In a viral TikTok, Arizona mom of three, Cayley (known as @cayleyxo on social media), shared her frustration after her son received a 15- to 20-page, double-sided homework packet on the first day of kindergarten. The overwhelming assignment led Cayley to email the teacher to opt out of the homework altogether.
“I sent my son’s kindergarten teacher a cutesy little email saying, ‘I’m sorry. Based on the stress, mental, physical anxiety it’s causing my kid, we are done,’” Cayley explained in the video, according to the Independent.
She recounted how the stress of completing the homework was too much for her young son. On August 26, she sat down with him during breakfast to work on the packet, as he had fallen behind. Both mother and son ended up in tears, overwhelmed by the task.
“It was an emotional mess. I felt so guilty dropping him off at school,” Cayley shared. “He didn’t want to be there. For the last two weeks, he told me he doesn’t even like school and doesn’t want to be there anymore, which hurts my mama heart because you’re 5. The only thing you should be worrying about is learning and what time snack time is.”
Cayley, who wants her children to love school rather than be burdened by it, added, “Work to live, we don’t live to work.”
Since posting, her video has garnered nearly 250,000 views and sparked a conversation in the comments, with many parents and teachers chiming in. A kindergarten teacher commented, “It’s normal for kids to not like school the first couple of weeks or even months! It’s a big adjustment… Hang in there, Mama. He’ll love it once he starts to make friends. As for homework, I agree with you. I never sent home homework unless parents specifically asked me, and I always let them know it was optional.”
Other educators shared similar sentiments, with one substitute teacher calling homework “outdated and unnecessary.” Many parents echoed Cayley’s concerns, one noting, “The pressure on these kids is insane.”
In a follow-up video posted on September 7, Cayley revealed that after emailing the teacher, the homework was reduced to one page. The teacher also included more interactive assignments, such as reading logs and sight word practice. “I told her I would be up for meeting in the middle and working as a team because that is what we’re here for — the benefit of our children,” Cayley said. “This is your sign to maybe say something to your teacher, nicely and politely, if something doesn’t sit right with you at their school.”