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School Photo Day: Remembering Kindergarten

I may not remember the last time my kids had a bath or when my van’s oil was changed, but I remember a lot about the year I was five.

For whatever bizarre reason, I can still name all 25 kids in my Kindergarten class picture. And I can also remember the girl with the uneven bangs, the dimples, and  the psychedelic shirt.

Tomboy me.

I was the only girl who wore jeans for photo day. One other girl, my cousin, was dressed in navy cords, a white blouse, and a fancy blue vest.

We were farm kids. We didn’t own dresses. They weren’t practical, especially not for sporty girls with rough-and-tumble older siblings. Girls who played in the mud, weeded the garden, skated on ponds, and wandered through the bush collecting ticks.

I could write a series on my life in Kindergarten. If I did, it might include

  • My mom getting pulled over by a small town cop while driving me to my Kindergarten interview.
  • My mom trying to enroll me in Kindergarten a year early, since I was one of the oldest of my class-to-be; the school board wouldn’t let me.
  • The Kindergarten teacher–in the first few weeks of school–wanting me to go to Grade 1, with the support of the school board; my mom wouldn’t let me.
  • Laying wide awake in the blocks section during nap time.
  • A classmate often having horrific nightmares during nap time. Years later, adult-me would wonder about her home life.
  • Getting one mistake on a comprehension test. In one square, I had to draw a woman. My drawing was wrong because it featured an androgynous stick-woman wearing pants.
  • Loving the full-day program which started after Easter. I could ride the bus with my Grade 6 sister, and even my Grade 8 brother, who was at the big school.
  • Adoring my brown lunch box, a hand-me-down, with its side panels covered in gold and brown wallpaper.

Nothing like going back to move forward.

***

Please go check out the school photos of some other bloggers, such as Keenie Beanie and Clay Morgan. If you posted a photo on your blog, please include a link in the comment section. I promise to visit (and maybe even send you a searchbomb).

Filed Under: Wild Gen X Tales Tagged With: Ironic Mom, kindergarten, kindergarten memories, Leanne Shirtliffe, memory, Rainman, school photo day, Searchbombing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. K.B. Owen says

    June 1, 2011 at 5:07 am

    Hi, Leanne! Great pic. Groovy shirt! Isn’t it amazing what details stay with you about certain times, when others can be a blank?

    I participated, too (3 pics! I know, crazy gal): http://kbowenmysteries.com/?p=776

    Thanks, Kathy

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 8:58 am

      I love your kindergarten picture. It’s amazing my own hair got combed. It helps reveal the crooked bangs. Yet another reason why I no longer have bangs.

      Reply
  2. mairedubhtx says

    June 1, 2011 at 5:20 am

    Your kindergarten memories made me think way back to my own kindergarten years. It was one of the best years of my life and also one of the worst. Now just vague memories.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 8:58 am

      It’s interesting how that’s often the case, that you get two extremes in the same year. Thanks for commenting!

      Reply
  3. Lori Dyan says

    June 1, 2011 at 5:55 am

    I think we had the same haircut, or at least the same hairdresser (our moms?)

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 8:59 am

      Yes. Salon a la Mom. I’ve never cut my kids’ hair. Well, except for those times where they’ve gotten things stuck in them.

      Reply
  4. Kim Wilson says

    June 1, 2011 at 6:21 am

    Love it! And love that you can still remember the names of your kindergarten classmates. It makes me wonder what other tidbits of information are forever emblazoned on your mind. This is fun – thanks for sharing!

    I’ve got some marching band memories from high school over on my blog: http://www.newlifecalu.com/?p=734. It’s been quite a walk down memory lane the past few days. Thanks for encouraging the journey! 🙂

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:09 am

      Yes, I have one of those scary memories for details (but I can’t ever seem to remember where I put my keys or the last time my kids had a bath).

      I love marching band you! Whenever I hear of people playing the flute, I think of Captain Jean Luc Picard playing his. The flute as seduction: who knew!

      Reply
      • Kim Wilson says

        June 1, 2011 at 8:31 pm

        Thanks, Leanne! Ah, I totally forgot about my Star Trek flute-playing buddy Jean Luc. Somehow this reminds me of a funny flute my parents brought back from Hawaii that you play with your nose. Probably because my friends and I were joking around about how you could mesmerize someone with it – probably out of sheer shock. Haha!

        Reply
  5. educlaytion says

    June 1, 2011 at 6:59 am

    You remember so many details! I can’t even remember the guy who was next to me in the yearbook in 3rd grade and I have half his face to work with. Apparently I wasn’t born with my keen powers of observation. The shirt is really original. Were you ever in an episode of Scooby-Doo?

