Memory Lane Monday - My First Day of School...

Welcome to another Memory Lane Monday. Although school has already been in session for nearly a month, I didn't think you'd mind if I wrote a "First Day of School" post. (I found my old photo in my desktop computer once I got back home.)

Many of you know that I was born in Great Britain to a British mother and American (Air Force) father. When I was about two, we moved to Wisconsin (my father was from Stevens Point - the home of the beer!), so we were there for a few years so that he could finish college to become a teacher.

His first teaching job was in Elkhorn, Wisconsin - and he and I started our first day of school together at the same school. Mum told me the "rules" about becoming a kindergartner ('mind your teacher', 'pay attention in class', 'have fun' and 'be a good girl for Mummy'), but I was only given one rule by my father ('Remember, now, don't call me "Daddy" when we're in school. You should call me "Mr. Newby" like the rest of the students.') Yup. My maiden name was "Newby", pronounced just like the popular term for someone new to something these days - a "newbie". Turns my head every time I hear it used. 

So, then. Mum kissed me goodbye and off to school I went. (Mum told me that she cried and cried when I told her that she didn't need to walk me to the door. "It's ok, Mummy. I'm a big girl. I can do it myself. I guess I've been this way all my life!) I was a good girl, paid attention to my teacher, made a few friends, never called my father "Daddy" in school, and sailed through kindergarten with flying colors.

Between my kindergarten year and my first day of first grade, my father took a job in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and my parents purchased their first home. We moved from Elkhorn to a rental until we moved into our new home, but we were all settled in time for first grade. 

All through kindergarten, Mum had been trying to help me get rid of a serious lisp, but despite her best efforts, I carried it with me right into first grade. For years, she's repeated the story of me coming home from my first day of first grade only to run up to her and say, "Mummy. I'm in firsssst grade now, and I don't lisssp anymore." She said she wanted to strangle me. (She had been trying to help me get rid of that lisp for more than a year, after all. lol)  Glad we got past that!

Do you have a story you'd like to share for Memory Lane Mondays? Just write your story on your blog and link back here. You'll have until a week from now (October 2nd - Gosh! It's nearly October already?) to add your memory.