Sneak a Peek

Sneak a Peek is a new concept for me. I understand that it is an opportunity offered to young school children and caregivers to meet the teacher and to become familiar with the school setting. The objective is to reduce potential stress.

Well…. Back in 1957, there was no Sneak a Peek. But, I already knew kindergarten was not for me. By July of that year, I was ready to declare that I would take a hard pass on kindergarten. In New York State, you did not need to turn five until December in order to attend kindergarten. I was a November baby, so, I was eligible for school at my current age of four. Since I had two younger sisters at home, it was my turn to leave the nest, willingly or unwillingly.

                entrance to Ames sign

I liked my family. I enjoyed playing with my three sisters in our small town of Ames, New York. There, I had all the fun I needed. For example, I rode my bike, set up a playhouse in the barn, caught polliwogs in the crick, and walked to the corner store for a Popsicle.

       Ames Methodist Church

For a spiritual activity, I attended Sunday School at the Ames Methodist Church. There I participated in all Bible related activities. For me, I especially liked putting white paper sheep figures decorated with fluffy cotton balls on the green felt flannel board…and then I went home for a delicious Sunday dinner.

    Canajoharie, New York welcome sign

To fulfill any literary requirement I attended the weekly pre-school Story Hour at the Canajoharie Library six miles away. Here I picked out a picture book and sat crossed legged on the tile floor as I listened carefully to a kind, older woman read a story. Afterwards, I happily ate my cookie and drank my Hawaiian Punch from a Dixie cup … and then I went home and played outside.

      Shunk Road sign in Ames, New York

When my older sister attended kindergarten the year before, I watched the enormous school bus lumber down the adjacent unpaved Shunk Road. Dust swirls trailed behind the yellow monster marking its path. Silhouettes of kids bounced up and down in the windows. From afar, they seemed happy. But I was happier to wave goodbye to Chris and return back to my bedroom to play 45’s on my record player.

And so, the dreaded day came on the Tuesday after Labor Day in 1957. New shoes. A brightly colored starched dress with a full petticoat. Combed hair and skin smelling like Ivory soap. But, a pretty, fragrant little girl did not make for a happy one.

                     Kim

You see, I was only four. I weighed less than a piece of carry-on luggage. My skinny legs resembled those of a flamingo, but were not quite as long. I tried crying. That did not work. “Oh, you will like kindergarten” my mother tried to assure me. “No, I won’t I mumbled.” I was pretty smart at that age and had already assessed the situation. “Here is a box of raisins.” My mother offered a bribe. The miniature Sun-Maid Raisins box with a smiling girl wearing a red bonnet was of no comfort to me. At least mom could have offered me a Three Musketeers bar.

The black rubber treads on the school bus steps confirmed the peril ahead. I could barely lift my body up onto each of the three steps and into the bus. And after a fifteen-minute ride, there I was at East Hill Elementary School.

Well, as you can imagine, I was right. Kindergarten was a disaster. I did not enjoy sitting on the hard, cold floor listening to a story. I did not enjoy playing house in the play area. Since I was the smallest, I was always the baby and was lugged around by a larger girl portraying my mother. I did not like music time. I always got the rhythm sticks. I coveted the triangle. And I spent most of my time crying in the doorway looking for my older sister across the hallway in the first grade classroom.

And finally, after what seemed like seven hours, but was really only three, I went back home for lunch on the school bus. Safe. Happy. Yet dreading the rinse and repeat of the next day.

So, even if Sneak a Peek was in existence back then, it would not have been of any comfort to me. The dye had already been cast.  I knew what I was in for without a peek. All I could do was brace for a long school year and wait for weekends, vacations, summer—and pray for multiple viruses and illnesses.

To all you kids and caregivers out there, I hope this new safety net works out for you. And for an extra measure of comfort, maybe someone can throw in a box of raisins on the first day. Or even better, a Three Musketeers bar! Good luck! I sincerely hope it goes better for you all than it did for me. Meanwhile, I will be still trying to let go of my impactful kindergarten experience of sixty-seven years ago.

Kim