Off She Goes
By
Gerry Niskern
August is looming and Grandmas are out shopping in full force. School will be starting soon and “those kids need new clothes”. Some lucky grandkids will love choosing their own new “rags”, especially the girls.
My great-great granddaughter is starting Kindergarten this year and her grandma’s are busy ordering the outfits she has chosen online. Shoes, tights, dresses, coats and even a new backpack are on their way.
Back when I bought her daddy some new outfits for school, around age 7, he thanked me politely. Then he said, “I’m not going to wear them the first couple of weeks. I’ll just wear my regular clothes because I want everybody to know the real me.” We’ll see if the little great-great is as democratic as her daddy was.
Years ago when my first granddaughter started Kinder, she chose a black denim skirt and she was not happy when I wouldn’t buy it. I didn’t think little girls should wear black, but turned out I was wrong. Half the girls in her class were wearing something black that first day. Needless to say she didn’t get her smart fashion sense from me!
When my own daughter started school, I made a trip to Penney’s and bought three new dresses to alternate every other day. And when I started first grade, eons ago, I was well supplied with some hand-me-downs from an older cousin. But I was actually very lucky because her mother always bought her Shirley Temple dresses and they were what every little girl longed for!
School clothes have changed over the years, but there is one thing that hasn’t changed. We, parents, grandparents and everyone want the beginners to have a wonderful experience in the school years. We can’t buy that for them, but can only trust that they are ready to learn and enjoy their school years. My little great-great is self confident and out going, but kind and helpful too.
She’s off to a good start!