Mom Emails Son's Teacher to Opt Him Out of Homework After He Comes Home with Packet: 'We Are Done'

On TikTok, one mom describes how her son received a 15- to 20-page, double-sided August homework packet on the first day of school

• TikToker cayleyxo and her son faced a difficult moment after he came home with homework following his first days of kindergarten

• Cayley emailed his teacher, sharing that "we are done" with assignments

• Following comments from other parents and educators, the mom shared that she and her son's teacher were able to meet in the middle

For one mom, kindergarten homework was just not working.

In a now-viral TikTok, Arizona-based mom of three, Cayley (known as cayleyxo on social media), explains why she emailed her son's kindergarten teacher at his charter school to opt out of homework assignments. In the video, she describes how her son received a 15- to 20-page, double-sided August homework packet on the first day of school, which stressed him out.

"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,' " the mom explains in the TikTok.

She adds that the email came after she and her son tried to work on the homework packet together. On Aug. 26, she had him sit down quietly during breakfast and work on finishing at least one or two pages of the packet because he was behind.

During that moment, Cayley says they both started crying.

"It was an emotional mess. I felt so guilty dropping him off at school," she says. "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."

"Work to live, we don’t live to work," she adds, explaining how she wants her kids to love school.

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Related: Teacher's Kind Gesture to Nervous New Kindergarten Parents Brings Tears to Mom's Eyes (Exclusive)

Since posting, Cayley’s video has garnered almost 250,000 views and 1,600 comments from people sharing their reactions to the situation, including teachers offering their thoughts on homework.

"Kindergarten teacher here—it's normal for kids to not like school the first couple of weeks or even months!" one person wrote in the comments. "It’s a big adjustment, especially for kids who have never been to preschool or away from their parents. 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. I did, however, tell parents to read a book to their child every day, so that was their only 'homework.' "

"I’m a substitute teacher, and homework is SO outdated and unnecessary! Most teachers at the district I work for have made it a thing of the past, but some are still hanging on. Good for you, though!" another teacher replied.

Other parents also chimed into the conversation, one adding: "My kids get SO much homework. They’re GRADED on it too, starting in 1st grade public school! The pressure on these kids is insane."

"We had kinder orientation tonight and my son’s teacher said “homework! It’s kindergarten, I’m not giving homework. Just read with them.” And I thought “good because we ain’t gonna do it” ??," another parent said.

On Sept. 7, Cayley posted a follow-up video to the TikTok, revealing that after emailing, the teacher reduced the homework to one page. She also included more interactive assignments like keeping a reading log and practicing sight words.

"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 says in the video. "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."

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