As September rolls around and we prepare the kids for the classroom, it's hard not to reminisce on our own time at primary school.
The friends we made, the laughs we had and the teachers who taught us, all bode together to create the overall school experience.
For some it was a great eight years, for others, maybe not so much. However, there are definitely a few things we all remember from our time in National school, especially from our first day there.
1. The sheer volume of photos we had to pose for
When we pull out the photographs our mums lovingly took of us, we're reminded of every "significant" item of furniture or room we had to stand in/ beside for fear everyone would forget what we looked like. We've got one in the good room, the hall, outside the front door, in the garden and outside the school. And while we're sure we moaned about it at the time, we're pretty glad we have those sweet memories to look back on - and feel overwhelmed that we now have photos of our own children going to school.
2.The uniform that was a MILLION miles too long
The fact that we could barely walk due to the length of our school skirt never deterred our mothers from purchasing a uniform that we would eventually grow into... in like eight years - just in time for our Confirmation. And now it’s our own kids’ turn to suffer through the oversized jumpers… some things never change.
3. The smell of newness
Whether it's the plastic smell that comes with a new pencil case or the glorious scent of new books, there are a few smells that hit every now and again and take us right back. The book one was our favourite. We were now the proud owner of books similar to the ones the big kids had - Maths, English and Irish - and, boy, did we feel grown-up on day one.
4. The sheer size of the school
When you're five, the world can seem like an incredibly big and scary place. And for us, the school building felt like an entire world in itself. The fear of leaving the classroom and getting lost never to be found definitely popped into our head more than once. When we look at the school now, though, it feels so small we wonder how all the kids fitted in.
5. The ordeal of finding your seat
Walking into the classroom, it was hard to hide the butterfly feeling in our belly as we looked around the room for our seat. Who were we going to sit beside? Were we near the teacher? The biggest fear was the thoughts of having to sit alone though - you’re here to make friends. And once we were seated and had a nice look at our name tag, that's when the photos started again... thanks, Mum!
