Kindergarten Memories - 1966 in Pennsville, NJ

Kindergarten Memories - 1966 in Pennsville, NJ

Memories of snacks of ritz crackers & milk, mom setting my hair in pink foam curlers (boy, did they hurt when sleeping!), TONS of kids on the school bus, rolling out my mat for naptime, waiting for my turn to play with a wooden puzzle, sharing building blocks, donning the paint-covered smocks to protect my favorite white dress with pink polka dots, banging tiny cymbals and tambourines, my best friend Trisha with her tight brown curly hair, cupcakes for parties, Mrs. Kent (my favorite teacher!) with her 1960's cat eyeglasses, big fat pencils, paper with oversized spacing/lines, Valentine's parties, walking quietly in single file to go outside to play......

That brings me to my most vivid kindergarten memory. My all-time favorite thing to do was to swing on the playground. To me, there was nothing so joyful as getting my swing up to full-speed.....as high as I could possibly get it......up and down.....back and forth......the breeze blowing my long blonde hair (that my mother had so carefully set & brushed) all over my face.....my big red barrette barely keeping it out of my eyes......that 'feeling' in the pit of my stomach each & every time I came back down. Such freedom.....

It was simply the best. I LOVED it!

One day while lost in my swinging, I was stunned when the other kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Hobliztel)yelled that my time was done....I had to get off my swing......it was someone else's turn.

Mrs. Kent would never have done that to me.

I couldn't believe it. I felt that I had just started to swing. I was so upset! I was crushed!

I was angry......

It wasn't FAIR!!!!

I grumpily climbed up to the top of the jungle gym. My friend, Trisha, was up there with me -- I complained to her that I hadn't received enough time on my swing. Mrs. Hobliztel had made me get off!

Can you imagine my embarrassment and humility when Mrs. Hobliztel yelled at me, again?! She informed me that if I didn't stop complaining I wouldn't even be allowed to swing, at all, next time!

How did she hear me? I was way up on top - on the highest bar possible - of the jungle gym, for goodness sakes!

Face beet red......I shut my mouth tightly. I don't think I even breathed.......

I could hardly wait to get back into the safe confines of the kindergarten room -- with Mrs. Kent. I'll never forget that feeling of being overheard. It taught me to be very careful -- to be very considerate of others before I spoke up. It taught me to be patient, do my research and get the facts before I speak against someone or something.

I really don't know how much time I had on the swing that day. I may have had just as much time as the others, but I really can't tell you for sure. I know what it felt like, but feelings are not facts.

Even today, whenever I find myself in a situation that may warrant me speaking up, I am sure to gather the facts, check my emotions, observe what is really happening to the best of my abilities before I speak up.....or speak out.

I try to be FAIR.

Thank you, Mrs. Hobliztel. I owe you one.

"I'm like the kid in kindergarten; I really do send valentines to everyone."
~Susie Bright