When your child clings at the school gate, it’s not a failure — it’s a feeling. Starting Reception is a big leap, and drop-off wobbles are more common than you think. This blog unpacks what’s really happening under those first-day nerves and gives you simple, honest ways to build independence without ignoring the emotions.

Cold tea. Bathroom audiences. Conversations hijacked by stick stories. Toddler life is noisy, clingy, and often makes you wonder if you’ll ever eat a hot meal again. Here’s why it’s normal, why it feels so intense, and how to survive with a shred of sanity (and maybe a biscuit in hiding).