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:11 am

      My memory is incredibly accurate until it’s not. Yes, the shirt. Doesn’t it just scream 1970s? Pretty sure it was a hand-me-down; all of my clothes were, even in my Grade 6 photo. Laughing at Scooby-Doo…

      Reply
  6. mommypoo says

    June 1, 2011 at 7:19 am

    What an adorable, Brady Bunch photo! Your remembrances make me wonder what my son, entering K this September, will remember when he’s all grown up. Hopefully not me yelling at him to “Hurry up!!!”

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:12 am

      Yes, I think I remember more about kindergarten than most other years of elementary school. Bizarre.

      I too worry about what my children will remember…

      Reply
  7. Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

    June 1, 2011 at 7:22 am

    Kelly from Dances with Chaos is participating too (but is having major internet issues). Here’s her link: http://danceswithchaos.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/when-i-was-boy-band-crazy-school-photo-day/

    Reply
  8. Renée A. Schuls-Jacobson says

    June 1, 2011 at 7:45 am

    Here is my entry. I should have emailed you last night. It would have eliminated a lot of last minute scrambling this morning. I think I pulled it off. #IYKWIM.
    http://rasjacobson.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/school-picture-day/
    Enjoy. Do you think Monsieur Flirt is going to kill me?

    PS: I cannot believe they marked your androgynous stick-figure slacks wearing woman wrong. But I love that you remember this fact. 😉

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:18 am

      You always pull it off, iykwim.

      Love that you were voted the class flirt!

      Yes, the stick figures. My mom had short hair and never wore dresses (not even to my wedding). How was I to know you were supposed to have triangles as skirts on stickwomen? It’s amazing I went into the correct public washrooms as a kid.

      Reply
  9. limr says

    June 1, 2011 at 7:47 am

    Okay. Here goes:
    http://asalinguist.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/a-portrait-of-the-linguist-as-a-young-dorky-girl/

    Looking forward to lots of good reading today. Thanks for setting it up! 🙂

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:50 am

      You’re welcome. Love your piece. And the pic!

      Reply
  10. monicastangledweb says

    June 1, 2011 at 8:15 am

    Sounds like you had an amazing year in kindergarten. How nice to have so many memories. Love the pic! 🙂

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:50 am

      Thanks. It’s quite a trip to go back in time…

      Reply
  11. Bill says

    June 1, 2011 at 8:20 am

    My own kindergarten took place in Fairbanks, Alaska. I can remember walking there, the whole four blocks in the dark of a winter morning (it didn’t get slightly light until way after ten AM) and back as it was getting dark again at 2:30 PM. My most vivid memory was taking a shortcut and getting stuck in a backyard snowdrift; right up to my eyebrows. Visions of being found in spring thaw flashed through my head.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:51 am

      Bill, I felt like I was suffocating when I read your comment! Wow. I remember catching the bus to school in the dark, but never coming home in the dark. It sounds vaguely eerie…

      Reply
  12. Meet the Buttrams says

    June 1, 2011 at 8:38 am

    So. Great. Is it just me, or is that a picture of Vivian incarnate?

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:52 am

      Pretty much. Same nose and eye shape, definitely. Likely same attitude, too.

      Reply
  13. Jess Witkins says

    June 1, 2011 at 8:51 am

    Aw, I like the uneven bangs. But I’ll see your bangs and raise you one cowlick. Oh, if only the pics weren’t back home. Maybe a week from now I’ll slap some up. LOL

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:53 am

      Jess, do put some pics up, even if it is next month! I love you bangs/cowlick line. I mean cowlick? Who named that. Should have called it a puppy curl or something similar.

      Reply
  14. writerwoman61 says

    June 1, 2011 at 9:00 am

    What a cutie you were, Leanne! I would have gotten that comprehension test “wrong” too!

    Here’s mine (which took two tries…lost my first 600-word post due to a computer glitch…AAARGH!):
    http://writerwoman61.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/school-picture-day-junior-band-2/

    Wendy

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:54 am

      Love those band pictures. Kids in band always seem to have so much fun, not to mention a stadium full of memories.

      Reply
  15. Christina Baglivi Tinglof says

    June 1, 2011 at 10:24 am

    I remember lying awake during nap time, too! I could never understand how so many kids could fall asleep on the cold, hard ground lying on nothing but a tiny mat.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 11:02 am

      You had mats? I don’t remember mats! 🙂

      Reply
  16. The Hook says

    June 1, 2011 at 10:31 am

    You can name your whole class? You are an amazing woman! And you were a cute kid, too.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 11:02 am

      I can also recite every phone number I’ve ever had. I’m weird that way. And in a lot of other ways.

