My Monday Memory: Day before school starts

The last day of summer holidays is today. I was thinking about so many memories of the last day of summer. It is the day before school starts. As a child, the first day of school brought much anxiety for me the night before. I had dreams of arriving late.(and often did) I dreamt that I arrived without underwear. We had a uniform that my mom always made sure was in perfect ironed shape. I would dream or imagine that a thread hanging would unravel the whole thing. I was shy and introverted and awkward - I know some of your jaws are dropping to the ground. I wore glasses and a patch for lazy eye problem. Very common now to see kids wearing an eye patch. Early 1970s well okay it was late 60's it was not common and it was related to being pratically retarded. What a crappy way to be introduced to the school system. My mother always tried to make it better and easier for me. She made the most amazing patches for me. I wish I had them now. She embroidered little flowers to make them unique. My first pair of glasses (I was 6yrs) had the 60's style cat eyes. They were lost in the snow. Found in the spring and I buried them so, I would not be possibly forced to wear them cause you know "glasses are very expensive" said my father.

• The new school year meant new shoes, the black leather smell was great. Yeah leather! and dark blue socks! they matched our blue tunic and we had white shirts.
• A highlight of the preparation for school would be the haircut by one of my lovely aunts on the back patio. One of them snipped my ear!
• In certain grade levels you got a new leather school bag. It looked like a brief case with a strap for girls and the boys got a backpack (leather) smelled great!
• All older children had pencil crayons (Laurentian) same as today. Is their a better pencil to use?

A far smaller list than TV commercialism requires of parents today. I tried not to fall into this materialistic trap with my children.
I remember that my mother laid out our clothes the night before and tucked us into bed early although we did not fall asleep immediately. In the morning we had a big breakfast together, at the table. We walked to school with our friends. It was not always an awful day at school just very challenging for me.

I kept some of the traditions for my kids.

• Cheryl's glasses and patches, Brad's first haircut by aunty Christine on my parents pack patio and Tanya's hair braided by her big sister ,with diferent color baubles on our back patio.
• It is a time to buy shoes and backpacks (not leather) and Laurentian pencils.
• We always started the first day with a big breakfast. After school I enjoyed hearing each of their report of the day's experience. All they wanted was to get outside to play.

This year grandson, Evan starts grade one. Granddaughter Arrianna starts JK and Grandson Keshaun starts preschool. I pray each will embrace the learning experience with courage, curiosity and excellence.