10 Things I Hated About You, Kindergarten

Yup, elementary school starts early. Like really early, which means everyone needs to be up and at 'em — starting with the parents. Source: Disney

Most of us walked our kiddos right into their preschool and straight to their classrooms, so when kindergarten rolls around and you're informed that you can only go as far as the front door, it's a big adjustment for everyone. Source: Fox

And because you're not getting past the front door, you have to figure out how to get your child to school. One option is the dreaded car line, and let's be honest here, I don't think anyone ever gets used to the car line. Source: Giphy

On the other end of the spectrum, if your child is taking the big yellow bus to kindergarten, then you'll happily miss the craziness of the car line, but prepare yourself for tales from the school bus — and its own set of issues. Source: Giphy

Speaking of not being able to go past the front door . . . while I'm glad that schools try to be secure, sadly, there is no such thing as just popping into your child's class to see how she's doing in kindergarten. At my kiddo's elementary school, parents have to get a full background check before even being allowed inside when it's in session. Source: Giphy

Sure, there were a few moms who helped out at your tot's preschool. Heck, some may have even been a tad more enthusiastic than others, but nothing compares to the Parent Teacher Association, or as it's better known, the PTA. Source: The Jim Henson Company

I made the mistake of volunteering in my child's cafeteria during her first week of kindergarten. While I was expecting a bustling school lunch room, what I was not expecting was a scene straight out of Lord of the Flies. Breathe mamas, this too will become the new normal. Source: Fox Searchlight

If your child goes to a larger school, this will apply to you more, but unlike the superfriendly staff at your tot's former preschool, the elementary school office seems to be a place of business only. And chitchat and other pleasantries are usually kept to a minimum. Source: Giphy

Parents are typically provided with a wealth of information about what goes on during your child's day at preschool or day care (from both the teachers and the children). Were they full of smiles? Did they get their feelings hurt on the playground? Kindergarten comes with a lot less information from both of your former informants, and it can be a hard adjustment. Source: Paramount Pictures

Sure, maybe your child had a bit of fun homework (that was probably optional) here and there in preschool, but take-home assignments are the real deal in elementary school . . . starting with kindergarten. And I'll give you one guess as to who gets to convince your already exhausted 5-year-old to sit down and do theirs? Source: CBS