There is something bittersweet about a little kid hitting the big milestones such as first smile, first step or first day of school. We are used to excited moms sharing the big news and posting all over social media about their little one’s achievements. However, dads also care about their babies growing up and get emotional when they realize that their child who was born seemingly yesterday will soon be leaving the nest. Just like this dad, Sam, who got teary-eyed on his son’s first day of preschool.
More info: TikTok
When their son was starting preschool, Mary expected there to be a lot of tears. What she didn't expect was her husband crying
Image credits: marymoniharp
Early childhood is a wonderful time – it’s a shame we don’t remember napping as much as we wanted or playing all day under the care of a loving family member without a care in the world. But the time comes to leave the nest and kids get adorable backpacks and school supplies and head to preschool, where they still get to play and nap but also learn new things and make friends.
3-year-old Isaiah is one of many Las Vegas toddlers who started preschool this term. His mom, Mary Harper, was preparing for Isaiah to get all teary-eyed – after all, it is scary to venture outside without one’s mommy. But much to her surprise, it wasn’t the toddler who was crying, but his dad!
“I don’t think I’d even seen him cry before!” Mary revealed in an interview.
In a viral TikTok video, an emotional dad was seen bawling his eyes out, recalling his boy's first drop off
Image credits: marymoniharp
Mom posted a hilarious video on TikTok, which has since gone viral with 7.6M views and thousands of positive comments. In the video, Mary cannot stop laughing seeing her husband Samajee “Sam’s” reaction after dropping off his baby boy to preschool for the first time.
“I thought I was gonna be cool, bruh,” Sam said in the video, voice cracking despite his wife laughing.
For Sam, the hardest part was when Isaiah looked back after waving goodbye. Bless him! Dad was just worried about his little one.
Image credits: marymoniharp
Mary wrote “I was crying, but then my husband started crying so hard it made me laugh.” Eventually, both parents started laughing at how emotional they had gotten when they worried it would be their kid who would cry the most.
In an interview, Mary provided more insights on that emotional roller coaster of a day. “Everything was fine until I said, ‘Isaiah, Mommy and Daddy are leaving now,’” she recalls. “And that’s when he gives us the saddest face I’ve ever seen in my life. Then he starts crying those silent tears.”
And every parent knows there is nothing worse than seeing your child cry and not being able to do anything! The emotional mom noted that it was the moment she “fell apart”.
“I’m crying and hugging him, and expecting my husband to be like, ‘Girl, get it together, let’s go,’ but I looked over and his eyes are bloodshot,” she recalled.
It seems like little Isaiah handled this stressful situation way better than his grown-up parents who couldn't stop worrying
Image credits: marymoniharp
Fortunately, their boy was in safe hands with his preschool teacher who knows how difficult these moments can be for both the child and the parents. As they were leaving the school grounds, they took one last peek at their boy and saw that he was doing better.
“His teacher was holding him and consoling him, so I felt a million times better, but Sam, not so much,” Mary said. “He kept going, ‘I’m not OK. I’m not OK.’ It was so sad, but also hilarious.”
It’s now been weeks since Isaiah became a preschooler and his mom revealed that the drop-offs do not require Kleenex anymore.
“It was just that first day. Now we’re all good — even Sam."
Separation anxiety is normal in such situations. Luckily, there are ways to deal with it
Image credits: Szilvia Basso (not an actual photo)
Other parents flooded the comment section with their own stories, revealing it doesn’t get better with age.
"Why is this me and my husband last fall when we dropped our son off at college," shared one. He might be a legal adult, but it doesn’t mean his parents aren’t worried about him.
Separation anxiety is perfectly normal when they are entering a new phase of life such as preschool. There are a handful of tips that could help to ease that annoying feeling in the pit of the stomach:
- Validate their feelings. Teach the kids that it is normal to experience such feelings and they don’t make them weak. Remind them that they will be safe and that at the end of the day, they will be back at home with their loving parents;
- Ensure that school is a safe space. Tell them about how their teacher is there for them and wants to see them happy and successful;
- Use a transitional object (if the teacher allows). Teddy or Kitty have been faithful companions in early childhood – they can be excellent companions in preschool as well.
- Have a calm morning routine – mornings are stressful as they are, so if a little one sees mom and dad rushing around worrying about a misplaced toothbrush, it is only natural they will stress more.
And don’t forget to celebrate hitting any important milestones. Both you and your child have come so far – you deserve a day out at the zoo and a double scoop of ice cream!
Watch the video here
The comment section couldn't get over dad's adorable reaction
