Last night Bossy watched and listened while her neighborhood attempted to put its children to bed at a reasonable hour after a long lawless summer. Bossy couldn’t stop imagining the kids tucked in their beds, all of them anticipating the first day of school with that special combination of optimism and dread.
Bossy remembers that first day feeling from her own childhood. Bossy also remembers selecting her first day outfit from the small stack of clothes purchased for the new school year.
Bossy doesn’t know about her daughter, but Bossy can sum her typical first day of school experience in this way: Bossy insisted on dressing like fall despite lingering summer temperatures.
Which is what today’s Ten-Word Challenge is all about. In exactly ten words, can you share a first day of school experience?
And be sure to check back later today for the best first days on the web.
If you missed last week’s Ten-Word Challenge, don’t! Click here to read over one-hundred recipe triumphs and disasters.
BOSSY says
September 7, 2010 at 7:57 amTaking two buses to distressed part of town. Mature 12.
BOSSY says
September 7, 2010 at 7:58 amHey, she looks friendly. Became close friend through adult years.
BOSSY says
September 7, 2010 at 8:00 amGeesh even after a whole summer the cafeteria still smells.
Teeny Tina says
September 7, 2010 at 8:07 amOh God, two hundred seventy days to go. This sucks.
Teeny Tina says
September 7, 2010 at 8:07 amOh God, (insert number of) years to go. This sucks.
Elizabeth @ Table for Five says
September 7, 2010 at 8:07 amHomemade corduroy vest and pants, everyone else in Levis. Humiliated.
BOSSY says
September 7, 2010 at 8:33 amEarly alarm clock, chilly kitchen, carpool = gin. Not ready.
heidig says
September 7, 2010 at 8:51 ampracticed walking in chunky, high heels all summer – still had blisters!
Chrissy says
September 7, 2010 at 8:57 amSweet butterflies turn to angry, rabid bats in my stomach.
MidLifeMama says
September 7, 2010 at 9:00 amI have worked hard to extinguish the painful, agnstful memories.
Little Miss Sunshine State says
September 7, 2010 at 9:07 amGrade 6 first day. Grandfather died. Missed whole first week.
bossy's friend amy says
September 7, 2010 at 9:13 amdread, filled with more dread…
Laraine says
September 7, 2010 at 9:28 amEarly morning,, swedish pancakes,, noisy bus, sweet learning time
Jen. W. says
September 7, 2010 at 9:43 amSeparated from my twin and mother? I cried all day.
Mindy says
September 7, 2010 at 9:46 amHoping that this year will be different. It never was.
Beth says
September 7, 2010 at 9:53 amfreshman- lost my clothes shopping money – wore old clothes, mortified.
Catherine McP says
September 7, 2010 at 10:01 am“This year, I’ll keep my notebooks orderly and learn”. Right.
helenel says
September 7, 2010 at 10:10 amMilitary kid. New school almost every year. Be my friend?
Meg at the Members Lounge says
September 7, 2010 at 10:20 amFreshman locker combination a nightmare, As was creepy locker neighbor.
Bonnie says
September 7, 2010 at 10:43 amNew pencils, fresh erasers, squeaky new notebooks, precisely edged paper!
Kris says
September 7, 2010 at 10:44 amSixth grade. New school. Walked into class with belt undone.
Owengirl79 says
September 7, 2010 at 11:09 amFirst grade, only kid without Mom, she taught high school.
Lizzy says
September 7, 2010 at 11:16 amMy red plastic clogs made scary first grade year tolerable.
DawnA says
September 7, 2010 at 11:39 amFirst year I bought “cool” clothes with babysitting money. ROCKED.
kathleen says
September 7, 2010 at 11:56 amNun’s habit brushing me as she swooped down rows CHILLS
kathleen says
September 7, 2010 at 12:00 pmLife-long fear of nuns- oh no -sister became one
kathleen says
September 7, 2010 at 12:03 pmSister nun no more three kids- me big sigh relief
Nancy says
September 7, 2010 at 12:04 pmNot wasting a new outfit on just a half day!
CS says
September 7, 2010 at 12:12 pm. . not a donut, it’s a bagel! 4th grade suburban outcast.
Dharmamama says
September 7, 2010 at 12:16 pmMy sister threw up on her teacher, got sent home.
Jenn @ Juggling LIfe says
September 7, 2010 at 12:40 pmSeniors smoking weed in back of bus; huddled behind driver.
BOSSY says
September 7, 2010 at 1:42 pmTeacher told our class we looked small. She meant young.
Scottsdale Girl says
September 7, 2010 at 1:45 pm6th grade, wore new fall sweater in Sept in Arizona, nearly died
Lauren McKinney says
September 7, 2010 at 1:58 pmMe: plaid dress, loafers. Them: dirty bell bottoms. I’m dead.
