Kindergarten Fashion Rebel
I was going through my morning ritual of scrambling eggs and scanning bookmarked blogs for new posts (yup – I still bookmark) when I read this post from Whoorl about school photos gone wrong (but really, if that hair is wrong, I don’t know what could be right). Which reminded me of this kindergarten photo of myself…
What you don’t see is that I’m also wearing a sweater vest, grey wool skirt, and knit knee socks. 80s preppy done right.
I wasn’t supposed to be wearing that Smurf bobby pin in my hair. Oh no. I remember that picture day like it was yesterday.
When I left for school that morning, I had the bobby pin in my hand and my mother looked me in the eye and told me explicitly “do not put that Smurf in your hair.” And I didn’t. I kept it in my pocket all morning; even while pulling the little red wagon down to the lunch room to pick up cartons of milk for snack time and all through the chaos of morning recess. Right up until it was time for pictures.
I was standing quietly in line, waiting my turn, when the photographer’s assistant spotted me fiddling with the bobby pin. She and her complimentary black plastic comb made a beeline for me. I saw her coming and tried to stuff Papa Smurf (why I didn’t choose Smurfette, I will never know) back in my pocket but it was too late. She plucked the bobby pin out of my hand, told me how nicely it matched my outfit (that I can’t argue with), and with one swift flick of the comb it was in my hair and she was ushering me in front of the camera.
Don’t let my toothy smile deceive you. I was sweating it.
For six whole weeks, I waited for those photos to be delivered. But let’s face it, I totally forgot about it by the time school was over that day and Papa Smurf was resting comfortably in the pocket of my wool skirt. But the anxiety came back the day pictures arrived and Mrs. Yeckle handed me that flimsy envelope with Papa Smurf giving me the stink eye through the cellophane window.
My mom picked me up from school every day (pretty much until I could drive myself – I don’t do buses) and while I don’t remember trying to hide the photos from her (what was the point? everyone was waving them around), I do remember handing them over reluctantly and hearing her say “whaaaat is in your hair?”
For whatever reason (I suspect it was because the pictures were so damn cute), Papa Smurf and I never did get in trouble and I didn’t go back for retakes. But I still have an affinity for bobby pins.
Is there a good story behind any of your school photos?
Cathy Benavides
Even in kindergarten you were a fashion inspiration. Woohoo!!!!
Cathy Benavides´s last awesome blog post…Being the Blogger I Am
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Unfortunately, my 1st grade photo wasn’t quite as inspired.
Anne
Twitter: sunandthescribe
That photographer did you a solid. That pin is the perfect accessory.
Anne´s last awesome blog post…More Extraordinary Than Fiction
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
I wish I still had it!
Meagan
Twitter: SarafinaKitchen
1) This line kills me, “and Mrs. Yeckle handed me that flimsy envelope with Papa Smurf giving me the stink eye through the cellophane window.”
2) At least the photographer didn’t call you Tiger
3) I’ll have to dig some of mine up. I am sure there are so major fashion DONT’S in mine. *g*
Meagan´s last awesome blog post…Recently Pinned {09/10/12}
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
When I had my mom dig up this photo, she also sent me a few others that are so bad I can’t even share and laugh at myself. No one should ever give a 7 year old a perm.
Evin Cooper
SO cute! I love that… But I gotta wonder..why the smurf-hate from your mom?!?
Evin Cooper´s last awesome blog post…How to Care for your Cast Iron pans… with bacon.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
It really just comes down to discriminating against blue people.
Jennifer Rustgi
LOVE this story! It brings back memories of my mother getting upset that the lady with the comb (and water!) had combed all the curls out of my hair right before picture time.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Oh no! I totally remember them using water, too!
whoorl
That photo is beyond awesome. Viva papa smurf!
Rebekah @ The Golden Gleam
Such a cute story! I remember those ladies with the combs. Hated them and they always messed up my hair. =)
You were a cutie pie!
Melanie Montgomery
Ahh…yes, my 4th grade pictures. They had two options, a flower basket for the girls to pose with and a fishing pole for the boys. I had my overalls on that day and was rocking the side ponytail. When it came time for me to take the photo, I decided to be a rebel and asked for the fishing pole. Thankfully, my mom thought the pictures were adorable! I started a trend because several girls asked for the pole after that.
Mommas Bacon
Love the Smurf bobby pin! I would totally rock that now.
Mommas Bacon´s last awesome blog post…Product Review: Don’t Rock the Boat Game (Age 5+)
Kelly Hays
Twitter: kellymariehays
I actually have a similar one. I was in third grade, and at the time, had just had my bangs cut only to find that I hated them. I hated the ritual of having to put them in a curler every morning on my way to school. I hated that they brought out what I deemed to be a massive double chin (plagued by insecurities, much?) So I decided I would be a trendsetter and start gathering my bangs on the very top of my head with an obtrusive full-on scrunchie. My mom hated it, but surely I must have thought I was on to something, because the morning of pictures, despite her taking the time to flat iron my hair and make it look nice, I snuck off into the bathroom to resume my intimate scrunchie time. Needless to say when she saw those photos with all of her hard work poofed away to scrunchie land, and my homegrown alfalfa sprout bangs in an ostentacious pile on tome of my head in a mismatched piece of 90s hair nostalgia, she wasn’t too happy with my decision making skills. And truthfully, neither was I, cause I dropped that trend like I did bubble tops.
Kelly Hays´s last awesome blog post…To Be A Good Mom…
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Aaaaand just like that, your story is better than mine.
Though I will need to see some pics.
Kelly Hays
Twitter: kellymariehays
I’m actually going home next week and Ill dig those out just for you. I’ll instagram it for sure.
and no way do I have a better story, your smurf pin was the shit! I love the fact the nice lady put it SMACK DAB in the middle.
Kelly Hays´s last awesome blog post…To Be A Good Mom…