This tip brought to you by our Dad Guru John Valadez
on Aug 31, 2009
There are many memories we all carry with us from our school days – some good and some not so good. I like to remember the good ones. I have rather fond memories of my school years. My family started a few traditions and I intend to continue. On the first day of school we always stood in front of my parents’ house and took our “big first day” pictures. We would wear our favorite school clothes my parents just purchased a few weeks ago and have our hair all perfect. We stood in front of a black, wrought iron gate and posed. My mom would get really carried away. I remember on my first day in the 6th grade my mother dressed me in a vest and tie, or maybe I dressed myself? Who remembers?
She got a little carried away most first days. Although, my mom reminded me each year you only get one chance to make a first impression – she was right. At first, the pictures include my older sister and me. A few years later, my little sister joined us in the tradition. My senior year was just my little sister and me; my younger sister took the picture by herself after I graduated. She took the picture all the way to college.
What are your families first day of school traditions? Do you eat a family breakfast? Do you snap a picture to commemorate the “big first day”? If not, give it a try and your child will have fond memories of their first day each year. This year, my little girl will stand in the same spot, I did, decades earlier – I’ll probably tear up. Her first day of school is coming and we are all excited about the “big first day” picture.
Some things never change, and that, is a good thing.