      Reply
      • writerwoman61 says

        June 1, 2011 at 11:35 am

        Me too, Leanne! Yet another thing we have in common (remembering phone numbers, and probably being weird too!).

        Wendy

        Reply
  17. Annie says

    June 1, 2011 at 10:54 am

    You were adorable. So wish I had my kindergarten pic to post. My hair was similar to yours only a tad shorter and I wore a hot pink satin top with jeans. We all wore jeans where I grew up. Farm life.

    Thanks for thinking up this fab idea for school photo day. I’ve had fun visiting all the links I can. My DS10 is standing next to me moaning to use the computer for some sort of pokemon research. He will just have to wait.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 11:04 am

      Yay for jeans. I’m pretty sure all the other girls were in jeans the rest of the time, but not for school picture day. Plenty of white tights (which we called “leotards,” which now sounds rather politically incorrect. Kind of like calling flip flops, “thongs.” Hmm. I think I have my next blog topic…

      Reply
  18. tyler says

    June 1, 2011 at 11:07 am

    cute kid. you should crop in hayden christensen as anakin skywalker so it will ruin it.

    jk. you should preserve yourself in your original form forever and ever like a jar of mayonnaise.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 12:35 pm

      You make me laugh, Tyler.

      And I’m okay with being a target. Really. 😉

      Reply
  19. Keenie Beanie says

    June 1, 2011 at 11:45 am

    However did a tomboy such as yourself end up in pink? My young self was a total girly-girl priss and pink was/is my signature color.

    I’m amazed at how much you remember of kindergarten. I have only vague impressions at best. Of course, I spent the better part of three decades trying to forget elementary school. I was a bit of a nerd and did NOT have a good time until we picked up and moved to the west coast, where I reinvented myself in high school. After all my new school mates wouldn’t know I was a nerd unless I let them in on the secret, right?

    Thanks for the link love and for another great blog idea for #schoolphotoday!

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 12:38 pm

      One answer to me being in pink: hand-me-downs. Choice of colours was not an option.

      I think being able to reinvent yourself has to be every middle schooler’s dream. Glad you got to do it!

      And thanks for encouraging this idea. Way too much fun.

      Reply
  20. Lenore Diane says

    June 1, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    Hey Leanne,
    I learned of school picture day through Wendy (WriterWoman). Your picture is adorable. My biggest memories from Kindergarten included taking our pet duckling to school for show and tell, falling in love with Peter G and wanting to cry every time my Mom left.

    I participated in today’s challenge. Thanks to you and the others for the idea.
    http://lenorediane.com/2011/06/01/a-new-year-several-years-ago/

    ~ Lenore

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 4:36 pm

      Hi Lenore,

      Your pictures are gorgeous. Too nice for school photos, really. 😉

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  21. jedwardswright says

    June 1, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    I remember a boy named Eddie who ate paste.
    Jodi

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 4:39 pm

      Hilarious. Well, maybe not for Eddie.

      Reply
  22. Amanda Hoving says

    June 1, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    I loved this idea, Leanne! I also love how vivid your memories are of this time — kindergarten is a big year. Thanks for sharing.

    I’ve also participated: http://amandaswrinkledpages.com/2011/06/01/what-secrets-can-a-picture-tell/

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 4:42 pm

      It’s been fun. Maybe we need to hold a pet day in a few months. I can’t be bothered to have a theme for a party, but for a blog, I think it’s fun!

      Reply
  23. Alexandra says

    June 1, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    I love these memories.

    I have to link up.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 4:43 pm

      Please do so. Let’s make it School Photo Week!

      Reply
  24. catierhodes says

    June 1, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    The thing I remember about Kindergarten was the Spanish class. They were right across the wall from us. I was fascinated and sort of wanted to go over there. After all, my grandmother spoke Spanish, so surely I’d be able to do it, too. 😀

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 5:17 pm

      If only it were that simple! Do you speak Spanish now? I yearn to be fluent in another language (I’m semi-functional in French). Of course, evidently I’m not yearning enough to do something about it…

      Reply
      • catierhodes says

        June 2, 2011 at 6:37 am

        I wish I had made the effort to become fluent in Spanish. Alas, I did not. I took a good many Spanish courses, though. I think with some more elbow grease, I could have managed it. I was too lazy, though. Story of my life. 😀

        Reply
  25. Kelly K @ Dances with Chaos says

    June 1, 2011 at 6:44 pm

    I’m an overachiever. And I finally have internet.

    In addition to my THREE hilarious middle school photos and tell all Fact Sheet at Dances with Chaos (here: http://danceswithchaos.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/when-i-was-boy-band-crazy-school-photo-day/ ) I also posted the first story I ever wrote on my writing blog.

