Childhood Memories…
T I M E T R A V E L T U E S D A Y
I missed writing on Tuesday so I thought I might play catch up with a couple of great childhood memories. Do you remember….
Nap Time At School
I was just remembering how the teacher would turn off the lights and we would rest for a half hour or so. I have a memory of all the children resting on little cots, but the memory is foggy. I must have been very little? Were we given milk and cookies, or am I just making this up? It seems there were times, in elementary school, that we were encouraged to put our heads down on a desk or find a cozy corner to relax in. Maybe when we were a little older still, we would use that time for quietly reading. I just remember that the lights would be turned off and it was peaceful.
In reality the teacher probably needed some time to re-charge her own batteries or prepare for the next lesson, etc.
Arriving Home After School
I remember walking through the door with my big stack of books and feeling the weight of the world slowly fall to the ground with everything else. First things first, I’d get changed out of my “school clothes” and into something comfortable. Ahh…. what a great feeling. (Some of you might remember the awful sensation of having your socks fall down beneath your arches, or having the elastic in your tights get twisted. Let’s face it, kids have lots of wardrobe malfunctions when they’re young.) And wasn’t it nice to shed those layers when you got home?
Next I would probably go to the kitchen, grab a box of cereal and take it to the family room to watch some, “Gilligan’s Island” or “I dream of Jeanie,” re-runs. I think this was when my brain would get re-set. I definitely needed something mindless to escape into, something that would provide relief from my academic and social stresses but that would also be familiar and comforting. Shows like “Lost In Space” were the perfect remedy.
I didn’t really have to discuss my day until dinner time and then it was just the highlights, and by highlights, I mean, the things that made me sound smart or cool to the rest of my family.
Does anyone else remember their after school ritual?
Hi,
My afternoon ritual was very similar. The very first thing was to get out of the school uniform into comfy clothes, but then I would do homework straight away, get it done with and out of the way. 😀
I watched a couple of shows in the late afternoon until 6pm, when Mum and Dad always watched the news. 🙂
I remember coming home and always eating something sweet. Either half of the pound cake container, fudge stripe cookies, or those brownies with the nuts sprinkled on them. Yumm. I never got nap time… 😦
Nice mems!
Thanks. They’re sort of cozy little mems. It was hot here today so someone turned the lights off at Curves, to keep it cool, and that’s when the memory came back about the naps. So little.
Yeah, I remember your sweets. I guess we learn early in life that food = comfort. haha!
I remember the head on my desk time–so comfy. I wish we’d had that offered when I was with child and working. Oh, can you imagine!! “Yes, go lie down for two hours”. Bliss.
My kids did the same 90’s kid thing–home, back pack kinda thrown, eat most of the sweet food in the house.
Good times!
I seriously remember cots… am I dreaming? Maybe that was in England when I interned at an elementary school in London? I think I was the sort of child that needed breaks in the day. Yeah, nice for all working people, which takes us back to the siesta and need to move to Spain.
I love those after school rituals – the shedding of the day and returning to childhood.
I still have my banky, and I’m determined to bring back naptime.
Aww… A banky. So cute. I’d like to be a part of that nap time movement. Count me in.
I remember assembly, every morning, where we all lined up and listened to the messages of the day and in the summer I would count how many kids fainted in the heat. They never stopped it, regardless of the head count.
Where the heck did you go to school? Nazi Germany? Seriously, that sounds way harsh. I remember assembly but we had ours in the gym. In high school we had ‘home room’ in the morning and that’s when they’d read the announcements.
Isn’t it weird when you suddenly remember something that you haven’t thought of in such a long time?
Hahaha! I’m eagerly awaiting subtlekate’s reply as to where she attended school!!!
Me too!!! haha!
I remember my ritual. First I would come in the door and run into my room before my mother saw me (this was about 5th grade) and hide my homework under the bed so I could go play. Then I’d always change into my comfy clothes and go play outside usually or watch the three stooges with my little brother. Then, after supper I’d go into my room and shut the door and do my homework quickly. My dad was the principal of the school so I didn’t dare not do it. But my mother would have made me do it directly after school (that was her rule) so I would have to sneak and do it. Consquently I never made my kids do it the minute they got home from school.
The Three Stooges, talk about mindless TV! haha!
Having your dad as principal probably had its pros and cons, right? I can picture you hiding your homework under your bed, obviously, Linda, the beginnings of your life of crime. haha! We learn to be sneaky at such a tender age, don’t we?
Our kids have been the beneficiaries of all of our hardships… I think they owe us a debt of eternal gratitude, don’t you?
Yes! Our kids certainly do owe us a debt of gratitude and I tell them that every chance I get! When you were a kid, you never had to hide Your homework under Your bed like I did! And yeah, it was hard having my dad for the principal because a lot of teachers had it out for me. Luckily I didn’t realize it until I got older! Cluelessness has always been my friend!
