Her favorite school outfit never made it to class

When I was a little kid, I got three new dresses a year. I always had a lovely dress for Christmas and Easter, along with one for the first day of school.

As part of the leggings generation, I only wore dresses or skirts to school. These dresses were not everyday items. They were purchased at the Children's Shop in Geneva or Colson's in St. Charles rather than the Robert Hall store in Aurora.

These were "creme de la creme" in children's clothing. These were dresses that had to look good in photographs to make us look more prosperous than we were. These were dresses that went out to dinner with my grandparents or went to Christmas parties. These were special outfits that often had shoes to match.

My favorite back to school outfit was a cinnamon sheath dress with knife pleats at the bottom that I picked out for third grade at Blaine St. School. I still remember everything about it. The fabric had a sheen to it that almost made it seem iridescent in the sunlight. I had matching suede Buster Brown shoes. The entire ensemble looked wonderful in the photograph in front of the left front bumper of my grandfather's two toned 1957 Impala.

Unfortunately the outfit never made it to school. For our back to school dinner, we went to "Bit of Sweden" a popular restaurant that featured an amazing smorgasbord. Let's just say that too much time at the buffet resulted in a race through the restaurant to get to the bathroom.

During a time when every bit of extra cloth was used for a family quilt or a cleaning rag, the cinnamon dress with the knife pleats went directly to the garbage can. I kept the one shoe that had not been adorned, in a crypt of a shoe box for weeks. It was a reminder of all that had been lost that fateful night.

My grandfather commented on how I had definitely gotten my money's worth at the buffet. My grandmother thought I might be allergic to spiced apples.

My mother said I looked especially nice the first day of school in my sister's hand me downs. Mrs. Wagner, my third-grade teacher, remembered the blue sweater with blue plaid skirt and commented on how much she liked it when my sister wore it.

Luckily no one saw the large pin that held the back of the skirt together since my sister, although three years older, was quite a bit thinner than I was.

Clothes weren't the main concerns for several Batavia kids I talked to who were returning to school.

Emily Barrett and Madison Martenson are making the big step to Rotolo Middle School this year. Both girls are excited and a bit nervous about making the transition to a new school.

"There are so many school supplies we have to get," said Emily.

Apparently it isn't about the clothes in middle school.

"I always get a new back pack because they wear out," said Madison. "And this year I had to get a lot of things for my locker."

Locker mirrors, organizers and magnets are big in middle school. Everyone wants to personalize the inside of the locker.

Zoe Meyer has a new backpack and is very excited to head back to J.B Nelson Elementary School.

"I heard my teacher, Mrs. Brady has new Cam Jensen books," the third-grader said. "I've read all of the ones at the library."

Zoe's brother, Zak, isn't concerned about first day appearances.

"I'm just glad to get back to school and see my friends," the fourth-grader said.

Their brother, Zeo Meyer, is headed to kindergarten and their sister Zayna is off to preschool this year.

All four are excited about school. And yes they have to endure back to school photos -- next to the school bus. I'm not sure which bumper is featured in their family photos.

Emily Barrett and Madison Mortenson think it's important to make a good impression on the first day of school. They also believe in second chances.

"Sometimes you can become friends with someone who makes a second impression on you," added Madison.