    I was eight years old.

    I fought the urge to make snarky remarks on the plot holes, twists, and fickleness of of my characters. Also? How what my 8 year old self thought of as “nice” in actuality about the cruelest thing one can do: http://writingwithchaos.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/the-first-story-i-ever-wrote-lost-love/

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 8:11 pm

      I love the fact sheet. So awesome you kept that!

      Reply
  26. thoughtsappear says

    June 1, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    Wow, you remember so much about kindergarten! I can only list a couple things.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 8:12 pm

      Yes, but I can never find my car keys. Hope this isn’t a sign of dementia.

      Reply
  27. Hi, I'm Natalie. says

    June 1, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    I played… Thanks for the good ideas – this was fun!

    http://www.mommybyday.com/2011/06/school-photo-day-thank-goodness-thats.html

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 8:13 pm

      Natalie, I love your walk through junior and senior high. A journey through pictures. Your hair must grow quickly!

      Reply
      • Hi, I'm Natalie. says

        June 1, 2011 at 8:23 pm

        SO quickly. Drives me crazy.

        Reply
  28. rob shepherd says

    June 1, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    This is and was great. Since the twins I’ve had to pre-date a lot of my blogs. I saw that you were doing this and I wanted to but I didn’t have time to write a post and find a pic. Next year?

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 8:14 pm

      Yes, next year. By why not next week? Or, post a new pic of the twins and a baby pic of you and M. We can play: who resembles who?

      Reply
  29. Piper Bayard says

    June 1, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    Hi Leanne. I’m quite impressed that you can still name all 25 kids. And I love my lunch box, too. Red plaid with a matching thermos. That was before theme lunch boxes. Thanks for the fun post and cute picture.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 1, 2011 at 8:15 pm

      Did you hear I won Kristen’s weekly contest? 1250 words of a free critique. Yahoo!

      And I want me a red plaid thermos. 🙂

      Reply
  30. Zechariah Brewer says

    June 2, 2011 at 12:53 am

    How bad could they possibly be? SPOILER ALERT: I had a mullet. Sad thing was, it would be twelve years later before I learned the meaning of the term mullet, and a few years afterwards before I realized that it had once applied to me.

    http://afterfb.blogspot.com/2011/06/mullets-et-al-chronicle-of-bad-hair-and.html

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 2, 2011 at 8:32 am

      Those are some brilliant mullet pictures. Have you checked out mullet.com?

      And I had a mullet in Grade 8. Nothing like one on a girl…

      Reply
  31. journeytoepiphany says

    June 2, 2011 at 6:55 am

    The only thing I remember about kindergarten was when my teacher Mrs. Bax told us during a frightening thunderstorm that thunder was the angels who were bowling.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 2, 2011 at 8:32 am

      Too funny, that Mrs. Bax. Did that coax the class out from under their desks?

      Reply
      • journeytoepiphany says

        June 2, 2011 at 9:52 am

        That was one of the most poorly constructed sentences I’ve ever written.

        Reply
        • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

          June 2, 2011 at 11:03 am

          LOL. I didn’t even notice!

          Reply
  32. julie gardner says

    June 2, 2011 at 8:43 am

    “androgynous stick woman wearing pants…”

    I love you.

    Also, I did NOT know you were doing this School Picture event!

    I just posted something similar (late) from a meme circulating last week. My pictures aren’t from kindergarten.

    Unfortunately.

    I was kind of cute in kindergarten.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 2, 2011 at 9:42 am

      So sorry you missed this! (You can still post that cute pic of you in kindergarten — but really, how could you ever be anything besides cute (well, with the exception of gorgeous?).

      Reply
  33. Tiffany A White says

    June 2, 2011 at 10:43 am

    Great K-pic! I really wish I had some of my gradeschool photos around. I’ll have to grab some from my mom next time I visit. Thanks for stopping by my blog & leaving a comment!

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 2, 2011 at 11:02 am

      You’re welcome. And do grab photos. It’s a fun walk down that lane!

      Reply
  34. The Simple Life of a Country Man's Wife says

    June 2, 2011 at 11:20 am

    Great post (you were a cutie farm girl!).

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 2, 2011 at 12:19 pm

      Thanks. I’m proud of my farm girl roots!

      Reply
  35. The Good Greatsby says

    June 2, 2011 at 11:00 pm

    I understand your explanation of jeans being common for a farm girl, but was that style of psychedelic shirt common among farm girls at that time?

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom) says

      June 4, 2011 at 7:48 am

      Only if you didn’t want to be run over by a combine.

      Reply

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