Oh you reminded me of when they would show a film in class (that is when I would sneak in a nap) and when the film stopped, and the strip (yes that long ago) started making that tapping notice then I would wake up. I have always been a napper.. still am..
After school was always race home to get a Little Debbie snackcake:-)
Good times!
Yes! Good memory. I might have to write a post on the film strips and reel to reel projector that made that tapping/ticking sound that we all remember. Yeah, any time the lights went off it was my cue to sleep. haha!
I gave my kids little Debbie snack cakes when they got home from school. I was more of a scavenger. haha!
I agree, good times!
Oh, boy, okay, well, confession time. I went straight to my room and did my homework. I know, I know, but did you expect any less. HF
PS: Once done, I was outside and looking for friends to play catch or throw a football or shoot a basket. I was an athletic nerd!
You, an athletic nerd? That doesn’t surprise me. I picture you like Opie Taylor from “The Andy Griffith Show” which means as a teen you became Richie Cunningham from, “Happy Days.” : ) Something tells me you were a cute kid, HF.
(Just don’t tell me you were more like Eddie Haskell from “Leave it to Beaver.”)
I can’t believe you mentioned Eddie Haskell! I was considering blogging about him today in regards to how politicians are so much like him! Wow! Why do we have Leave it to Beaver on the brain? And I don’t want to be Richie. I want to be the Fonz! Heeeeyyyy! HF
That’s weird. Eddie Haskell probably did grow up to be a politician, I think you’re right. He had all the makings of a used car salesman. haha!
Okay, you can be the Fonz, just for today.
After school, I would hop in the car, and be quiet on the way to my aunt’s house. We went there after school. My parents worked in the hotel industry, and wouldn’t be off work until late. I’d take off my jumper/skirt and hang out in my shirt and shorts (worn underneath). Eat whenever the food was ready (usually around 4pm). Talk on the phone with friends, read, watch a little tv, do homework, then shower. After that, talk on the phone until a parent come to collect.
I like that you had your shorts on underneath for a quick change.
Most kids avoided their parents after school so having your parents get home later would actually be a blessing! haha! It’s all relative. Are you still close with your aunt?
You sound like you were a very responsible young lady. To me, those years from 6th grade to senior year felt endless. I guess we didn’t have any perspective?Summer vacations seemed so long and now summer just flies by.
My first reaction after cominh home: FOOD. NOW.
Second one: what would have happened on the Internet?
I know, I sound like a nerd or something :). I’m so jealous of your nap time! We do have chats with teachers, but sometimes I just wish they’d let us go outside…
I think, across the board, everyone eats when they get home from school! That must be the most normal thing to do — how we decompress.
I think taking a short nap in school is important, especially if your between the ages of 5 and 10. I know I always needed some quiet time. I’m surprised that you didn’t do naps. It seems more European than American, doesn’t it? Going outside is another thing that always made me feel refreshed.
No nap time here :(. When we were 5 years old, maybe, but as soon as we got into primary school, peace was over.
Grrrr.
But I read somewhere about a child, aged 12, who had 6 hours of homework, and another child, aged 5 or 6, had to be practicing maths and languages for twou hours a day. That is so cruel! I hope it isn’t like that everywhere over there?
I’d eat and watch TV until bed time. Shows like Recess and Arthur were my go-to’s. I remember one time being a teenage with a giant bag of cheese doodles in my hands watching children’s shows wondering what I was doing with myself. So I got a soda.
Did you have uniforms at school? I don’t blame you for wanting to rip off your clothes as soon as you got home. I do that now. Wearing jeans at home feels so wrong.
No uniforms, but don’t forget, back in the day we use to get dressed up a little for school. I couldn’t get out of those clothes fast enough when I got home.
Lily would watch Arthur, too. She’s still such a kid at heart. She loves watching her old shows and occasionally she likes to color. I have to remind myself sometimes that she’s 24 and married! Haha!
Naps in school were heavenly! I wish we could do that now (although some students try to on a daily basis!) I still change clothes when I get home – as if I am ten years old again. Relief! 🙂
Haha! That’s funny, the idea that you never broke your after school ritual! “Relief” is the right word – time to unwind. I was one of those kids that needed that little break during the day, just some peace and quiet. I must have been tightly strung, a very anxious child! haha!
Naptime stopped for me in 1st grade.
but yeah, the rest of it is dead on!
“Official” nap time stopped in first grade but didn’t teachers sometimes turn the lights off and let you put your head on your desk for a little while? Especially when it was close to the end of the school year. I sort of remember that?
After school eating and TV – probably the same for most of us.