Besides to giving birth, or buying and assembling an Ikea dresser, the first day of school is pretty much the most exhausting experience a human being goes through.
It’s a big deal! Your whole daily routine is disrupted. You have to go to a weird building and learn strange concepts like “math.” You’re forced to interact with people you wouldn’t otherwise be caught dead with. I definitely would not trade places with any kid.
In recent years, parents have updated the traditional “first day of school” photo by taking a second photo of their child upon returning home from school. The contrast is clear–and hilarious.
The whole thing really does a number on you.
1. “Hello darkness, my old friend.”
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-1.jpg)
Photo Credit: Reddit
2. “They gave me a cubby hole. I am NOT ready for that kind of responsibility!”
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-2.jpg)
Photo Credit: Reddit
3. “I need a juice box, man.”
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-6.jpg)
Photo Credit: Bored
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4. “They made me…learn the alphabet!”
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-9.jpg)
Photo Credit: Bored
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5. You’re never too young for an existential crisis.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-13.jpg)
Photo Credit: Bored
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6. When your parents take you out for a celebratory dinner, but all you wanna do is sleep.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-12.jpg)
Photo Credit: Bored
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7. When nap time just cannot come soon enough.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-8.jpg)
Photo Credit: Imgur
8. For some kids, even the beginning of the first day of school is rough.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-5.jpg)
Photo Credit: Reddit
9. Going back for day two can be just as hard as coming home from day one.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-3.jpg)
Photo Credit: Imgur
10. For older kids, the first day back from summer vacation is tough, too.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-4.jpg)
Photo Credit: Imgur
11. “Maybe if I just hide under my backpack, they can’t take me to school.”
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-11.jpg)
Photo Credit: Reddit
12. This little dude couldn’t even make it through his first day of school.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-10.jpg)
Photo Credit: Facebook
13. “There are HOW many more days of this? But I can’t even count that high!”
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-7.jpg)
Photo Credit: Bored
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14. First day of school + long car ride home = nap town.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-14.jpg)
Photo Credit: Bored
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15. Rest up. You’re gonna need it.
![](https://awkward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kid-15.jpg)
Photo Credit: Bored
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h/t: Bored Panda