ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Emily's independence was apparent from the first day at Lincoln Park Elementary School. Most children cry and hold on to Mom for support and encouragement. Mom was all ready for that. However, when they reached the kindergarten door, Emily simply strolled in without even saying goodbye. She became an excellent student, taking Student of the Month honors at least four times, and becoming the proud owner of a self-manager badge, proclaiming Emily as "responsible", but, more importantly, making her eligible for a pizza party at the end of the year. She was a recipient of the Presidential Academic Fitness Award. She was Marie in the Nutcracker in the 6th grade. She participated in gymnastics, especially loving the trampoline. She won the 200M race in districts, again, in the 6th grade.

Time for a few stories from this time frame. Emily broke her wrist in fifth grade by riding her bike down the hill, hitting the brakes wrong, and then flipping her bike. Being the big sister Emily was, she refused to let herself cry around her sisters. She was so strong. 5th grade was also the time for braces, that bane of existence. Emily needed headgear, but refused to wear it. Thus, braces stayed on until her junior year of high school. Seven years. Finally, this was also the time period where Emily found her allergy to peanuts. Her mother remembers one fateful afternoon where Emily was playing with her friend Trisha and was accidentally fed something, I believe a candy bar, containing peanuts. She didn't have her face cream with her, so Trisha's mom Becky ran and got what she THOUGHT was for the allergy. Emily rubbed it all over. Turned out to be Desenex, for diaper rash.