day she even said, “Mama, can you come pick me up after playtime? Not before.”Victory tastes like cold coffee and quiet mornings.

🥣 The Great Food Rebellion: Milk or Nothing

Meanwhile, at home — solid food was apparently illegal.

Milk. Only. Milk.She would accept no substitutes. Cereal? Nope. Toast? Ugh. Banana? How dare you.

So I became a snack ninja.

• Made food look like cartoon characters Smiley sandwiches. Heart-shaped roti. Grape caterpillars.My kitchen now looks like a toddler cooking show.

• Turned meals into games“Should the dinosaur eat the broccoli first or the carrot?”She picked the broccoli. For the dinosaur. But still.

• Let her eat off the floor once (don’t judge)It was rice. In a toy bucket. With a plastic shovel.She was thrilled. I stayed quiet.

• Started eating the same food with her“Look! Mama’s eating green beans too! Wanna try?”Peer pressure works, y’all.

• Replaced milk with sneaky smoothiesFirst, a smoothie. Then a few bites of real food.Now? She asks for “dosa with white chutney” like a tiny food critic.

💁‍♀️ Final Thoughts From a Mom Who Survived

If your kid is crying at preschool — it’s okay.

If they’re living off milk and pure stubbornness — also okay.If you feel like crying in the car — very okay.

But here’s what I’ve learned:With patience, some silliness, and a lot of sticker charts — they come around.

One day, the “I don’t want to go to school” becomes “Can I wear my sparkly shoes to class?”And it hits you — they’re growing up. And maybe… so are we.

To all the mamas out there:You’re doing great.Even if your kid eats rice with a toy shovel.Even if you cried in the school parking lot.

Here’s to fewer tears, more snacks, and Boom-Boom Byes.We’ve got this.