The school supplies are purchased, the lunches are packed and once the kids have been dropped off for their first day back to school — it’s time for moms to celebrate. If you’ve made it to this point, you’ve successfully survived the summer, so pop the bubbly, drink coffee in peace or do whatever it is you need to do to treat yourself. That’s what a growing number of moms are doing and, honestly, it looks like a lot of fun!
Moms all over the internet have started a trend of ringing in what they’re calling their “First Day of Freedom” by posting hilarious photos styled to look like the ones their kids often take on their first day — except these photos have some adult upgrades. Take a look at these moms living their best lives and be inspired to do so yourself!
The @chalkingitupboards Instagram account shows us just how this whole back-to-school concept works for moms:
First or Last Day of School – shop link in bio #firstdayofschool #firstdayofschoolchalkboard #schoolchalkboard #schoolphotoprop #chalkboardphotoprop #firstdayofschoolposter #firstdayofpreschool #firstdayofkindergarten #1stdayofschool #firstdaypicture #1stdaypicture #schoolsopen #schoolsinsession #preschool #kindergarten #momlife #freedom #firstdayoffreedom #1stdayoffreedom
For Instagram user @kreinholz, the “First Day of Freedom” means more wine!
#FirstDayOfFreedom
What better way to celebrate sending the kids off than with a “#mimosamorning,” as the @health.beauty.wellness_arbonne Instagram account shows:
Double tap if you love the first day of school Also, can #MimosaMornings be a real thing? Yes. Yes they can. All 5 of the kiddos are officially in school and this momma gets 3.5 hours of FREEDOM!! . . . I love working from home and being my own boss <imgsrc=”” alt=”💚” class=”wp-smiley” style=”height: 1em; max-height: 1em;”> #FirstDayOfSchool #FirstDayOfFreedom #HappyWorkingMomma
Meanwhile, @jess.lovelady celebrated by popping the bubbly and sprinkling confetti on Instagram:
The kids are back in school. I’ll need a couple of days to process my devastation. … #jlovelady #jloveladyphotography #backtoschool #firstdayofschool #firstdayoffreedom #freedom #school #elementaryschool #kindergarten #2ndgrade #breakoutthebubbly #bubbles #letscelebrate #timetocelebrate #ourteachersaresaints #weneedtopayteachersmore #loveourschool #martini #martiniasti #martiniandrossi #martinirossi #sparklingwine #gimmeallthewine #boymom #momofboys #lifewithboys #outnumberedbyboys #somuchwrestling
And these parents celebrated with a solo trip to the beach, as you can see on @robinstevphoto’s Instagram. Not bad:
YAAASSS! We just dropped Kua off to his FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL Lili is next to me napping. Is this real life?! #FirstDayOfFreedom #FirstDayOfPreschool #MauiPrep
Clearly, these moms and parents are taking some well-deserved time to enjoy themselves, and we couldn’t be more here for it!
And you can take part in this “First Day of Freedom” trend no matter how old your kids are. Vicky and Jeff Piper showed that you can celebrate having an empty nest the day your kids go off to college, too.
Piper posted these hilarious photos to her Facebook:
“20 years ago we didn’t have gender reveal parties, portraits in beautiful fields with baby shoes to announce a pregnancy,” she wrote. “Nor did we have baby photos on a blanket with a circle around a number showing how old they were. We drove our babies to sears or Olan Mills to get their photo. So in honor of our next chapter … here you go.”
They didn’t have “First Day of Freedom” photos 20 years ago, either — but they’re a thing now, and this couple and plenty of other moms are hitting it out of the park when it comes to celebratory Instagram photo shoots.
It’s about time there was a special hashtag for this much-anticipated moment.