Back to school sadness is normal for parents, here's how to cope with it

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Sadness is an emotion we often associate with breakups, job loss, or death. But it doesn’t only appear when catastrophe strikes. As psychotherapists and parent educators, we know sadness is also a natural part of parenting —especially during the back-to-school season.

Just last week, a colleague shared a conversation they had with a friend. "I cried when I took my kid back to college," the friend admitted. Our colleague replied, "Come on! Isn’t that a bit much? Get over it already!"

This exchange shows how sadness is often misunderstood. Society tells us to "push it aside" or "ignore it." Many of us grew up believing that sadness burdens others or signals depression. Men, in particular, are often taught that expressing sad