My parents worked at least one job each when I was little. I went to day care when I was six weeks old. So, I doubt going to public school in kindergarten was a big shock to me. But I still remember it.
My parents house is set down a really long driveway. We don’t have a yard–just lots of trees. So, to catch the bus my brother and I had to walk up that huge driveway every morning. I can distinctly remember walking up that driveway on my first day of kindergarten. It was still dark outside. And I think the temperature was a little cool. Mama (and maybe Daddy, but he was probably already at work) walked up with me. My long hair was curled, I had a backpack and I think a red and white sweater. The bus came and I had to walk across the street to get on. My bus driver was a lady named Gayle. She was my bus driver for a very long time and eventually came to our church, became a leader and is one of my friends today! I can distinctly remember standing at the bottom of the steps looking up at her. I don’t remember if I was afraid or excited, but that memory is ingrained in my head!
I don’t remember the rest of the day but I do have a few clear memories of kindergarten. A girl named Angie who always wore old patterend dresses and no one liked because she was older and smelly. Two guys named Bobby and Sam (who I graduated with!) who used to wink at me. Todd, my neighbor who never talked but one day when someone was coughing hard, blurted out, “She’s got bronchitis!”. Taking naps on mats. Playing with blocks. My teachers, Miss Tweety and Miss McCaully. We called them Tweety Bird and Cauliflower! Sitting at tables. My best friend Jennifer Swanson; we used to walk around the playground and scream at the boys!
I also love the thought of my first day of kindergarten because Mama told me she made me ride the bus by myself on purpose. Most moms took their kids on the first day of kindergarten. But she didn’t want me to think it was something I should be afraid of, so we went to the school a few weeks before it started. We found my class, knew how to get to it and saw where my bus would park. Then she sent me off on my first day to try it alone. I like that. She said when I came home I talked non-stop and then promptly conked out in one of our living room chairs! (Is that right, Mama?)
I loved the first day of school–new clothes, new school supplies, new teachers, new classrooms and even waiting for that bus in the dark cool morning! (Now riding it home was another thing entirely!)
Do you remember your first day?
Hop over to Annie‘s to see more stories about first days!
says
My kids are walkers(though they never walk I drive them every day just too many roads to cross IMO) but if they were able to ride the bus I would have let them get on the bus taking pictures of them the whole time getting on the bus and then the bus driving away, then I would have jumped into my car and got to the school to get more picture of them getting off the bus and walking into there class rooms..I’m just a little nuts that way LOL. YOu know got to get everything on tape 🙂
I love your time travel this week, thank you for shareing it
says
Thanks for sharing! I always remember dying to wear my new clothes, but they were always too hot because my mom bought my fall wardrobe. I would always were them anyways though!
says
This was the cutest post ever! I love that your bus driver Gayle is still your friend! And I love Tweety Bird and Cauliflower! 🙂
says
I just remember at my first kindergarten that my dad would walk me in everyday for the 1st few weeks. I think this caused a scene every time so the principle asked my dad to stop walking me in. When it was time to leave I had to ride the bus to the daycare. Well, I hated daycare and would lock myself around my teachers leg. They had to call my mom once because I refused to get on the bus. Crazy! I do LOVE new clothes and SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!! Now I look for any reason to buy both!
says
I do remember that on my first day I tried to sit on the bus next to the only kid I knew. (He was an older kid – a friend of my brother’s.) He was so mad at me! He obviously didn’t want to sit next to someone’s kid sister! Oh well! At least it wasn’t as bad as Forrest Gump’s experience!
I’m so jealous that Gayle was your bus driver!
says
I had a first grade teacher names mrs. barclay. We called her mrs. broccoli. She would probably get along great with cauliflower huh?
I can just see you little bitty climbing on the bus with big innocent eyes. Emelia rode the bus on her first day of school because she had watched Amanda and Bailey ride it for so long she couldn’t wait to get to ride it too. She had Bailey to protect her though.
says
What great memories! Thanks for sharing.
says
I LOVED elementary school! Middle school was a different story. I also loved my bus driver. Her name was Ms. Medley. She lived around the corner from us and we were here first and last stops of the day. If, for some reason, my parents weren’t home, she would take us to her house and let us eat a snack and call our parents to find out when they got home. Once everyone else got off the bus, she would let us start at the back of the bus and crawl underneath all the seats up to the front of the bus! How bizzare is that?! We absolutely loved it!! Of course, thinking about it now is a little gross!!
says
You have some vivid memories. Sometimes I wonder if my memories are from seeing photos through the years or actual memories. Thanks for sharing!
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