Denise says
September 7, 2010 at 2:03 pmNew: School, teachers, classes, clothes
Old: Being New Kid again
WendyG says
September 7, 2010 at 2:19 pmFirst day high school, 1974. Left house on third try.
Jessie says
September 7, 2010 at 2:52 pm‘Twas the night before Kindergarten, my little girl just started!
Jessie says
September 7, 2010 at 2:54 pmFourth grade, was out the first week sick, was new…
Birdbrain says
September 7, 2010 at 2:56 pmWearing gah-awful black leather and velveteen saddle oxfords, explains shoe addiction.
CeeCee says
September 7, 2010 at 3:06 pmAwaken at five, to attempt the perfect Farrah Fawcett hair.
BOSSY says
September 7, 2010 at 3:09 pmHuge crush on Bossy’s math teacher kept her going back.
Reeb says
September 7, 2010 at 3:12 pm47-12-3: First locker combination. Terrified of embarrassment, forgetting. Permanently memorized.
Just calculated, I’ve had that memorized for 47 years now!
Reeb says
September 7, 2010 at 3:13 pmLittle girls in first-day best, photographed for posterity before school.
WebSavvyMom says
September 7, 2010 at 3:16 pm–>I loved the idea of new school supplies, not school.
GrandeMocha says
September 7, 2010 at 3:42 pmWebSavvyMom says it all!
GrandeMocha says
September 7, 2010 at 3:44 pmThe only first day I remember was kindergarten. I towered over the neighbor boys.
Debbie says
September 7, 2010 at 3:57 pmDid Bossy really wear Earth Shoes with bell bottoms? Mine were worn with painter’s pants!
Debbie says
September 7, 2010 at 3:58 pmCan remember new dress, stiff shoes, and new lunch box!
Carroll says
September 7, 2010 at 4:42 pmHated it (x5)
joeinvegas says
September 7, 2010 at 4:59 pmKids all gone, I don’t do it anymore, thank goodness.
GreatAunt says
September 7, 2010 at 5:03 pmBrown jumper, white shirt, knee socks, bus-stop… Catholic school doldrums.
Summer says
September 7, 2010 at 5:27 pmFall clothes, summer temps, sweated – looked like I peed pants.
BOSSY says
September 7, 2010 at 5:38 pmPainter’s Pants. Lord Bossy had forgotten. These days, for work.
Lylah says
September 7, 2010 at 5:51 pmI’m nervous. Kids aren’t. I learn so much from them!
Karen says
September 7, 2010 at 5:57 pmCorduroy pants, matching flannel shirt, 100 degree bus ride home.
Cactus Petunia says
September 7, 2010 at 5:59 pmDon’t hit your teacher on the first day of kindergarten.
Timmy says
September 7, 2010 at 6:37 pmAmanda and I drank mimosas, played hooky, and had fun!!!
cat says
September 7, 2010 at 6:56 pmNew shoes, fresh school supplies, cautious and misplaced optimism.
jp says
September 7, 2010 at 7:10 pm9th grade, painters pants,halter, what was my mother thinking????
(I looked very cute, but seriously………totally inappropriate!!!)
bossy's friend amy says
September 7, 2010 at 7:43 pmthreat of private boarding school (not the cool kind of private boarding school) was the only thing that kept me in school – that and the thought that in 3 more years it would all be done and over with.
Maggie says
September 7, 2010 at 9:16 pmLevi flare cords, oh which color to choose and coordinate.
Maggie says
September 7, 2010 at 9:23 pmBib overalls, 16th birthday gift from friends – all the rage.
Kate says
September 7, 2010 at 9:55 pmI will be popular, despite braces. And glasses. And…crap.
bossy's friend martha's sister says
September 7, 2010 at 10:00 pma teacher’s 10 words: shit, damn, crap, where did summer go?, smiles, welcomes, hugs.
Faith says
September 7, 2010 at 10:55 pmKindergartener Caroline wore glasses – they’re for old people, not kids!
lise says
September 8, 2010 at 1:19 amMuch begging for matching outfit–blue pantsuit w/green frog–Thrilled!
Jennifer says
September 8, 2010 at 9:19 pmNervous,excited,can’t sleep!….oh yeah, and I’m the teacher!!!
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen) says
September 10, 2010 at 12:37 amFrom 40-student primary to boarding school – BIG shock to system!
KathyB says
September 10, 2010 at 10:07 pmDark ages, girls wore skirts, changed year after graduation, bah.
Bonnie B. says
September 10, 2010 at 11:03 pmMom insisted on cutting my bangs herself. Too fucking short!
runnergirl says
September 11, 2010 at 12:25 pmFall: Uniform Skirt too long….Spring…..skirt WAAAAYYYY too short!
runnergirl says
September 11, 2010 at 12:28 pmSister Nancy busted Suzy: Green shorts under short uniform jumper.
4th grade blows.