Thursday, August 22, 2013

Going To Middle School or Gone Hollywood



My 11 year old granddaughter, Hope, woke up for her first day of middle school today with one eye swollen and sore from a big stye that had developed overnight. She has been chomping at the bit to start middle school for weeks, so fortunately this little mishap didn't slow her down. A warm compress helped with the pain and swelling, so after adding a big pair of sunglasses off she went.

Ready to go.

The traditional first day of school pic with her siblings.

Lots of parents have watched this scene with mixed feelings this week.


I don't remember having any first day of school mishaps, other than having to start 10th grade on crutches because of a foot surgery that didn't heal as fast as expected.

Do you recall any first day of school mishaps that happened to you or your children?

19 comments:

  1. Starting middle school with a sty can be traumatic for many young ladies, your granddaughter must have self-confidence and esteem above average for that age.

    Good for her!

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  2. I don't have a good enough memory to remember my first day of attending school. However, every time around now I feel the excitement about the start of another school year as a teacher. I looked forward to meeting my new classroom family and anticipated all the growth I would be seeing. I miss that feeling now.

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  3. Hope has lots of class, Jeanie, and the kind of class I'm talking about in this case is the ability to handle a problem with imagination and grace. I'm sure many other girls her age would have stayed home and pulled the covers over their heads.

    Yessum, I do have a first day of school calamity to tell you about. It occurred on the first day of first grade when I, Thomas Anderson, got mixed up with another boy in my class whose name was Thomas Sanderson. When our elderly teacher spoke our names they sounded exactly the same. At the end of the day she called my name for me to board my bus for home. Sanderson jumped up, boarded my bus and rode to my neighborhood, some 15 miles from where he lived. Meanwhile, the teacher kept me behind awaiting a later bus which would have taken me to Sanderson's part of the school district. My mother was waiting for me at the bus stop and when I didn't get off she was frantic. She had no car and had to enlist my uncle to drive her to the school. They got there just in time to intercept me before I took off in Sanderson's bus.

    Once again, hooray for Hope for being such a resourceful young lady. Her siblings can learn a lot from her, dear Jeanie!

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  4. Last year our daughter Abby was a bit teary when our grandson started all-day kindergarten. The experience awoke a memory of my own mother being sad when I started school (and again when she delivered me to college 500 miles from home). Congrats to your granddaughter; some kids would be devastated by any nasty surprise like a stye on the first day of middle school.

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  5. an exciting time for the first day of school...I always had butter flies...

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  6. Jeanie,
    What a great attitude Hope has. Good for her!

    My only opening-day-of-school mishap that I recall was the beginning of 8th grade.

    I had cut my right hand, drying dishes and a glass shattered with my hand inside it, so I began 8th grade with 13 stitches and bandages clear up my wrist.

    I had to write with my left hand for the first month of school.

    Hope your eye dilating goes without a headache. :)

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  7. I think she looks gorgeous -- and good for her. Glamming up off she goes!

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  8. I do remember picking up Tracee at the 'Jr. High' and looking at a sea of girls with long blond hair and puffy bangs... the same kind of bag over their shoulder. It made me laugh as I tried to pick her out of the crowd. Hope her eye is better. I have only had that once and it is painful!!

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  9. We had that last year - it is hard to believe they grow up that fast and middle school is a tough class! I wish them the best of luck!

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  10. We moved to a new town the summer before my senior year in high school. Not only was I starting the first day of school with all new classmates but I also had first time braces on my teeth!

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  11. My 3 year old grandson started preschool this month and experienced being on time out because he didn't listen to his teacher. He has to clean up after playing with toys. As for me, I remember the anxiety and first day jitters. Lol.

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  12. When my first child started kindergarten, it was extremely traumatic. She hated it from day one. Every day for the first two weeks the teacher had to physically restrain her so I could leave. I would still be crying when I got to work. My boss and I were very relieved when she finally adjusted.

    Stopping in from The Grand Social.

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  13. Aww, she looks so cool in her shades.

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  14. Life brings challenges to all ages, doesn't it? Good that your granddaughter was happy and anxious to start school so the sunglasses did the trick. Hope the day was great for her.

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  15. My 11 year old was off to middle school too. It happened all to fast. I think she adapted well to her set back. Hope the rest of the day went well.

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  16. Yikes! That is not a fun way for Hope to start the school year. Glad she rolled with it and started with the rest of the class.

    I wish I could remember school-- it was too long ago to recall any mishaps, although I'm sure there were.

    Today was Godson's first day of school. Of course we FINALLY got summer and it was 100 degrees! Sheesh. The poor kid came home melted and jumped right into the swimming pool to cool off!

    xo jj

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  17. Poor Hope - she's a trouper. My friend, Sue, has had a recurring sty. She's had it lanced 2x. No first day mishaps that I can remember. I don't think I ever prepared too much. Maybe in high school I got a new binder and tabbed it for my classes. Not such a big necessity list in those days! My kids spend a fortune getting my Grands ready!

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  18. I hope her eye gets better real fast, can't be nice having a sore, swollen eye first day of a new school.

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  19. I can't remember any mishaps but there was always the slightly giddy joy and apprehension.

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