'Everyone told me back-to-school would get easier. No one mentioned this part.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Children's Panadol

My son — my youngest — is in Year 3 and still gives me the biggest squeezes before he walks into the classroom each morning.

It's always been this way. We've both managed to avoid tears on the first day of school but those lingering hugs have been a constant.

As a stay-at-home mum during their pre-school years, I was everything to my kids. So holding their hands on the first day and encouraging them to let go was tough.

Have I done enough to prepare them for the next stage? Who knows. Those early weeks at drop-off are full of doubt. You want to be reliable and supportive while letting them grow independent.

And yes, you miss them.

Early parenting was exhausting, but at least it was predictable.

The baby stage — I'm sure I don't need to remind you of the zombie-hour wakeups, the late feeds, the nappies — is exhausting but you are their calm and comfort.

If they're lonely or upset at school, you're not there to fix it. There's quite a bit to come to terms with when you've been there every step of the way and suddenly have no control over their happiness from 9am to 3.30pm.

You fill the school hours trying to get through the never-ending to-do list, feeling a little guilty if you grab yourself a coffee and chat for more than a couple of minutes with a friend. You try to relax but are still thinking of the kids and their wellbeing.

You get frustrated when they pick Cheezels over the carrot sticks you packed before you even fully woke up. But packing those lunchboxes is your connection to them while they're at school — a little love note from home scattered throughout the day.

Still, you show up at pick-up, arms ready. They don't know how much the day's worn on you. You just want them to be okay.

Who said parenting got easier as they got older?

When hugs aren't quite enough.

Then there are those moments when mum's arms just aren't quite enough and you need a little extra help.

You know the days when those first sneaky teeth start pushing through or when the dreaded fever hits and everything feels a bit harder.

That's when Children's Panadol can help, providing fast and effective relief from teething pain, fever, immunisation pain, fever and pain from cold and flu symptoms, earache and headache.

It's Australia's go-to pain relief brand, and can start to reduce fever in 15 minutes. It's tough on fever yet gentle on little tummies.

Children's Panadol 1–5 years and 5–12 years suspensions come in two fruity flavours — strawberry and orange — and include an easy-to-dose syringe.

Noticing the shift as they grow up.

Just when you start to feel on top of things and discover the parenting hacks that work for your family, you face a new wave of emotions when the 'last firsts' arrive.

This year my daughter marched through the school gates for her last first day as a primary school kid. The thought that it will never happen again — paired with memories of when she was tiny (which somehow feels like five minutes ago) — was a lot for this mum to process.

My youngest has just had his first school camp experience. No devices or contact — he was away from home for three days, marking his first time away from us for any length of time.

I struggled — again — to find the balance between leaving him to assert his independence and jumping on the bus myself to make sure he was eating enough veggies at dinner.

Resilience was the theme for both of us that week, but I had to remind myself that everything we've taught him so far would stand him in good stead for a happy, fulfilling time away.

I stepped back. Let him go. Trusting the school and my own preparations, he set off — returning three days later, excitedly exhausted and declaring the camp "the best ever".

As a mum, I'm constantly learning. I have to be okay with the fact that I won't always get it right. There will be new schools, new friendships, new challenges — but there'll always be hugs.

Shop Children's Panadol for fast and effective pain relief.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Incorrect use could be harmful.

Children's Panadol can start to relieve fever within 15 minutes. Reference: Temple, A.R. et al. Clin. Ther. 2013; 35:1361-75.

Children's Panadol is Australia's go-to pain relief brand, claim based on data sourced from Circana MarketEdge based on data definitions provided by Haleon Australia Pty Ltd for MAT 03/11/2024.

Feature Image: Supplied.

For over 60 years, Children's Panadol has been helping children as young as one-month-old feel better again. You can trust Children's Panadol to provide your child with fast, effective, temporary relief from pain and fever.
Find the whole Children's Panadol range at your local pharmacy.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Incorrect use could be harmful.