Back-to-school sadness can slam parents, too. Here's how to handle it

Parents shouldn't rush to 'get over' back-to-school sadness that can surface as children return to the classroom. Sadness is an innate biological response to loss.

Sadness isn’t a flaw or a problem to be solved. It’s a universal emotion and learning to work with it benefits both your physical and mental health.  Hilary Jacobs Hendel, LCSW, is a certified AEDP psychotherapist, emotions educator, and author of "It’s Not Always Depression." She is co-author of the forthcoming book "Parents Have Feelings, Too: A Guide to Navigating Your Emotions So You And Your Family Can Thrive" (Alcove Press, September 2025).

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 sadness is a sign of weakness. In short, we’re shamed for feeling sad.