Mar 29, 2011 by Sara
Looking back on Kindergarten I have 2 memories that stand out as clear as day. First, I remember walking home, 2 blocks by 3 blocks, by myself, for lunch and then watching The Flintstones upstairs in our stuffy 3rd floor “den” with the brick red corduroy couch. Does anyone even let their 5 year old walk to school any more?
Second, I remember the day I almost got expelled. Yes, sweet little me – almost expelled, from Kindergarten. Apparently, I was a little rebel in training.
Here’s how it went down; the teacher left the room, (how she did not get fired for that move I will never know) and I looked around at my classmates and declared: “Let’s go somewhere!”
So we did.
Single-file, past the pine cubbies with the multi-colored plastic bins, out the classroom, and with a quick left we headed outside through the double doors. I led my class of 18 kindergartners into the drizzling spring rain, around the block and out of sight from Edinburgh Elementary. Nobody saw us leave.
I was in front, walking quickly, almost skipping. It was brisk and we had no jackets, every mother’s worst nightmare. There were no teachers, just us, skipping and giggling. We knew we weren’t supposed to be doing this and I remember the intense thrill.
I have no idea how long we had been gone for, must have been at least 10 minutes. I can only imagine the panic we I must have caused our teacher. Can you imagine? Walking into your Kindergarten classroom and the ENTIRE class is missing?? How do you explain that one?
We were discovered on the third leg of the block and brought back to the classroom where the Principal and my teacher were waiting…
When asked whose great idea this promenade had been, my rebellious streak screeched to a halt. I immediately told the truth. I was in deep doggy doo-doo. The school was NOT happy with me and they threatened serious punishment, possibly expulsion.
But I never did get in any real trouble. The threat of it all was enough to scare me straight and the school realized the teacher was just as much on the hook for leaving the class unsupervised. At home, I don’t remember getting punished either. I think my parents secretly thought it was pretty funny and were just as surprised by my random break with character.
Today, I understand that my act of defiance had everything to do with my age and I was learning how to navigate life and its many rules. I see it in my own two children and their testing of limits on a daily basis; whether it’s Jack urinating on the play structure or Anna “borrowing” $5 out of my wallet. But if they are EVER missing from their classrooms I know I will have a panic attack and heads will roll!
The irony of this story is, that today, I’m the biggest rule follower I know. How this gangly little rebel with the pin straight blonde hair grew up to be me I have no idea. Today, I hyperventilate at the idea of breaking a rule.
From time to time, I do like to think that I’m still a bit of a rebel, even though I’m totally not. Maybe that’s another reason why I love my tattoo so much. I like to believe that in my truest form of self, there is a little streak in me that will, when the moment is right, go with the flow and disregard the rules. Not break any laws, just do something that is a little out of the norm. But those moments are few and far between and I am the quintessential goody two shoes. Or am I?
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