I remember being very upset when I had to leave my mother. What child would not be upset? I did however love being at my grandparents for one reason.
My aunt Ida!
Aunt Ida was called an "old maid" so, lived with her parents. This woman had a heart of gold! She gave of herself, to her family, her friends, neighbors, and especially to me.
Eventually aunt Ida married a widower with two small children. My uncle Joe was also a kind man. He and aunt Ida had a long, and happy marriage.

Aunt Ida and me!

Going to my grandparents was done by taking the train. My mother always took us there when we were small. One year I had to go by myself. Mom thought I was old enough to make the trip alone.I was five years old!
Off I went, ticket in one hand, and suitcase in the other. I was told to stay on the train until I got to Sherbrook. Her last words to me were to "Stay put until my grandparents came and picked me up!"
The trip was over, and there I was waiting to be picked up. No one came!
Finally I couldn't stand the waiting any longer. Remembering the way to their home I started off. In truth it was not a long, or complicated journey. When I got near the house I could see grand-papa in his old rocking-chair on the big porch. When grand-mama saw me she rushed down the steps to greet me. Both were very excited and wanted to know where my mother was? "Just me!" I'm supposed to have said.
The letter my mom had written my grandparents did not get there in time. It came two days after my arrival! Thank goodness I had decided not to wait any longer! This is where I first developed my own love of travel, and which I was very fortunate to do as an adult.

Micheline and Madeleine!

At four and a half, I was sent to convent for my first year of school. Grade one, and French school of course! The next year we were back at home and entered a local school for grade two. But mid-way through that year, my mom came home one evening, and announced that as of now we were going to go to an English school! "English is your future!" she said.
This did pose a few problems...neither Micheline nor I spoke a word of English.
As they say kids being kids we did learn!
I still remember my first three words that the other kids taught me...Yes...No...and that "F" word!
This got me in a heap of trouble one day when I was asked to read aloud a story about a red "FOX"! I was in my twenties before I would say the word fox again!