i was just going through an old box I have full of odds and ends that I've saved from way back in the 50's. I just came across my first grade report and there was a lovely note on it from my teacher saying how well I was doing in learning English. It also seems my name got changed somewhere from Christina to Christine, I'm not sure where or when it happened. Here is a photo of that report card...
And as usual, now I'm crying....where did the years go, seems like only yesterday ...how did I get to be 66!?
@Chrissy Cross As a young adult concerned with being newly married, then "inheriting" 2 kids, I rarely thought about those old Grade School things like Report Cards. When my Mother died, I found that amongst the things she had squirreled away were ALL of my report cards! Would I have had such foresight, had I had a kid? Hard to say, but likely no. Frank
I always saved everything my children colored, drew, wrote, their report cards, etc. Then when each of them married I wrapped all these things up as a present along with their birth certificate, immunization card, pictures, etc. and gave it to each of them. They found it fasinating to revisit their lives through these things. And I hope they will pass their own children's things down to them one day too. Now I have pictures and the cards they give me every year which they will also receive back when I leave this earth for my eternal home. I still treasure the words they have said to me through the cards and enjoy going back through them myself as each year goes by. Today there will be new cards to add from my daughters and I know they will mean just as much to me as all the other ones they have given me.
I saved a lot of things also...came across this little heart my daughter gave me when she was about 10, it's yellowed with age.
Thank you for sharing your memories with us, @Chrissy Cross , and I also wonder sometimes how all the years went by so fast and I only find an old lady when I look in the mirror and not the younger person that I feel like inside. I think my mom saved everything from my childhood, too, and some things I had no idea even existed. When I was little, I had a wind-up teddy bear that I think was made from real lamb's wool, at least it was soft and curly. It played Three Blind Mice, and I had to have that teddy bear any time I went to bed, and listened to the tinkly little tune from the music box as I fell asleep. After my mom and dad died, and I was going through their stuff in the old house, I found a box with the same teddy bear in it. At first, I thought it was my old one; but then I realized that this one was still brand new in the box. My mom knew I loved that teddy bear and had bought a "spare", just in case something happened to mine. Such love our mothers had for us...... I know that this is an especially hard day for you today, @Chrissy Cross , and I am sending you a special hug to help you make it though the day.
Thank you, Yvonne! We were both lucky with wonderful moms! I'm also glad I had her around for a long time! There are much sadder stories out there today, I'm sure. Yes, I miss her very much but she was a great mom and I had her for 65 years! I'm blessed.
My grade school years were pretty bad. When my parents divorced, I was sent to live with an Aunt who really didn't care about my schooling. I had a bed, food, roof over my head, but that was mostly it. Some of those years I still remember, but mostly I made myself forget. My high school years were pretty much better. I was removed from my Aunt's home, before going into the 8th grade, to live with a couple that was related to me (somehow). They were a very loving couple, but also extremely strict.........neighborhood kids thought "too strict". But, I made "ok" grades and got an award during high school graduation for 4-years of Perfect Attendance. Yep, called up on the stage and given the award. One thing for sure, that "perfect attendance" sure wasn't my idea! I got a cough or sneeze and my step-mom had cold medicine going down my throat.
Here are 2 from 2 different catholic schools. I'm the one in the back with her head bowed down all the way. I was in Chicago in second grade and that was my first Holy Communion. This other picture is back in Pittsburgh and in my catholic school uniform.