{"id":7475,"date":"2021-04-29T14:07:23","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T14:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carmellclark.com\/new\/?page_id=7475"},"modified":"2021-04-29T14:08:10","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T14:08:10","slug":"1974-5-years-old-im-walking-to-my-first-day-of-kindergarten-all-by-myself","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carmellclark.com\/new\/1974-5-years-old-im-walking-to-my-first-day-of-kindergarten-all-by-myself\/","title":{"rendered":"1974 \u2013 5-years-old, \u201cI\u2019m walking to my first day of kindergarten all by myself\u2026\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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1974 \u2013 5-years-old, \u201cI\u2019m walking to my first day of kindergarten all by myself\u2026\u201d<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It was that summer of 1974 before I began kindergarten. Mark, who was a year ahead of and had taught me to swing on the hand-me-down swingset in the backyard, was my important escort for Orientation Day. The intent was to \u201dtry out\u201d this drastic 5-year-old life change with a friend. \u00a0I was thrilled. \u00a0I couldn\u2019t wait to start. \u00a0<\/p>

A few weeks before school began, I informed my mom I would be walking to school the first day by myself. \u00a0She disagreed.<\/p>

Over those next 20 days, we argued like WWF pros. \u00a0She threw down\u2013\u201dI was too young! \u00a0There were TWO very busy streets to be crossed (without lights or stop signs) before getting to the crosswalk zones around the school. \u00a0I might get lost. \u00a0\u2026Or worse.\u201d<\/p>

I would take Birch to Duportail, Duportail to Lee, cross, cross again, homefree! \u00a0I knew this neighborhood like my own hand (and I did\u2013she would have been horrified). \u00a0\u201cI cross streets every day no problem, mom,\u201d I emphatically countered every argument with absolute non-negotiation. I was going to walk to school by myself. \u00a0Period. \u00a0<\/p>

Then one day, she said \u201cOk.\u201d \u00a0I was stunned and thrilled! \u00a0That was easy! \u00a0Monday, September fourth dawned fresh and crisp with promise. \u00a0Mom made her last-ditch effort to walk with me. \u00a0I said, \u201cNo,\u201d and headed confidently into my 5-year-old future.<\/p>

Without hesitation, I marched down our street, cut across a side street, through someone\u2019s backyard, then down a short block to the busy intersection. \u00a0I looked both ways\u2013twice\u2013and crossed like a pro. \u00a0Another half block and the crossing guard saw me safely onto the playground.<\/p>

Twenty-five years later, I was telling the story at a family reunion and laughing about how independent and fearless I had been at 5-years old and how mom had let me do it. \u00a0My mother cut in, \u201cYou absolutely\u00a0were<\/i>\u00a0and I was scared to death! \u00a0But there was no talking you out of it. \u00a0I had to follow you all the way to school, hiding behind bushes and cars so you wouldn\u2019t see me until I knew you were there safe and sound!\u201d<\/p>

I could see 26-year old Audrey like some kind of kindergarten private investigator, tailing me to Marcus Whitman Elementary that day\u2026 \u00a0then silently disappearing back down the streets, unseen.<\/p>

Thank you for finding a way to trust us both, mom. \u00a0<\/p>

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1974 \u2013 5-years-old, \u201cI\u2019m walking to my first day of kindergarten all by myself\u2026\u201d It was that summer of 1974 before I began kindergarten. Mark, who was a year ahead of and had taught me to swing on the hand-me-down swingset in the backyard, was my important escort for Orientation Day. 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